Roel started sailing catamarans about 25 years ago.
His first boat was a Prindle 18-2, which he was sailing with his wife Petra Akkerman. Later Roel changed the Prindle to a more comfortable Nacra 6.0.
His wife Petra got Roel persuaded to sailing the Tornado.
Around 2011 Roel telephoned Eric de Rijt, if they could go to have a look at a Tornado. After that moment, Roel was sailing the Tornado. He even started to compete in club races.
In 2012 Roel de Groot and Eric de Rijt organized the European Championships Tornado in Warder (Netherlands). Roel was one of the important organizers. Roel was more an organizer than a Race Sailor.
In 2014 years ago he got the first time the diagnostics that he had cancer.
The first year he got a lot of treatment and was very ill. A year ago it was getting a little bit better, so it happened that when he came from the hospital, he went sailing.
According to Nahid Gäbler, Petra wrote to her that Roel had the big goal to come and join the EC or WC in 2016. Last year he spent a lot of time sailing on the boat. In the meantime, he was helping another club member restoring his wooden Tornado.
In 2016, the treatment came to an end, and Roel got worse. Eric spoke to him 2 weeks ago. His mind was still full of ideas, but his body would not let it happen..
Friday, April 1st Roel passed away, only 58 years.
April the 7th Roel was brought to his last resting place, just behind the club.
Roel was a great beer drinker, so they had a drink of beer with him that afternoon.
May he RIP and sail Tornado every day in heaven.
Text by Nahid Gaebler