About Us
Two different journeys. One shared course.
Where Adventure and Meaning Come Together
At the Helm was born from our shared love of adventure, nature, and personal growth. We are brother and sister. Although our lives have followed very different paths, we share the same belief: a rich and meaningful life begins when you have the courage to take the helm yourself.
Francisca brings her experience as a lawyer, trainer, and coach. Deep brings his lifetime of experience as an ocean sailor, skipper, and artist. Together, we create sailing experiences and leadership programmes where you can step away from the demands of everyday life, discover new perspectives, and reconnect with what truly matters to you.
Francisca
Leadership Coach, Lawyer & Trainer
For more than thirty years, Francisca worked as a lawyer and legal advisor, both at leading law firms on Amsterdam’s Zuidas and in smaller legal practices. She knows the dynamics of a demanding professional environment from the inside: responsibility, deadlines, high expectations, complex relationships, and the constant pressure to perform.
From an early age, she discovered how important it is to take responsibility for your own development. At the age of fifteen, she moved to England to work at an international show jumping stable. Alongside the demanding work, she completed her pre-university education through evening classes.
Working with Presence and Strength
Throughout her career, Francisca saw how many dedicated professionals loved their work, yet struggled with workload, competition, and the feeling that they always had to be available. She decided to explore a different approach.
Alongside her legal career, she trained as a Gestalt therapist, mindfulness trainer, Mindfulness at Work trainer, foundation coach, and workplace happiness coach. Since 2015, she has been supporting professionals and teams with personal leadership, focus, collaboration, and greater enjoyment in their work.
Francisca also lived and worked for two years in an international Buddhist monastery in Australia. In her programmes, she combines this experience with her grounded understanding of professional practice.
You don’t have to control the waves to become a skilled sailor.
Deep
Skipper, Ocean Sailor & Adventurer
Deep discovered his love of the water as a child, sailing between the Dutch Wadden Islands on his father’s boat. The open space, the wind, and the endless horizon gave him a sense of freedom that has stayed with him ever since.
After graduating from the Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Deep worked for many years as a photographer. He learned to look beyond appearances and became fascinated by the deeper layers of people, stories, and experiences. Yet, over time, the call of adventure returned.
A Life at Sea
Deep set sail from the Netherlands and eventually circumnavigated the globe. For many years, he lived and worked at sea, organising sailing journeys in destinations including the Caribbean, Polynesia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Indian Ocean, and the Mediterranean.
Life at sea taught him how to deal with constantly changing conditions. You cannot control everything, but you can learn to observe, adapt, and trust your experience. It is this calm and attentive mindset that Deep brings to every journey.
As skipper, he provides safety and clarity, while creating space for freedom. Whether you want to take the helm, learn new sailing skills, enjoy a meaningful conversation, or simply gaze across the water, there is room for it all.
I take people on adventures in nature, so they can slow down and reconnect with their own course.
Together at the Helm
When Deep returned to the Netherlands after sailing around the world, brother and sister decided to bring their experience together. Francisca understands the world of work, leadership, and professional development. Deep knows the world of sailing, adventure, and living with the forces of nature.
In both worlds, you encounter uncertainty, unexpected situations, teamwork, and moments when important decisions need to be made. You cannot always control what happens, but you can choose how you respond.
That idea became the foundation of At the Helm.
Yemaya
Yemaya is a powerful and elegant sailing catamaran that sailed around the world together with Deep. She crossed oceans, explored distant islands, and provided a home for adventurers and travellers for many years.
Today, she sails the Markermeer, IJsselmeer, and Wadden Sea. With her spacious deck, stable design, and sheltered cockpit, Yemaya offers a welcoming place to come together, enjoy hands-on sailing, or simply take in the horizon in peaceful silence.
Space to Rediscover Your Course
Nature asks nothing of you. The wind has no targets, and the water keeps no agenda. That is exactly why space opens up on board. Space to slow down without standing still, to see more clearly, and to explore the direction that truly feels right for you.
At the Helm offers sailing experiences and leadership programmes for individuals, professionals, and teams. Sometimes adventure takes centre stage. Sometimes it begins with a question from your work or personal life. More often than not, those two naturally come together.