Introduction
Sailing is deeply rooted in the culture of Bonaire. BonSailing is an organization dedicated to the responsible development of sailing and wind-powered sports on Bonaire, including education, safety and environmental stewardship.
As our activities and partnerships expand, BonSailing is making an important transition from a foundation to a federation. This change reflects our growing role as a representative body for clubs, athletes, instructors, and stakeholders, and strengthens our ability to engage effectively with both local and Dutch governmental structures. As a federation, BonSailing aims to strengthen coordination, improve policy dialogue, and help shape sustainable frameworks that benefit both the sailing community and Bonaire as a whole.
To support this transition, BonSailing requires a strong and balanced Board. We are looking for individuals who feel they can contribute to any of the roles outlined below. Interested candidates are invited to contact us at board@bonsailing.org for more information.
Board Expectations
Board members are expected to actively contribute to the development of BonSailing and its activities. This includes participation in meetings, engagement with stakeholders, and support in decision-making processes.
Board roles are voluntary but carry professional responsibility. Members are expected to act in the best interest of the federation, maintain transparency, and contribute to a collaborative and respectful working environment.
BonSailing seeks a balanced Board that reflects both the local Bonaire community and the diversity of watersport disciplines, and encourages candidates from different backgrounds to apply.
1. President (Chairperson)
Profile:
The President provides overall leadership and represents BonSailing at both local and national levels.
This role requires the ability to operate within two different governance systems: the local structure of Bonaire and the Dutch governmental framework that influences policy, funding and compliance.
The President must understand that decision-making on Bonaire is not purely formal. Relationships, trust, cultural awareness and consistency are essential. At the same time, the President must be able to engage with ministries, funding bodies and formal institutions in a structured and professional manner.
Within the watersports context, the President must recognize that sailing on Bonaire is not a single discipline. Windsurfing at Lac Bay, kitesurfing at Atlantis, traditional boto piskado sailing, and organized dinghy or yacht sailing all operate within different realities. The President must be able to represent all of these without bias, ensuring that BonSailing develops as a federation rather than a single-discipline organization.
The ideal candidate is a respected and well-connected individual who combines strategic thinking with strong local awareness, and who can act as a bridge between community, sport and government.
Purpose: Strategic leadership, government relations, and safeguarding the federation’s mission.
Responsibilities:
- Lead the federation’s long-term strategic plan for sailing development
- Represent BonSailing to government, regional federations, and international bodies
- Oversee governance, compliance, and ethical standards
- Approve policies for fair and transparent distribution of government funds
- Ensure alignment between clubs, committees, and national goals
- Ensure that appropriate safety standards and risk management frameworks are in place at the federation level
2. Vice President
Profile: The Vice President is responsible for translating strategy into execution. Where the President represents and leads, the Vice President ensures that activities actually happen.
This role requires a strong understanding of the operational complexity of organizing watersports on Bonaire. Activities may involve multiple locations, coordination with STINAPA regulations, safety arrangements, volunteers, clubs, schools and private operators. Each discipline has different logistical and environmental constraints, and these must be aligned within one coherent planning structure.
The Vice President must be able to coordinate across these differences without overcomplicating processes. This includes ensuring that events, training sessions and collaborative initiatives are realistic, well-organized and aligned with available resources.
The ideal candidate is highly organized, practical, and capable of managing multiple stakeholders in a small-island context where flexibility and problem-solving are essential.
Purpose: Operational leadership and coordination of strategic initiatives.
Responsibilities:
- Oversee implementation of the long-term development plan
- Coordinate between clubs, committees, and government stakeholders
- Ensure operational transparency in fund distribution processes
- Lead major projects including infrastructure, training systems, and regatta expansion
- Maintain oversight of facilities, equipment standards, and safety compliance
3. Secretary / Governance & Documentation Lead
Profile: The Secretary ensures that BonSailing operates in a transparent, structured and accountable manner. This role is particularly important in the Bonaire context, where informal communication is common, but formal documentation is required for accountability, funding and compliance.
The Secretary must be able to bridge these two worlds. This includes maintaining clear records of decisions, structuring communication with stakeholders, and ensuring that BonSailing’s activities can be properly reported to local and Dutch authorities, as well as to sponsors and partners.
Given the interaction with Dutch systems, strong written communication in Dutch is essential. At the same time, accessibility for the local community should be maintained, which makes multilingual awareness an important asset.
The ideal candidate is structured, precise and reliable, with an understanding of governance processes and the importance of institutional continuity.
Purpose: Administrative integrity, documentation, and regulatory compliance.
Responsibilities:
- Maintain official records, minutes, and legal documentation
- Manage communication with clubs, government departments, and partners
- Maintain transparent documentation of fund allocation decisions
- Oversee membership systems and compliance reporting
- Maintain safety documentation, incident logs, and regulatory filings
4. Treasurer / Finance & Accountability Lead
Profile: The Treasurer is responsible for financial oversight and ensures that BonSailing manages its resources transparently and fairly.
BonSailing’s activities involve multiple income streams, including sponsorships, event revenues, and potential public funding. The Treasurer must ensure that these funds are allocated in a way that is transparent and justifiable across the different disciplines and activities represented within the organization.
This role also requires sensitivity to the local context. Financial decisions must not only be correct on paper, but also perceived as fair by the community. Clear communication about how funds are used is essential to maintain trust.
The ideal candidate has a background in finance or administration and is able to combine technical accuracy with clear and transparent communication.
Purpose: Financial stewardship, accountability, and transparent fund management.
Responsibilities:
- Manage all federation finances, including government funds
- Prepare budgets, financial statements, and audited annual reports
- Develop and maintain a fair distribution framework for club funding
- Track spending, grants, and program budgets
- Maintain asset inventories and equipment depreciation schedules
- Support fundraising strategy with committees
5. Director of Sailing & Competition
Profile: This position is responsible for the sporting and technical development of sailing and wind-powered disciplines within BonSailing.
On Bonaire, this requires a broad and inclusive approach. Traditional sailing, such as boto piskado, carries cultural significance and community value, while modern disciplines such as windsurfing and kitesurfing operate within international sport frameworks and specific environmental regulations.
The Director must understand these differences and ensure that each discipline is properly supported, without forcing them into a single model. This includes coordinating race structures, safety standards, training opportunities, and collaboration across disciplines, as well as overseeing the technical preparation and execution of events.
Within this role, responsibility for environmental compliance and safety coordination is structurally embedded. All activities must be planned and executed in accordance with Marine Park regulations, including the designated separation of windsurfing and kitesurfing zones, as well as broader environmental and maritime safety requirements.
The Director works in close coordination with relevant authorities, including STINAPA and other regulatory bodies, and ensures that safety procedures, risk management, and environmental considerations are consistently integrated into all events, training activities, and competitions. Where required, the Director takes a leading role in decision-making related to safety, compliance, and operational feasibility.
The ideal candidate has strong technical knowledge of sailing or watersports, combined with the ability to work across disciplines and with sensitivity to both tradition and innovation.
Purpose: Lead all sporting, technical, and developmental aspects of sailing.
Responsibilities:
- Oversee coaching standards, race management, and competition rules
- Develop island-wide training pathways across all sailing disciplines
- Identify long-term development needs including coaches, equipment, and facilities
- Provide technical input for government funding priorities
- Ensure safety boats, marks, and race equipment meet standards
- Liaise with regional and international sailing bodies
Committees: Role of Committees within BonSailing
As BonSailing transitions into a federation, the scope of its activities continues to expand across multiple disciplines, stakeholders, and areas of responsibility. The Board is responsible for strategic direction, governance, and accountability. However, the operational and community-based nature of sailing and watersports on Bonaire requires broader involvement than the Board alone can provide.
For this reason, BonSailing works with committees that support specific areas such as youth development, community engagement, and marketing. These committees play a crucial role in translating strategy into practice and ensuring that activities remain connected to the needs of the community.
Committees operate under the guidance and responsibility of the Board. Each committee focuses on a defined area and contributes expertise, local knowledge, and capacity to develop and implement programs, events, and initiatives. While committees may include volunteers and stakeholders from outside the Board, their activities remain aligned with the overall direction and policies established by the Board.
This structure allows BonSailing to remain both strategically coordinated and locally responsive. It ensures that decisions are made at Board level, while execution and community engagement are strengthened through wider participation.
Committees therefore function as an extension of the Board: they provide input, support implementation, and help ensure that BonSailing remains inclusive, practical, and grounded in the realities of Bonaire.
A. Youth & Education Lead
Profile: The Youth & Education Lead focuses on making sailing and watersports accessible to young people on Bonaire.
This role must take into account the realities of the island. Not all children have access to equipment, transportation or parental support. Therefore, programs must be designed in a way that is inclusive and realistic, working closely with schools, afterschool programs and community organizations.
The focus is not only on developing future athletes, but also on building life skills, water safety awareness and a connection to Bonaire’s maritime environment.
The ideal candidate has experience in education, youth work or coaching, and understands how to engage young people in a meaningful and accessible way.
Purpose: Build the next generation of sailors and support long-term growth.
Responsibilities:
- Develop youth programs, school partnerships, and junior pathways.
- Organize youth regattas and training camps.
- Support instructor certification and coaching development.
- Provide input for youth-related funding needs.
- Assist with fundraising for youth travel, equipment, and scholarships.
B. Community & Maritime Culture Lead
Profile: This role ensures that BonSailing remains connected to Bonaire’s community and cultural heritage.
Sailing on Bonaire is deeply rooted in history, particularly through the tradition of boto piskado and the origins of the Regatta. This role ensures that these elements are preserved and integrated into modern activities, rather than being treated as separate or symbolic.
The Community & Culture Lead works with local families, volunteers, and cultural stakeholders to maintain relevance and inclusivity. This includes ensuring that BonSailing is not perceived as serving only one group, but remains accessible and meaningful to the broader community.
The ideal candidate is well-connected locally, understands the cultural context of the island, and is able to engage people across generations.
Purpose: Strengthen Bonaire’s maritime identity and community participation.
Responsibilities:
- Lead cultural initiatives including micro boats, heritage sailing, and community events.
- Coordinate volunteers and community outreach.
- Support clubs in organizing local events and mini regattas.
- Provide input for community-focused funding allocations.
- Lead community-based fundraising activities.
C. Marketing, Media & Partnerships Lead
Profile: The Marketing Lead is responsible for how BonSailing presents itself to the public, sponsors and partners.
This role goes beyond promotion. It involves telling the story of BonSailing as a combination of sport, culture, youth development and community engagement. Communication must resonate with both local audiences and external stakeholders, including potential sponsors and international participants.
The Marketing Lead must ensure that BonSailing’s identity remains authentic and grounded in Bonaire, while also being professionally presented.
The ideal candidate has experience in communication, marketing or partnerships, and understands how to balance local authenticity with broader visibility.
Purpose: Build visibility, partnerships, and financial sustainability.
Responsibilities:
- Manage branding, communications, and digital presence.
- Develop sponsorship packages and partner relationships.
- Oversee media coverage of events and programs.
- Lead fundraising campaigns, donor relations, and promotional events.
- Support clubs with marketing materials and event promotion.
- Assist the Treasurer in identifying external funding opportunities.