About me

About me

Made by the sea, that’s Renate de Backere. In her youth you could always find her at the shoreline in Zeeland where she grew up. Some years after finishing her studies in Environmental Ecology, and Photography, she moved to Friesland where she sailed the Wadden Sea and started with her lifeboat rowing career at Okke Hel in Harlingen. Renate is familiar with sea and mudflats, working as a nature guide and trainer at the Waddenvereniging (Waddensea association). Waiting for the opportunity to use all her energy, good spirit and stamina, it was easy to say yes to the chance she got when she heard of a team of 3 looking for a fourth member to cross the Atlantic in 2020. That was a successful crossing as this team Atlantic Dutchesses won the female class in 43 days! She still misses the ocean, the salt in her veins make her long for another crossing. And that is just what she will be doing. Solo! She knows and has experienced that she, and actually everybody! can go further and deeper than you’ve ever imagined.
She also loves longdistance walks and to explore the mountains worldwide, but mostly the Alps and Scotland. On snowshoes, skis, crossing a glacier or go Munro-bagging. Preferably in winter conditions with a wildcamp, the rougher the better! Of course with a dram of whisky to mark just another Munro on her list. 128 down, 154 to go!

The Shore team
Of course, Renate can’t prepare for this adventure all by herself. She needs ánd has the help of some friends and colleagues. To name a few:

Miranda Bolten is a colleague @ Waddenvereniging and is a great help in setting up the campaign as a whole and the communication part in particular.

Pascal Revenich from ‘pascal op wieringen’ helps with training programs.

Egbert Beers  is the webmaster, wherever he is on the planet, help is always close at hand!