Dutch professional windsurfer Bob van de Burgt will take on one of the most demanding challenges of his career this summer as he attempts to set a new 24-hour windsurfing distance world record. His goal is to cover at least 800 kilometres non-stop, day and night, on the Grevelingenmeer lake in the Netherlands, as part of a charity initiative to raise funds and awareness for children’s muscle diseases, particularly Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Van de Burgt has established himself as one of the most distinctive figures in European windsurfing. His career has been shaped by extreme crossings and personal endurance projects linked to fundraising for medical research, aiming to give visibility to children like Lucas, aged 11, the ambassador of his current campaign, who lives with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a progressive condition that gradually weakens the muscles. As his mother, Debby, explains, “While time moves forward, Lucas continues to fall behind.”

The 400-kilometre crossing without guidance or reference

On 17 September 2024, the Dutch windsurfer completed a nearly 400-kilometre crossing of the North Sea, sailing from Scheveningen, in the Netherlands, to the coast of the United Kingdom and back in a single day. The journey, which lasted 18 hours, became one of the defining moments of his career and marked the beginning of his charity project supporting the foundation ‘Spieren voor Spieren’, which is dedicated to combating muscle diseases in children.

During the crossing, van de Burgt faced extreme conditions, severe fatigue and several technical setbacks. “I often said it would take me 12 or 13 hours, but I never thought it would take 18,” he explained after completing the journey. In the middle of the North Sea, he also lost all sense of time after accidentally switching off his watch just a few hours into the crossing. “I had no idea where I was or how far I still had to go,” he said. The return leg took place in complete darkness, without communication with the support boat and with reduced visibility. “It was quite risky, to be honest. My vision deteriorated due to fatigue and became even worse in the darkness.” The initiative raised more than €82,600 to support research through ‘Spieren voor Spieren’.

The connection with windsurfing and the sense of freedom

The new attempt planned for 2026 represents a further step in the evolution of his endurance-based charity initiatives. Unlike the North Sea crossing, which depended heavily on sea state and timing, this challenge will test sustained physical resistance over a continuous 24-hour period. The attempt will take place on the Grevelingenmeer, in the Netherlands, within a defined wind window covering calendar weeks 24 and 25, with 11 and 12 June identified as the ideal dates, and later weeks available as backup depending on weather conditions.

The attempt is supported by main sponsor Howden, which plays a key role in enabling the project. Funds raised will be directed to the ‘Spieren voor Spieren’ foundation, whose mission is to accelerate diagnosis and improve treatment for children with muscle diseases. The organisation operates under the motto “Healthy muscles support sick muscles” and is backed by numerous current and former elite athletes.

Van de Burgt’s connection with windsurfing began in 2016, when his uncle first taught him how to sail. “My uncle taught me windsurfing, and I was immediately addicted to the power of the water, the feeling of freedom, and braving the elements,” he recalled. Since then, he has focused on high-performance competition in the slalom discipline, while also building his professional career on the international circuit using high-performance equipment from FMX Racing and Point-7.