4 images

My life in boats: Jan Verkerk, owner of 69m Sherakhan

31 July 2019 • Written by Grace Trofa

He’s built several boats and designed an award- winning 250ft explorer, but now he’s concerned with ocean research, as he tells Grace Trofa

You cannot imagine when you are a young kid that you will make it and have two superyachts. I dreamed of sailing around the world and going to Antarctica, yes, but to do it on my own boats? No.

I have been sailing since I was a child, but my first big boat was a 1926, 20 metre classic motor yacht. At the time I had a bar and restaurant business, but I left it all behind to live on my boat in the Med for three years.

Verkerk sailing in Antarctica.

I am a mechanic by education, so I made my money working on boats. It was the best time. You never have a better time than when you have no money; that’s when you make the most sincere friendships. Finally, though, my mom had to send me $5,000 to buy fuel and I headed back to Holland.

I started out chartering my classic boat for river cruises and eventually expanded to five boats and 40 employees. My first superyacht was the 38.1 metre Jaguar. When the boat was completed, I asked Anne Stellinga, a Dutch broker who worked for Camper & Nicholsons, to take a look. She said: “Hmm, maybe you have to change a couple of things.” I think I got a 20-page list! But I listened and made all the changes. In the end it was one of the most popular charters in the Med.

69.65m Sherakhan was rebuilt by Verkerk as a luxury vessel in 2005.

I did the interior design for 77.4 metre Legend, which has since sold, and it was unbelievable to win the award from BOAT International for Best Rebuilt Yacht. Legend was a multipurpose vessel, built to be an ice-breaker in remote regions.

When I was building Jaguar and 69.65 metre Sherakhan my daughter was watching Jungle Book 24/7, so we named the boats after characters in the story. Sherakhan is now doing destination trips in Greenland, Antarctica and Patagonia. My most memorable trip was the first time we took Sherakhan to Antarctica. We sailed into South Georgia with an escort of at least eight whales and a view of what looked like a million penguins.

Legend was built in 1974 as an ice-breaking tug by Dutch yard IHC Verschure. Verkerk took her to Antarctica, where he spotted whales and penguins.

Building boats is something I love and I’m good at, but I don’t want a big company any more. I want to restore a Feadship for specialised deep-sea research. Everyone now has a responsibility to ensure that future generations enjoy the natural beauty of our world.

All Images courtesy of Christopher Scholey.