Category: WC2012

The opening ceremony commences at 1800hrs.

FLYING DUTCHMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2012;

Santa Cruz Yacht Club, Santa Cruz, California, USA

23 – 30 September 2012 Day 1 – Regatta Inspection and Practice Race

Many FDs arrived earlier in the week by container from Australia, Europe & New Zealand, others arrived by car from various remote parts of North America after driving many days to reach Santa Cruz.

The Regatta Inspection team had made good progress checking the FDs, sails, spars & equipment of those that had arrived early and so by the end of the first day most of the FDs had been inspected by the hard working team. Meanwhile the reception team handed out T-Shirts, Harken folders and paper work for the event.

After a foggy start to the day, the sun tried hard to break through; the light winds increased to the 8 to 12 knot winds for the practice race which started after a postponement and a general recall. Over 30 FDs joined in the practice race and others came out into the race area after completing their regatta inspection. The course was a traditional triangle, sausage finishing upwind of the first mark.

Lin Robson & Adriaan Schmal (USA 36) gained an early lead in Lin’s new Mader. At the first leeward mark they were followed by Killian Koenig & Johannes Brack (GER 113). The current World and European Champions – Szabolcs Majthenyi & Andras Domokos (HUN 70),  Nicola & Francesco Vespasiani (ITA 4) and Enno Krammer & Ard Geelkerken (NED 26) were chasing close behind.

Some say that winning the practice race is unlucky, so we shall see if Nicola & Francesco Vespasiani (ITA 4) who crossed the finishing line first can maintain their form! The second practice race is scheduled for 1300hrs on Monday 24 September. This will be followed by the Opening Ceremony. For more information see www.fdworlds2012.org photos are at www.facebook.com/ifdco

The 2nd practice race, scheduled to start at 1300hrs has been postponed due to lack of wind! Boats were released to sail out of the harbour. The wind did not increase beyond 4knots across the course so racing for the day was abandoned at 1400hrs.

The containers have arrived from Europe, New Zealand and Australia.

Frank Nooijen did a great job coordinating 4 containers from Europe to transport boats from Holland, Germany, Italy, Hungary and Romania. Edward Cox coordinated the container from Australia and Dave Gibbs from New Zealand sorted out the Kiwi’s.

We all used same agent, Sea Shipping in Oakland to clear Customs which went relative painless, only a few containers were taken out for intense exam by CBP, Customs & Border Patrol and had to go through X-Ray before they could be delivered. We had Kiwi Transport in the marina, standby for off loading on arrival, which all happened within a few hours.

From Santa Cruz Yacht Club we had our two most reliable supports, Steve and Charlie, who both have done an outstanding job of getting the containers gated in per direction from the Harbor Authorities, and we are very pleased that all containers have arrived timely and safe. We can go sailing!

Sailing Instructions for the 2012 World Championships have been posted. They can be found under the “Official” tab on the event site, www.fdworlds2012.org.  Please note that these are Preliminary Sailing Instructions.  Official SIs will be distributed at Registration and notice of changes will be posted on the regatta bulletin board.  We will attempt to make the most recent changes available on the event site, but the bulletin board will have the official version. 

Flying Dutchman sailors are eligible for the One-Design Insurance Program provided by the Gowrie Group. This program is endorsed by US Sailing and insures more one-design boats than any other insurance program. With the 2012 World Championship just around the corner, those who have not secured required coverage for the event can arrange for a policy by contacting the Gowrie Group

This PDF clearly explains how sailors can get the required insurance in place before the regatta. In addition to the standard 12 month annual policy Gowrie also offer single event insurance policies to accommodate Non-US residents and those chartering boats.

Please do not delay!  If you have issues finding coverage in the Untied States for the event, you still have time to have it in place.