CNCE will take part in three major regatta events in 2017: the Delta Weekend in Colijnsplaat (June), Cowes Week in the UK (July/August), and, as usual the Antwerp Race (October). We will also take part in the Mossel Race in mid-August, as well as other weekend racing activities in Zeeland which will be decided upon on an ad hoc basis. Unlike cruising, yacht racing is a competitive sport which requires agility and practice, as well as a compact crew who know the boat well and who have trained together. It is not unlike a football team, where training and coordination under the leadership of a skipper are needed for the boat to be pushed to its top speed at all times. That is why members who would like to crew in races are required to attend some practical training on sail trimming and manouevres. The CNCE is looking to build a regular racing team for BlueOne, our First 36.7, during major events like Cowes Week. Other races like the Antwerp Race, where the club takes part each year with three boats, is usually a good occasion for those who are looking to experience racing for the first time. The club will this year organise some onshore theory courses on racing rules and tactics, so look out for this space and our Nav Letter if you are interested.
10 June Hansweert to Antwerp A 20-mile race on the Schelde starting from Hansweert and ending in downtown Antwerp.
23 - 25 June Delta Weekend (Colijnsplaat) A weekend of racing, usually with one race per day, in the Oosterschelde. Races are organised on the west and east of the Zeeland Bridge, depending on the boat category. In 2017, participating yachts and onshore activities will be based in the village of Colijnsplaat.
29 July - 5 August Cowes Week (United Kingdom) We will take part in a whole week of racing in the UK with our boat, BlueOne. Cowes Week is the sailing event of the year in the United Kingdom. The activity will be combined with four weeks of cruising. Two separate crews will deliver BlueOne across the Channel from Zeeland to the Solent in July so that she can be raced in Cowes in the first week of August. After that, two other crews will cruise the English Channel and bring her back to the Netherlands.
24 August - 27 August Breskens Sailing Weekend (The Netherlands) A weekend of summer racing in the estuary of the Schelde, with Breskens serving as the permanent berthing place during the event.
Antwerp Race 2017
07 October Antwerp Race This is the classic race which sees tens of boats racing on the Schelde eastwards towards Antwerp. The race is a classic for Dutch and Belgian sailors, and also for CNCE, as we have been taking part in it regularly for several years. Demand is usually high from members, so we will rent up to three boats to race with the rest of the pack. It is usually a major sailing challenge given the strong currents and the amount of boats, but is a fun activity which year after year attracts many club members.
One of three CNCE teams racing on board Aquavitesse 11 (First 36.7) during the 2016 Antwerp Race
Join the most popular race in Belgium! 6, 7, 8 October, 2017
This year, the Antwerp Race will take place on Saturday 7 October, 2017.
As usual, the race will start in Breskens, NL, and Terneuzen, NL, for bigger and smaller boats respectively. Boats will sail the 40 or so nautical miles along the Schelde river with the finish line in downtown Antwerp.
We will participate with three boats: - Our boat BlueOne (First 36.7) - skipper: Jochen Brodersen - Chartered Aquavitesse 11 (First 36.7) - skipper: Massimo Farrugia - Chartered Aquavitesse 8 (First 31.7) - skipper: Stamatis Varsamos (may or may not be an all-female crew, depending on subscriptions)
The event will happen over three days:
Friday, 6 October Delivery of boats from Wemeldinge (in case of BlueOne) and Bruinisse (in case of Aquavitesse Boats) to Breskens or Terneuzen starting early morning on Friday. This will include essential race training and preparation. We would usually carpool and drive from Brussels on Thursday evening after work, sleep on the boats and depart early morning.
Saturday, 7 October Race starts around 9am and ends around 4pm, depending on the winds. This is usually followed by crew dinner in Antwerp
Sunday, 8 October Departure from Antwerp harbour at around 3:30am/4am or whenever the locks open, in order to get the ebbing tide towards Hanswert, before taking the big lock towards the Oosterschelde and re-deliver the boats.
Participation Fee EUR270 The Participation fee for this event is EUR270 per person. It includes the boat charter price, as well as race and berthing fees. It excludes kitty and diesel, which need to be settled among each boat crew separately at the end of the event.