Sailing Race - Muiden > Ijmuiden June 16, 2011

Dear Lake Calhoun sailors,

It is good to see that the 2011 Calhoun Keel boat races are under way and here is some news of the other site of the big water.  I will do my first sailing during a 2 days race on a 34th boat owned by my old Navy friend and colleague Tom.

The Casle at the harbour entrance.

Harbour of Muiden.

The 2011 North Holland Race will be held for the 15th time. We will start training Wednesday June 16 to get good results and we will sail deep into the night. Boat handling in the dark must run smoothly and it’s good to fresh the memory regarding the different light characteristics on and around the water. At the same time we sail in the direction of the City of Muiden where the race will start the next day with more than 250 sailing boats in all different classes.

We will set course to Enkhuizen where we all have to go through the lock before we have another passage to enter the Wadden zee, the sea passage laying between the Dutch islands and the North of Holland from there we will enter the North Sea and finish in Ijmuiden (the place Werner left for the USA 50 years ago) the entrance to the channel to Amsterdam.

It will be a different race than a Calhoun race where we have to tack after 10 minutes as we run out of water. I hope I don't get sea sick lol.

Never the less I will miss sailing with you guys.

Fair winds.

Henk.

This is not the Flying Dutchman

Wyatt's 2011 Ocean Sailing experience

From Wyatt                                    May 2011

JWO or Junior Watch Officer is exciting. The crew are still there but you control the ship, the crew only says something if you are going to put the ship in danger.

 I was the JWO on the twelve to four am watch beating up Buzzard’s Bay with confusing lights all around.


At night it is extremely cold and things are a bit confusing so I was a little freaked, but having the boat under my command gave me a huge power trip. I can’t wait to be JWO again.

 
 
 
 
See you all soon at Lake Calhoun.
 
Wyatt.

Photos by Will Winter

How beautiful is Lake Calhoun

Thank you Will Winter

Great pics

Back to sailing in Holland

Lake Calhoun sailing friends,


Now that winter has gone and spring took its place all sailors the world over are preparing their boats to take the jump to freedom of being on the water and let the wind do its job to take them.

Wenona and I have been looking around close to our home of finding a lake with a sailor’s community; as there is so much water here that when you get out of bed you almost step in it.

We found such a place and I am invited to accompany and give sailing lessons to corporate sailing events during weekends. Boats are not that big here and there are no keel boats at this lake but later we will get our own 30 ft or so and invite you all to come for a ride.

Wind is sometimes a problem here as well.

There are racing events every weekend with a lot of participants

 Later we went for a drink at the close by Village Loenen aan de Vecht.

The river Vecht

A floating musician with his organ and trumpet entertained the people.

http://www.ottenhome.nl/home/

CYC Keel boat fleet is readying for the 2011 racing season

It is exciting to see the movement at the dock, keel boat captains and crews preparing their boats for the 2011 CYC Lake Calhoun Keelboat racing season.

Sailors still a bit stiff to shake of the past cold winter season moving on the decks still a little awkward to find their sailors legs and embracing the stays for help to stay onboard.

The CYC and Keel boat Fleet Captain Rick Kane invites and welcomes all new boat, captains and crews to take part of this racing season.

Two dead in capsizing 26' MacGregor

Capsized in San Diego

It would be horrible to have some sort of accident on Lake Calhoun. This means ALL boats, not intending to imply one boat or another is either prone, or impervious!!

 

Is great fun.................. untill something happens.



Lifejackets.

About 90 percent of people who drown in recreational boating incidents are not wearing a lifejacket. Even if you have one on board, conditions like rough winds and waves, and cold water can make it really hard, if not impossible, to find it and put it on.

Worse yet, if you unexpectedly fall into the water, the boat (with your lifejacket on board) could be too far away to reach.