David Björkqvist
I grew up on the island of Replot in the Vaasa archipelago, Finland, where the sea and adventure were a big part of my childhood. While studying Mechanical Engineering, I discovered that my real strengths lay in project management, communication and bringing people together. I moved to Sweden in 2023 and, after discovering offshore sailing through On The Wind, I applied to become a 59° North apprentice. I got selected and quickly became hooked. What started as a YouTube rabbit hole has since turned into a passion for sailing, adventure and life at sea.
David
in action
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APPRENTICE
Finland
BIO
I grew up on the island of Replot, in the Vaasa archipelago in western Finland. As a Swedish-speaking Finn, I grew up in a minority bubble influenced by both Finland and Sweden. With the sea only 100 metres away my childhood was spent swimming, playing and going on adventures with friends. After military service, I studied Mechanical Engineering, inspired by my work with diamond drilling and an interest in technology and problem-solving. However, through my involvement in a student association, organising events and building community, I realised I was far better suited to project management, communication and sponsorships than physics and maths. During the COVID pandemic, I went through a difficult period. By chance, I came across a YouTube video about liveaboard sailors, which opened my eyes to a completely new world and inspired me to start sailing. In 2023, I moved to Sweden with my girlfriend Nike. While working as a mechanical designer, I started listening to On The Wind, applied to become an apprentice, was selected, and now I’m properly hooked on sailing.