THE SWISS SKIPPER
Oliver Heer aims to be the FIRST EVER SWISS-German to take part in the Vendée globe
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
20 + years
International Competition
125,000 +
Nautical miles sailed
Fourteen
Transatlantic crossings
two
World records held
degree
BSc International Business Communications
OLIVER'S JOURNEY
Oliver Heer is an ambitious Swiss sailor from Zurich.
Combining hard work and natural talent, he has progressed from dinghy sailing as a child to professional skipper taking on the World's toughest ocean races.
Growing up on the Lake of Zurich, Ollie was taught to sail by his dad. After success on the youth dinghy racing circuit, Ollie moved to Taiwan to study International Business communications, and started competing on TP 52's in his spare time.
Following the sad death of his father, aged just 52, Ollie decided a corporate career wasn't for him, and it was time to follow his dreams. In 2014 he moved to the South Coast of the UK to get a foothold in the sailing industry, and started skippering professional race boats in the UK, Mediterranean and Caribbean.
In 2018, he joined Alex Thomson onboard the IMOCA 60 HUGO BOSS. Alex and Ollie co-skippered in the double-handed 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race. This was his debut in the IMOCA Globe Series and the moment he realized he was ready to take on the challenge of his own campaign.
"
I've worked and sailed with Ollie for over 4 years and he is not only a very talented offshore sailor, he displays the main qualities a Vendée Globe skipper needs: resilience, tenacity, determination, and an ability to communicate.
I have no doubt he's got what it takes!
Alex Thomson
Skipper, Hugo Boss
pushing the boundaries
As an Extreme Ocean Sailor, Ollie is used to pushing himself and the boat to the limit, while performing mentally and physically for extended periods of time, in the harshest of environments.
ambition
Ollie aims to be the first ever Swiss-German Sailor to compete in the Vendée Globe Race, the toughest sailing challenge in the world!
MAJOR HONORS
winner
2018
Sevenstar Round Britain & Ireland Race
finisher
2021
Rolex Fastnet Race -
Co-skipper of Hugo Boss with Alex Thomson
fastest
2022
Defi Azimut Race -
Non-Foiling Imoca
finisher
2022
Double-Handed
Route du Rhum Race
finisher
2023
Double-Handed Rolex Fastnet Race - 3rd Non-Foiling Imoca
finisher
2023
Defi Azimut Race -
3rd Non-Foiling Imoca
