Twelve Questions with Krijn Van Den Brink from FD Yachts

FD Future 6.8 maiden UK sail in the Solent © Flying Dutchman Yachts

From being a young sailor in the Netherlands to the founding an international yacht brand, Krijn Van Den Brink has charted an inspiring course. As the visionary behind FD Yachts, Krijn blends Dutch craftsmanship, Swiss design, and Chinese manufacturing to create high-performance sailing yachts that are elegant, accessible, and exhilarating.

Recently, FD Yachts became the first member of Tall Ships America's new Leadership Circle, reflecting Krijn's commitment to connecting sailors across disciplines — from dinghy racing to tall ship training. We caught up with him to talk about his background, his boats, and his bold vision for the future of sailing in a new segment we call Twelve Questions.

Where did your connection to the water begin?

I started sailing with my parents when I was just two years old. As a kid, I sailed the Flits dinghy, then moved on to 20'-40' keelboats. As I got older, I raced in many regional and international regattas across Europe and China.

Sailing has been part of my life for as long as I can remember.

How did you get into boatbuilding?

I was always fascinated by boats. While other kids were drawing cars, I was sketching sailboats and building wooden models. By age 12 or 13, I was already building 15-foot wooden dinghies, and by 18, I had completed 22- and 37-foot keelboats. Later, I joined my parents in professional boatbuilding.

Sailing is in my DNA — it's my lifelong passion!

What's the most rewarding — and most challenging — part of the job?

I enjoy every part of the process, especially the concept and design phase — turning ideas into reality. The challenge comes when you turn your passion into a business; you must transform that passion into real market value and customer needs.

What was your vision for FD Yachts?

FD Yachts was founded with the vision of offering accessible, high-quality, modern boats — combining Dutch expertise, Swiss design, and Chinese manufacturing to make performance sailing available to everyone.

Tell us about your lineup. Who are your boats designed for?

The FD Future range — FD Future, FD Future 6.8, and FD Future X — is designed for both youth and adult sailors. Each comes with three sails (main, jib, and spinnaker) and can be sailed single- or double-handed. Our keelboats, the FD 65 and FD 75, continue that focus on simplicity and performance.

We're also developing the FD 4.8, a 16-foot dinghy, and a new FD Foiling Boat.

What sets FD Yachts apart from other builders?

We offer 21st-century design with a simplified, hassle-free sailing experience — and excellent value for money. For example, our FD Future range features a Single Rope System and Open Transom, while our keelboats have lifting keels for easy handling, clean design, and impressive performance.

What's the first reaction you see when someone sails an FD Yacht?

The feedback is consistent: our boats are easy to handle, responsive, stable, and perform beautifully — even in light wind.

When designing a new model, what comes first — performance, comfort, or aesthetics?

All three are equally important. Balancing them is both the challenge and the art of yacht design.

What defines the "FD Yachts feel?"

Our philosophy is simple: Passion for Performance — Sail to the Future! We want sailors to feel a real connection with the boat, as if they're in conversation with it while sailing.

What are your goals for FD Yachts as you grow in the U.S. and globally?

All our boats feature original 21st-century designs focused on enhancing the sailing experience. It's time to move beyond 20th-century designs — let's sail to the future! The U.S. is a key market for us, and we want to see more youth and adult sailors enjoy our dinghies and keelboats.

We're also looking for U.S. dealers who share our vision that sailing is for everyone.

How do you see the small-boat and daysailer market evolving?

Sailors today want boats that are simplified, easy to handle, and low-maintenance. Our FD Future range was designed to meet those needs. The FD Future and FD Future 6.8 share a single rigging system with different sail options, while our keelboats' lifting keels reduce depth and mooring restrictions — you can sail almost anywhere, even by trailer.

Tall ships and community sailing programs are very different. How do your boats fit into that world?

Tall ships offer a unique, immersive sailing experience. Our FD Future range provides a perfect training platform for new sailors to build skills and confidence. With a reefable main, jib, and spinnaker; open transom; and maintenance-free hull, sailors can progress naturally from the FD Future to the FD Future 6.8 and FD Future X. We hope to see more people discovering the joy of sailing through these pathways.

From community docks to tall ships — it's all about creating more sailors, and more smiles on the water.

11th Shenzhen Dapeng Cup Sailing Regatta - photo © Shanghai MengYang Media