From a "sixteen Square" (Dutch Dinghy) to Red Max
Since his return in 1969 a number of events determined his life's course such as his marriage, starting the company Rucanor in Belgium and the birth of his three children.
By 1974 the Van Rijswijk family bought a "Lemmerhengst" a traditional Dutch flat-bottomed boat with which they sailed on the Oosterschelde, which at that stage was still one of the river arms open to the North Sea. It would be nearly ten years later before Bas, through participation in major regatta's around the world, got to know grand prix and ocean sailing.

Slowly the idea grew to enter a yacht in the Whitbread race under the banner of Rucanor. He started on the construction of Rucanor-Tristar to the design of Ribadeau-Dumas.

Sailing without compromises
In 1986 the late Staf Versluys managed to take first place in his class and fifth overall in the Whitbread. Meanwhile this active owner (Bas) kept sailing himself and was seen in the Azores, The Shetlands and Scandinavia. In 1988 he met Bruno Dubois between Lorient, Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Under his supervision modifications were made to Rucanor's mast and keel and the total displacement got reduced. The yacht left for a circumnavigation under the name Rucanor Commodore, but a collision with a whale ended the trip before it could be completed. Today she sails under the name Tomidi Rucanor, after being sold to Dirk Gunst who keeps her in the Belgium port of Ostend.
Bas Van Rijswijk continued with a string of racing successes on the yacht J-Star, a production J44 which performed well but complied less and less with his secret plan: "to go and sail forever without any compromises".
"My ideal yacht doesn't exist" was his conclusion, but then, being on holiday in Cape Town during Christmas 1996, he saw "Warrior" for the first time!