The Builder / Skipper

Builder and Skipper

My name is Jelmer Groot, and I am both the builder and the skipper of Sienna.

I am building the boat myself, and I will be the one sailing, testing, and racing her. That means every workshop decision, the build quality, and the boat’s performance are my responsibility. The challenge has already started, even though the race itself is in 2029.

Background

I am a Dutch guy living in Switzerland, and I am a technical enthusiast who loves building things with my own hands.

I sailed occasionally when I was younger, but the sailing bug really caught me a few years ago. I got my sailing licence, and since then I have been sailing a range of boats, both inshore and offshore.

Along the way I worked on my 10 dollar Shark 24 with the long-term goal of sailing the oceans. That project taught me a lot, and it also helped shape the direction I want SV Sienna to develop.

Professionally, I plan and design audio and video systems, and I have a background in mechanical engineering from years ago.
Most of my practical building skills come from the many DIY projects I have done over the years, but this build will teach me a lot more.

Why This Project

I have been following the Mini Globe Race in 2025 closely, where skippers are sailing around the world in small boats designed by Janusz Maderski. Watching that unfold kept my original goal alive, to sail the Atlantic solo, but it also made me want to do it alongside like-minded people.

When I discovered the Setka class and the Setka Atlantic Challenge, everything started to fit together.
I love the Setka design, and just as importantly, it fits my practical reality.
I can build the boat in my garage, and I can transport her easily to where I want to sail and test: the Mediterranean, the Atlantic coast, the North Sea, or even Lake Zürich close to where I live.

This project is my way of combining the long-term ambition with the day-to-day logistics of getting properly prepared.

Approach and Limits

This project is approached with great enthusiasm, but also with caution. I have a full time job and a family, so time is limited. That makes it even more important to work deliberately, keep things practical, and avoid rushing decisions just to make progress.

The timeline towards 2029 allows room to learn, test, and make mistakes, which will surely happen. Having clear plans from the designer, and the build blogs and experiences of other sailors, should help avoid most of them, and make the rest manageable.

At the same time, this is not presented as an expert guide. I am learning as I go, decisions may change, and not everything will work the first time. That process is part of the preparation and is documented openly.

Documentation

Most updates are published as videos on YouTube and on my social media. This blog exists mainly as the written record and timely compilation of the project.

The blog posts are meant to complement the videos with more detail, such as what was done, materials and tools used, measurements where relevant, and what comes next.

Over time, this should become a practical build log, both for myself and the race-organisers, as well as for anyone interested in following along or building similar boats.