A large record of sportive achievements is the result of many years of training and racing on dinghies. It was at the age of five that Herbert put on the sheet of his Optimist for the first time. He spent many hours on the lakes surrounding Reeuwijk. The joy of dinghy sailing quickly grew into a passion for high level sailing competition. The first major event at nine years old were the Optimist Dutch National Championships, finishing 10th place. It was the beginning of a successful career on the world sailing stage.

First at the 1994 Round Texel and the 1997 Cata World Cup, 1997 World Record holder -crossing Bay of Siam-, 1999 Winner of the Nations Trophy; 2001, 2002 and 2003 nominated for the ‘Conny van Rietschoten Trofee'. Winner of Round Texel 2004, Dutch sailor of the Year 2004