▁retired ▁from ▁active ▁business ▁and ▁was ▁looking ▁for ▁a ▁fresh ▁challenge . ▁He ▁had ▁read ▁reports ▁about ▁the ▁first ▁Whit b read ▁Race , ▁saw ▁it ▁as ▁the ▁opportunity ▁of ▁a ▁lifetime ▁– ▁and ▁gra bb ed ▁it ▁with ▁both ▁hands . ▁Van ▁R iet sch oten ▁was ▁unknown ▁as ▁a ▁sail or ▁even ▁in ▁his ▁own ▁waters ▁before ▁compet ing ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 7 – 7 8 ▁Whit b read ▁Round ▁the ▁World ▁Race . ▁▁▁ ▁What ▁set ▁Van ▁R iet sch oten ▁ahead ▁of ▁the ▁established ▁sail ing ▁names ▁like ▁Sir ▁Robin ▁Kno x - John ston ▁and ▁É ric ▁Tab ar ly ▁was ▁a ▁professional ▁business ▁approach ▁to ▁his ▁campaign s . ▁His ▁eight - year ▁ten ure ▁at ▁the ▁top ▁of ▁the ▁sport ▁sp elled ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁amateur ▁g ung - ho ▁ocean ▁racing ▁entries . ▁He ▁may ▁well ▁have ▁continued ▁to ▁see ▁himself ▁as ▁an ▁amateur , ▁but ▁he ▁set ▁levels ▁of ▁professional ism ▁within ▁the ▁sport ▁that ▁were ▁not ▁repeated ▁until ▁Peter ▁Bla ke ▁also ▁won ▁every ▁leg ▁with ▁his ▁Stein l ager ▁ 2 ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 9 – 9 0 ▁Whit b read ▁Round ▁the ▁World ▁Race . ▁ ▁Van ▁R iet sch oten ▁was ▁first ▁to ▁undert ake ▁extensive ▁tri als ▁and ▁crew ▁training ▁before ▁the ▁race , ▁and ▁inv ested ▁in ▁research ▁to ▁improve ▁crew ▁cl othing , ▁rig s ▁and ▁weather ▁forec ast ing ▁techniques . ▁ ▁For ▁his ▁first ▁Whit b read ▁y acht