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THE SHIPPING NEWS: Rosalin Kuiper
Yes, we are sinking ... but it's fantastic that we can still see the coast!
Rosalin Kuiper is a professional ocean sailor and studied psychology, specialising in team building in high-performance sport. She is a skipper for Holcim-PRB in the Ocean Race Europe. Rosalin is active on Instagram and LinkedIn, where this article by her also appeared.
Positivity has always been my guiding force, both in life and on the water. Throughout my sailing career, I’ve learned that staying positive—even in the toughest moments—can completely change how we handle challenges. I’d like to share how my upbringing, experiences at sea, and lessons in teamwork have shaped my mindset, and how embracing positivity has become my life’s greatest strength. It’s challenging from time to time, but it’s something we can all practice every day.
Let’s start with a little experiment: the next time you pass someone, give them a smile. See what happens. You might be surprised to find that, most of the time, the person will smile back. It’s a small gesture, but it can have a big impact. It creates an instant connection and a moment of positivity. This simple act is something I hold close to my heart, and it’s a big part of how I approach life, sailing, and everything in between.
Why positive thinking is important to me
Positivity has always been central to who I am. It’s a value I was raised with, thanks to my parents. I remember a conversation I had with my dad not long ago. We were talking about life and work, and he said something that stuck with me: “Rosie, no matter what happens, always keep smiling.” That advice has shaped so much of how I view the world. Growing up, our family went through an exercise where we trained ourselves to speak only in positive terms. Instead of saying, “don’t run,” we’d say, “please walk.” We tried to reformulate negative words like “no,” “non,” or “don’t” into positive ones. It may seem small, but that shift in language had a huge impact on how we viewed and tackled life.
Even today, I catch myself doing it—when I read books or articles, I find myself rephrasing any negative-sounding sentences into positive ones. This habit is like a tool I carry with me everywhere, in every situation.
A positive attitude as a life goal
It has become more than just something I practice, positivity has become a core part of my life’s mission. I can trace this back to a specific moment—sailing the Volvo 65, for example. One day, the rain was pouring down, we all felt wet to the bone, and everyone was complaining about how miserable it was. I made a point to say something absurdly positive like, “Wow, it’s amazing how there’s more rain falling next to us than on top of our heads!” Everyone laughed, but for me, it was more than just a joke—it was a mindset shift. Even in the toughest moments, I’ve made it a sport to find the silver lining.
I remember the time my boat sank off the Dutch coast. It was one day before I was supposed to graduate from my psychology studies. I was on a delivery trip when we touched a sandbank, the keel broke off, and the boat sank. As I sat with a crewmate waiting for the Dutch Coast Guard, I made a ridiculous comment: “Yes, we’re sinking, but fantastic that we can still see the coastline!” My crewmate looked at me in disbelief. But even in that extreme moment, finding something positive made the situation easier to handle.
Positive attitude in teamwork
I’ve come to realize that positivity isn’t just a personal trait—it’s contagious. When you approach a situation with a smile, people want to be around you. It brings a sense of energy and openness to a team setting. I’ve seen this firsthand on the boats I’ve sailed on. Even when conditions are tough and everyone is exhausted, if you can keep a positive attitude, it boosts the team’s morale. And it’s not just about what you say—it’s how you say it. That energy spreads.
In a way, being positive gives you a sense of control, especially when everything around you seems chaotic. Sometimes, you can’t change or control the situation around you, but what you can control is your own state of mind, perception, and how you handle it. That’s where the real power lies – positivity can lead the way in every aspect of your life.
The science of smiling
There’s actually a psychological reason why smiling works. When you smile at someone, it activates a part of their brain—the orbitofrontal cortex—which releases feel-good hormones like dopamine and serotonin. This is why smiles are so contagious! When I walk down the street or go to a store, I make it a point to smile so widely that people can’t help but smile back. It’s a little experiment I enjoy – and it always works. It’s the same on the boat. A positive mindset is addictive, and people want to be around others who exude that energy. We all face challenges, but the key is to see those challenges as hurdles you can overcome. You might not be able to control the situation, but you can focus on controlling how you perceive it.
Seeing the glass half full
I genuinely believe that my career has gone as well as it has because I strive to see the positive and act accordingly. I believe that’s what sometimes inspires others to have me on their boat. I keep learning every day and strive to become a better and more complete sailor. I like to face my strengths and weaknesses and work on them. I see it as one of my strengths and missions to connect people through positivity and by trying to create an environment where people feel empowered to be the best version of themselves. This is what makes sailing in a team context magical and so rewarding.
It’s the same in business—relationships are built on more than just skills. They’re built on how you make people feel, and a positive vibe can take you further than you might realize. It adds so much value to your own life and to the people around you.
So how can you bring more of a positive attitude into your life?
Here are a few tips:
• Smile, smile, smile. It sounds simple, but give it a try! Smile at other people wherever you are, in a shop, on the street or in the mirror. Smiling automatically triggers a chemical reaction in your brain and increases your feeling of happiness. Even if you are sad, you can use this trick to outwit your own feelings.
• Formulate positively. Challenge yourself by trying to phrase things positively, e.g. by saying what you want instead of what you don't want. This is also easier for the people around you.
• Find the silver lining. When things go wrong, make it your sport to find something good about the situation. It may feel forced at first, but with practice it becomes second nature - and it can be quite fun.
• Surround yourself with positivity. Whether it's friends, family, colleagues, colours, music or food, the positive will reinforce itself in any form.
• Focus on what makes you happy. For me, it's the feeling of freedom and autonomy, sailing, being close to nature and being with people I love and care about. Find out what makes you happy and prioritise that in your life. When you are happy, you naturally radiate a positive attitude.
Positivity is a choice. It’s a way of life. It’s the key to finding joy even in the most challenging situations, and it’s a tool that has carried me through my sailing career and beyond. But I have also discovered that sometimes it takes outside help to find solutions. Asking for support, in any form—from friends, family, or professional help—is, in my opinion, the best form of self-care there is! I encourage everyone to support themselves in whatever way they need to be happy. For me, happiness is being autonomous, free, sailing, and surrounded by nature. For others, it might mean facing and resolving a challenge that’s holding them back. Finding the right support can help you get there.
So yes, we may be sinking… but isn’t it fantastic that we can still see the coastline?
Rosalin Kuiper
Skipper Holcim-PRB
This article by Rosalin Kuiper appeared on LinkedIn. Published with the kind permission of Rosalin Kuiper.
With a proven track record in offshore sailing and more than 90,000 nautical miles sailed, she has developed a fascination for the ocean. Her passion for sailing drives her to create more diversity and change in our sport and inspires her to become an ambassador for our oceans.
Interview with Rosalin Kuiper: “I can’t wait for the start in Kiel this summer.“
Rosalin Kuiper, Skipper Holcim-PRB, The Ocean Race Europe 2025
© Rosalin Kuiper
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