Our team

With sailing taking place 6 days a week, we rely heavily on our dedicated team to make sure everything runs smoothly. Many of our instructors and other team members have come through our programs themselves, and they now pass on their skills and experience to a new generation of sailors.

Rob Holden

Founder and High-Performance Coach

With two decades of experience as an Olympic sailing coach, Rob has sailing in his blood. It was his dream of making the sport accessible to everyone that led to the birth of the Skipper Foundation. Pretty much seven days a week, you’ll find Rob on the slipway, instructing his promising sailors or tackling whatever job needs to be done.

Elfie Holden

Managing Director

Affectionately known as Aunty Elfie, her kind heart and deep sailing knowledge have helped her build amazing relationships with the young people who take part in our programs. From preparing the daily meal and attending to safety briefings to running the foundation’s social media and providing tutoring support, Elfie is dedicated to making sure our impact is as widespread as possible.

Letlhogonolo Sima

Director

Sima was first drawn to the foundation when her own children took part in our programs. She later joined as a director and has great ambitions to extend the foundation’s reach, growing the support we can offer to the youngsters in her beloved Mossel Bay.

Wisdom Bali

Instructor

All three Bali brothers have enjoyed sailing with us. Wisdom started a few years ago and has made such incredible progress—not just with sailing, but also with his confidence—that he now instructs people from all walks of life.

Waydon Goliath

Instructor

Waydon is another example of a student who has come through the ranks of the foundation. He has been teaching sailing for the past nine years and is now an integral part of our core operations. Waydon has taken part in two world championships in China and Netherlands and was also chosen to coach and accompany our sailors on the 2024 Qingdao exchange program in China.

Axolele (Biza) Jonas

General Worker & Mentor

Apart from tackling maintenance tasks and other work around the slipway, Axolele has become a wonderful mentor to the young people of Mossel Bay. A shining example of the impact our program can have on young lives, Axolele has a wonderful way of kindly sharing his journey and learnings with the students.

Oliver Holden

Instructor & Marine Guide

Oliver is a Protea sailor who has taken part in numerous international events. He is an invaluable coach for our high-performance sailors, teaching them the finer techniques of sailing.

Lisakhanya Nginingini

Instructor

Lisakhanya also came through the Skipper Foundation’s “Learn to Sail” program. He decided to continue his training with the foundation and, to give back, now teaches new sailors. He has a great rapport with the younger students.

Lilitha Malusi

Instructor

A quiet young man who loves sailing, Lilitha decided to stretch himself by training to become an instructor. He now gives sailing classes to his peers and new students.

Paul ten Boer

Treasurer

Affectionately known as Oom Polla, Paul is a retired Auditor who keeps our books up to date, ensures our money is well cared for, and makes sure all the paperwork is in perfect order.

Richard Ellis

Rescue Volunteer

When Richard retired from an exemplary career as a Master Mariner, he wanted to give back to the community of Mossel Bay. So, he joined the Skipper Foundation as a volunteer, where he is a pillar of strength to the team and a role model to the young sailors. He gives up many hours to assist with training, racing, and whatever else is required in the running of the foundation.