We started as Austrian Ocean Racing — a team from a landlocked country with no business being in The Ocean Race. We went anyway. Now, with Sisi and Vantanera, Kora carries that same restlessness into something bigger: real sailing for people who want more than a spectator seat on the water.
Oliver Kobale co-founded Austrian Ocean Racing, crossed the Atlantic twelve times, and became the youngest skipper to take a...
Oliver Kobale co-founded Austrian Ocean Racing, crossed the Atlantic twelve times, and became the youngest skipper to take a VO65 across at 21.
Two Ocean Race campaigns.
Over 150,000 nautical miles offshore with professional and amateur crews.
He grew up racing Optimists and 420s in Austria, studied mechanical engineering, and brings a technical mind to everything from rigging to routing.
Today, Oliver captains Wally Vantanera — and that combination is rare. Most luxury charter captains know comfort. Oliver knows the ocean. That difference shows in how he runs the boat, leads the crew, and reads conditions others wouldn't notice.
Yacht Master Instructor, RYA Offshore qualified, paramedic trained, and fluent in English, Spanish, and German.Capabilities:
Regatta History:
Gerwin Jansen is Kora's race skipper — a Dutch offshore specialist with seven Atlantic crossings, five Sydney to Hobarts, and...
Gerwin Jansen is Kora's race skipper — a Dutch offshore specialist with seven Atlantic crossings, five Sydney to Hobarts, and a competitive record that spans everything from one-design championships to fully crewed ocean racing. He skippered VO65 Sisi through The Ocean Race Europe 2021 and The Ocean Race 2022–23, leading a young crew into the highest level of the sport.
Before offshore took over, Gerwin built his reputation in high-performance keelboat racing: ORCi World Champion in 2017, European Champion in the Flying Junior, seven-time Dutch national champion across Melges 24, Efsix, and ORCi classes, and a top-ten world ranking in match racing. He knows how to make boats — and crews — go fast.
On board, he is skipper, helmsman, and trimmer. On shore, a father of two.
Capabilities: Extensive offshore and grand prix racing experience, sailmaking background, crew leadership across professional and amateur teams.
Regatta History:
Johannes Reder grew up racing Optimists and 420s in Austria, studied chemistry, and qualified as a paramedic — before the...
Johannes Reder grew up racing Optimists and 420s in Austria, studied chemistry, and qualified as a paramedic — before the ocean took over. Five Atlantic crossings and counting, with a Yachtmaster Offshore qualification to match.
Part of the Kora team since 2023, Johannes has raced some of the Mediterranean's and Caribbean's most demanding courses. Fluent in German, English, and Italian.
Capabilities: Yachtmaster Offshore, paramedic trained, sail coaching background, degree in chemistry.
Regatta History:
Paul Lucan grew up racing 420s and 49ers in Austria before making his first Atlantic crossing in 2020 — at...
Paul Lucan grew up racing 420s and 49ers in Austria before making his first Atlantic crossing in 2020 — at 19. He served as shore crew during The Ocean Race 2022–23, keeping Sisi race-ready between legs. What started as support from the dock turned into full-time life on board: he joined Kora in 2024 and hasn't looked back.
A mathematics graduate from TU Wien, Paul combines analytical thinking with hands-on offshore experience across multiple Atlantic crossings, deliveries, and racing on Volvo 65 and 70 class yachts.
Capabilities: Sail coaching experience across Austrian clubs, offshore racing and delivery experience, The Ocean Race shore crew (2022–23).
Sybren Hoekstra started sailing Optimists in the Netherlands, progressed through ILCAs, keelboats, and high-performance dinghies like the RS800, and joined...
Sybren Hoekstra started sailing Optimists in the Netherlands, progressed through ILCAs, keelboats, and high-performance dinghies like the RS800, and joined an offshore racing programme on a Volvo 60 at just 16. His first transatlantic crossing came in 2017 — he was 19.
A marine technology graduate from TU Delft, Sybren has six Atlantic crossings under his belt and extensive racing experience on Volvo 65 and 70 class yachts. He joined Kora full time in 2025.
Capabilities: Sail coaching background, marine engineering degree (TU Delft), offshore racing and delivery experience across multiple Volvo class yachts.
46 All Experiences
Experience sailing on unique yachts.
6 Cruising
Cruising on exclusive sailing yachts.
11 Delivery
Experience sailing on unique yachts on a delivery.
22 Racing
From coastal sprints to offshore classics
22 VO65 Sisi
The Offshore Beast
17 Wally Vantanera
The soulful beauty
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