2009 Season Prelude

May 11, 2009

As you may know, during her stay on the Southern Hemisphere, WINSOME has suffered some problems with electrolysis. From so many miles away it is hard to tell, how severe WINSOME’s injuries are. Theun has studied the photographs sent by his Melbourne based counterpart. He concludes that repairs, including a full service of the whole mast, will take approximately 12 to 14 days. Carl will take care of the electrical part.WINSOME has left Tauranga (New Zealand) on board the m/v Spaarnegracht and is on her way to the Panama Canal together with 10.000 tons of onions. A rendezvous with Somali Pirates is not very likely. WINSOME is scheduled to arrive in Flushing the 5th of June.  Delivery from Flushing to Zaandam will again be done by truck.  So repairs will reasonably start the 8th of June.

                           

All in all, repairs will probably not be finished before the 20th of June. That means, that unfortunately we will have to cancel the 2009 Round the Island Race.A new programme has been made for the 2009 Sailing season. The figure on the right reflects how many crew is still needed.

Preparation by crew	Zaandam	0	27 Jun	All
Keuteltocht	Zaand – Schev	40 NM	28 Jun	4
Delivery NLD – Cowes	Zaandam/Schev	230 NM	3 Jul – 5 Jul	2
Cowes-Dinard-st Malo	Cowes incl re-del	164	10 Jul (Fri)	2
Channel race	Cowes	100-175	25 Jul (Sat)	5
Cowesweek training	Solent		30 & 31 Jul	2
Cowesweek	Solent		1-8 Aug	2
Rolex Fastnet Race	Cowes incl re-del	608	9 Aug (Sun)	0
Cowes-Cherbourg	Cowes	75	4 Sept (Fri)	5
Re-del Cherb – NLD	Cherbourg	330	5-7 Sept	3

Please have a look at your busy agendas and let me know for which and how many races you are available. For any question, please feel free to contact me (preferably by e-mail).

In the meantime preparations for the upcoming season have continued. A lot of work has been done on WINSOME’s cottage. (Pics attached).  Thanks to Catherine, Brenda, Emma, John and Dan the results may be called stunning. A nice garden for after sail G&T, wonderful bedrooms for full crew comfort and a furnished living/dining room for the social works. There a no excuses not to come to Cowes this year!

    

This season will have it’s usual kick-off  by Chef Johan at 17:00 Sunday 7th of  June with the annual crew diner at the Prins Hendriklaan 5, AMSTERDAM. R.S.V.P.. Bringing spouse and loved ones is optional, bringing own children is mandatory.This will be a wonderful occasion to get together, have a drink and chit chat about the last and upcoming seasons. This also is a great opportunity for potential crew to meet with Harry and the other crew.So if you are interested in sailing with us, or you have (made) potential crew, please let me know and bring them to this social event.Hope to meet all of you the 7th of June at 17:00.Kind regards,Boj.