NORTH SEA RALLY 2023 18 to 20 August 2023
(FOLLOWED BY AN OPTION TO TAKE PART IN A DUTCH ICONIC 24
HOUR RACE)
Following Rob’s participation in the 2022 Cowes Rally he has sent over his
plan and programme for the 2023 North Sea Rally. This will be the third event,
when UK and Dutch members meet alternatively here and in Holland. Rob
has put together an exciting programme incorporating the following and as
described by him:

He would like to see if there is somehow a way to get some of the North sea
rally participants also engaged in the 24 hours race, which is an event that is
organized by the  Nederlandse Kustzeilers . The plan is as follows:

  • The Contessa 26 Northsea rally will take place on August 18, 19 and
    20. This is the weekend before the 24 hour race. The venue of the
    Northsea rally is not yet sure, but it will be in Zeeland, so on the
    South side of the Netherlands. This should make the participation of
    the South coast and East coast fleet more convenient.
  • He has already proposed to the Contessazeilers Benelux to combine
    our Northsea rally with the traditional summer gathering. This means
    that we will have other types of Contessa's in the gathering, and
    potentially a larger group of ships. During the event we'll do the
    normal things: visit some things, have a fun race, eat & drink.
  • In the week following the Northsea rally, we organise for everybody
    who is interested a flotilla style trip from Zeeland to the IJsselmeer.
    The current idea is do this along the Northsea coast, potentially
    visiting Scheveningen and Amsterdam, but this is still open.
  • The target is that the fleet is at one of the starting locations for the 24
    hour race on the IJsselmeer by Friday 25. One can start from a
    number of ports on the IJsselmeer with the 24 hour race and all ships
    end the race in Medemblik.
  • The idea is to reserve a place in the harbour of Medemblik for the
    Contessa fleet, so that we are all together. Normally, the Saturday is
    a nice event with all participants of the race, music and maybe some
    drinks.
  • On Sunday everybody can go his / her own way again.

The overall rule of the whole thing is that everybody can opt in or out for each
of the components of the whole event, so can do:

  • The Northsea rally / Contessa zellers (or parts of it), and/or
  • The flotilla style trip to the Ijsselmeer (so if somebody wants to take an
    alternative route to the Ijsselmeer / Markermeer, that is possible),
    and/or
  • Participate in the 24 hour race. As this is a separately organised event,
    I am not sure if ships that do not participate with the race, but do
    want to be at the Saturday night  event are allowed to dock with the
    race participants.

Fees for each of the Contessa events will depend on what meals and drinks
people will participate in; subscription for the 24 hour race is with the
Nederlandse Kustzeilers.

If you have any questions, please contact Rob whose email is
rob.kolster@gmail.com

Also to register initial interest and enter please also email Rob, and advise
membership@contessa26.net