July is getting closer and therefor we need to get more serious about the North Sea rally. The plans are still flexible and open for alternatives, so I would like to hear suggestions. For now, we will still will meet in Oudeschild, Texel on July 29. Here we will have a joined dinner.
The tide on Saturday is favorable for a trip east at a reasonable time, so we will sail together across the Waddenzee to Kornwerderzand, where we will go through the lock on to the Ijsselmeer. We’ll continue our trip an visit Hindeloopen. We’ll dock in the old Harbor. In this typical former South Sea village, we will have a joined drink and go for dinner somewhere in the village.
The last day of the Rally we’ll do a race from Hindeloopen to Enkhuizen. There will of course be a prize for the fastest Contessa 26. Possibly some Contessa 32’s will participate, and clearly these will be the ones to beat. Here we have 2 alternatives:
1 Continue to Hoorn, which is another 15 miles of pleasant sailing, after passing the locks to the Markermeer.
2 Stay in Enkhuizen and look around in the village
The first 9 ships that sign up officially (form attached), will determine what we will do. Majority counts. Whether it will be Enkhuizen or Hoorn, we’ll have our farewell dinner. Both Hoorn and Enkhuizen are excellent harbors to continue to Amsterdam, where our overseas visitors can stay overnight and continue to the Ijmuiden locks back to the Northsea.
For Local participants, who only want to spend the weekend in the Rally, participation is flexible. E.g. You could decide to join the fleet on Saturday in Hindeloopen, or for the Contessa that is located in Texel, only participate in the Friday event.
For the first Contessa 26 North Sea Rally there will be a plaque. This will be a collectors item! For this and other expenses, a small fee (approx. 25 euro) will be needed.
Again, we need to get a little more formal, as July is drawing nearer. Therefore I would like you to fill out the application form and return the form to me.
Kind regards,
Rob Kolster