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Netherlands, Easterseeregatta 2017

Oosterzee

26 - 27 August

by Wietze Huitema

Jörg Rademacher Wins Allmost Windless Regatta

Fourty-six OK sailors from seven nations brought their dinghies to Oosterzee to race for the Open Dutch Championship 2017 that was combined with this years Eastersee Regatta. There were some countries we didn't receive entries from in previous editions. Tony Woods came all the way from Great Britain, Florent Delacourt and Remi Blandureau from France and Tomasz Gaj and Marek Bernat from Poland. Great they put in the effort to come to the lake Tjeukemeer. On friday evening more than half of the fleet already arrived and it looks the diner plates at the Cafe/Restaurant will become tradition. It was a wonderful evening and sitting outside we ate our plates. Some beers to go with that and then to bed.

Saturday

Saturday morning started sunny, warm and with a good breakfast, but unfortunately the wind forecast was not so great. The racing committee decided we would go on the water and hope the small breeze would grow to a steady wind. But all that happened was the temperature went up. And while the sun baked the sailors on their OK’s, the wind didn't build up. To boost morale, the organisation handed out a 'broodje kroket’ on the water. A Dutch traditional meat snack on bread. Half an hour after that, racing was postponed untill further notice and the fleet came to shore along with the racing committee. Then at half past four some breeze came in and the fleet went out for one race close to shore. At least we were racing, but still the wind was hard to find sometimes.

Claus Stockhardt (GER) took the win for Jörg Rademacher (GER) and Ralf Mackmann (GER). Stephan Veldman (NED) came in fourth which is really well in this fleet. Another surprise was that Rob Ligtenberg (NED) rounded the first mark in place six but he had a very hard time to stay up front. Nevertheless great sailing from him with his aluminium masted OK. Susanne Mackmann did great in the fleet and managed to take fifth place and be the best female sailor of the day. At half past seven, when everyone had taken a shower, it was time for BBQ, drinks and Rod Andrew (racing for Belgium but born British) to take the stage with his lovely music. He knows how to create the perfect ambiance and we all had a great time drinking, talking and listening to the music. Rob Ligtenberg showed his skills on the accordion. So an OK class band is in the making I guess ;)

Sunday

Sunday started again with breakfast and looking out the tent directly on the waterfront. Wind, not much but wind... The race officer and his crew ordered racing to start at 10.00 hours and they immediately started to put the course in. One race, very hard because of the windshifts and winddroppings. A race with boats out of the finishing time limit. The start was tight and hard. Two boats early over the line. Thorsten Schmidt (GER) and Christian Heinze (GER). Christian was the only one to returm and start again. So Thorsten got an OCS despite crossing the finish line second. Christian managed to finish seventh despite his double start. As always the best sailors are more in the front of the fleet. Both Polish sailors Tomasz Gaj and Marek Bernat found the best wind and finished first and second. Third was 'mister consistency' Ralf Mackmann (GER). After that the wind stayed shifty, so again postponement and back to the shore. At one o clock after phoning the meteorologist, the signal came there wasn't going to be any more racing this weekend. Very unfortunate but the wind is about the only thing we couldn't control this weekend.

Results

For a national championship four races were needed to constitute a series. So no Dutch national champion in 2017 and Dirk Dame stays raining Dutch champion for at least one more year. The final ranking based on both races was made and Jörg Rademacher took the win with a 2 and a 4. Just beating Ralf Mackmann with a 3 and 3. Third was Claus Stockhardt with 9 points. Best female sailor was Susanne Mackmann ranked 11th in the final ranking. Best Dutch sailor, like last year, Stephan Veldman ranking 6th. And some special prices. Best sailor with a wooden mast, not for the first time, Rod Andrew. And best sailor with an aluminum mast, Rob Ligtenberg. Two special prices (small frisian windbags to use in their home country), to thank them for their multiple hours long drive, went to Marek Bernat and Tomasz Gaj from Poland and to Tony Woods from Great Britain. We had a good time, with nice weather, meeting friends that share a love for the OK dinghy. We learned a lot from each other and we hope to see everyone back at the other regatta's and of course next year for the fifth Eastersee Regatta during the last weekend of August 2018 !