North Sea Regatta to Host New Race: The C-19 Windmill Race

 

RORC North Sea Race and Vuurschepen Race both cancelled due to travel restrictions in the UK. NSR to organize exciting replacement race.

 

During this year’s upcoming Ascension Day Weekend, on Friday May 14th and Saturday May 15th the North Sea Regatta will host a brand-new Race: the NSR C-19 Windmill Race.

The NSR C-19 Race will cover a figure eight course providing exciting and challenging racing around existing marks such as buoys, wind farms and platforms on the North Sea, starting and finishing in Scheveningen. The ORC/IRC 1 and 2 divisions and the Double Handed division will sail a 160 NM long course and the ORC 3 and SW-division will follow a short course of 130 NM.

“The NSR C-19 Windmill Race is a great alternative offshore race to replace both the Vuurschepen Race and the RORC North Sea Race. Due to the strict travel restrictions to enter the UK and the current Covid-19 regulations both races won’t be able to take place this year.” comments Peter Tjalma chair of the North Sea Regatta Foundation.

 

Frans Driessen, Event Director of the North Sea Regatta adds: “On the day before the start, Ascension Day May 13th, the race teams have the opportunity to prepare their yachts for the race. On both the preparation day as well as the awards ceremony day, the organizing committee anticipates to plan a fun filled program suitable to fit the Covid-19 regulations in place at that time.”

 

De NSR-19 Windmill Race counts as a qualifier event for the Fastnet Race 2021. In order to qualify to participate in the Fastnet Race at least 50% of the crew (with a minimum of 2) including the Person in Charge is required to have sailed 300 NM of offshore races, where an offshore race is considered to be more than 75 miles including at least one night at sea.

 

“With the cancellation of the originally scheduled races there is even an opportunity to organize an extra Fasnet qualifying race on Tuesday May 11th and Wednesday May 13th. Interested skippers can send a mail to info@nsr.nl.” concludes Frans.

General Information about the North Sea Regatta

The North Sea Regatta is an annual sailing event hosted by North Sea Regatta and Jachtclub Scheveningen during the Whitsun and Ascension holiday period. This event is the annual highlight for regatta sailors on tidal waters of the coast of Scheveningen The Hague. It is the ultimate sailing location where sailors of many different divisions can sharpen their skills, battle for the prizes at stake and meet each other onshore.

 

The Open Dutch Championships ORC 1, 2 and 3 are being held during the NSR and is a key event counting treble scoring in the annual competition of the Dutch competition for the “Verbondsbezem” title of the Dutch Watersportverbond.

Last but not least the North Sea Regatta is the best event where volunteers are able to practice and improve their race management skills on open tidal water. This practice is crucial in order to conduct fair and equal racing in the upcoming top sport events as the Youth Sailing World Championships in 2022 and the World Championships in 2023 in Scheveningen The Hague.