HOME FROM
THE HORIZON
Six months after setting sail aboard the tall ship Thalassa, Lotte Cobben has returned home. When we spoke to her before departure, she was full of anticipation and quiet determination. Now, after crossing the Atlantic and living at sea with her fellow students, she returns changed, shaped by what the journey has taught her about herself and the ocean. Her journey embodies the spirit of Damen Yachting’s Love Our Oceans initiative, which brings together our commitment to protecting the oceans and inspiring a more responsible future for yachting. As a proud sponsor, we share that same belief, rooted in respect for the sea, learning by doing and building together towards a more sustainable future.
“I remember standing there, looking at the water and seeing the ship. And I just thought: I made it.”
A Journey Beyond Expectation
Before departure, Lotte found it difficult to imagine what lay ahead. Looking back, the experience went far beyond anything she had pictured. “I didn’t have many expectations, because I found it hard to imagine what it would all be like. But if I did have expectations, they were exceeded.”
Life on board quickly became a process of learning by doing, with responsibility, reflection and teamwork at its core. “I notice my wishes sooner now, and I also express them sooner. I dare to say more quickly what I want or what I think.”
One of the uncertainties was how she would balance schoolwork with life on board. In practice, she quickly found a rhythm that worked. “I actually liked being able to work at my own pace. You are quite reliant on yourself, but that works. It’s about self-discipline.” The greater challenge proved to be the intensity of living so closely together, always surrounded by others.
“I think the hardest thing was that it just always continues. It’s never quiet. That’s also what makes it fun, but sometimes you also want a moment to yourself. In the beginning it was strange, living together for half a year with people you didn’t know very well, but now it feels as if we’ve known each other for years.”
Tested by Wind and Waves
The voyage began with an immediate test. Shortly after departing Den Helder, the Netherlands, Thalassa encountered four-metre waves on the North Sea. “When we left Den Helder there were four-metre waves, and I became quite seasick.” Those first days set the tone. What followed felt more manageable in comparison, even as the route unfolded across a wide range of destinations, from Belgium and Cherbourg to Tenerife, Dominica, Curaçao and Panama, before continuing via Mexico, Bermuda and the Azores. Alongside sailing and teamwork, life on board also introduced her to the technical side of the ship, something she had never considered before. “Working in the engine room was one of the most interesting parts. You start to understand how everything works. It really sparked my curiosity.”
A Moment of Arrival
Asked about the most memorable moment of the journey, Lotte does not point to a destination, but to a moment in San Blas, Panama.
“We were on one of the small islands in San Blas, spending time with local children, playing football and just being together. At one point, a young boy found a shell, held it up, and then gave it to me. I remember standing there, looking at the water and seeing the ship, and I just thought: I made it. It was one of those moments where everything came together, the place, the people, the whole journey.”
Witnessing the Ocean’s Fragility
Lotte’s connection to the sea has only grown stronger over the past six months.
“The ocean remains something magical and beautiful. Every time you are near it, you become calm again, because of the movement of the waves, the birds, the fish. When you only see sea around you, it is just incredibly beautiful. I definitely feel more connected to the ocean now. I think it is one of the most magical things in the world.”
Alongside its beauty, the journey also revealed the ocean’s vulnerability. One of the most confronting moments came on a remote island where part of the beach was covered in plastic waste.
“I held my breath when I saw all that plastic there. Half of that beach was completely full of it. It was sad to see. Before this journey, I was much less occupied with climate and climate change than I am now. Now I feel it is important to protect nature.”
The journey offered both confrontation and inspiration. Alongside the plastic waste, there were countless reminders of the ocean’s richness: dolphins, whales, pelicans and more.
“The first time we saw a whale, someone shouted and you just saw this enormous fin rising above the horizon. And even if you see them more often, it never gets normal. It stays special and beautiful.”
Carrying the Journey Forward
With only days to go before returning home, Lotte is already aware that the journey will stay with her. “What I will always carry with me is the development I’ve been through. There are things I’ve learned about myself and from others that will stay with me.” Back on land, she looks forward to simple things: sitting on the sofa with her parents and cats, watching a film, seeing friends again.
Lotte’s journey began with a dream, and it ends with encouragement for others to pursue their own.
“If you have a dream, work towards it. I believe you can do it if you want it. Don’t stop dreaming.”
AT A GLANCE
- Age at departure: Fifteen (turned sixteen on 28 October 2025).
- Duration: 19 October 2025 -18 April 2026.
- Crew: About fifty people, including thirty-seven students (aged fifteen to seventeen).
- Vessel: Thalassa, a tall ship with fourteen sails.
- Route (approx.): 12,000 nautical miles via Tenerife, Dominica, Curaçao and Panama.
- Sustainability on board: Minimal engine use, no microplastics, beach and island clean-ups.
LOVE OUR OCEANS
At Damen Yachting, we believe the ocean connects us all. It inspires joy, fuels adventure and reminds us of our shared responsibility. As a yacht builder, we take that responsibility seriously. Loving our Oceans is embedded in our DNA and protecting them is fundamental to our future. But this responsibility begins on our own shores. At the yards where we build our yachts, in the way we work with our people and partners, and throughout the lifecycle of every yacht we deliver.
With Love Our Oceans, we bring our sustainability efforts together under one shared story. It highlights the people, projects and innovations that contribute to protecting our oceans, raises awareness across our organisation and connects colleagues, Clients, Captains, crew, partners and communities through shared values.