THE SWISS SKIPPER

Oliver Heer is the FIRST EVER SWISS-German to take part in, and successfully finish the Vendée globe

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

21 years

International Competition

150,000 +

Nautical miles sailed

Fourteen

Transatlantic crossings

two

World records held

ONE

Circumnavigation

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 realised he was ready to take on the challenge of his own campaign.

After 4 years of dedication and hardwork, Ollie secured his place in the starting line up for the 2024 Vendée Globe. Overcoming numerous challenges, he completed this epic race on his first attempt. After 99 days of racing, he finished in 29th place and became the first Swiss-German to complete the 'Everest of the Seas'

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