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(1) RAID EXTREME
“DESTITUTUS VENTIS, REMOS ADHIBE” = “If the wind fails, apply the oars”.
Seen on the lake again recently - Not yet widely adopted at RSC.
Perfectly normal in the real world - “Sail-and-Oar”.
The intrepid (slowest boat on the lake) "Proteus" returned last month to Friesland in the extreme north of Netherlands, 95 miles beyond Amsterdam, for the annual 10-hour race, “Raid Extreme”.
Six checkpoints are spread around Lauwersmeer and its tributaries.
Visit them in any order between sunrise and 17:00.
The shortest route is at least 30 miles, plus tacking (unless you row)!
So,
“Destitutus ventis, remos adhibe”
To appreciate a real case – Read on..
COULD YOU BE UP FOR IT in 2025? (+/- Family?)
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Friday -
The night ferry from Harwich docks at Hoek van Holland at 08:00 (07:00 UK time) - Too early for breakfast on boad - There's a great place with easy parking near Gouda.
Stoked up, continue northward, buy provisions en-route and check into accommodation at Oostmahorn late afternoon, almost alongside the Catamaran Club where the action is centred.
Rig boat ready for early start tomorrow, and cover-up as well as possible.
17:00 - At the OMAHO Catamaran Club - Welcome and Palava (briefing) for Saturday - Meet friends made last year, and make new ones- A short drive to dinner in the "Itery bij de Mune" (Frisian - Eatery by the Mill) at Anjum.
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Bonifatius beer 20240914_124614Beer
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Itery bij de Mune
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Saturday - The Start - There are pictures and links to add to this section.
This is where it becomes extreme!
After a second short night; rise for breakfast before dawn; pack a lunch, walk to the Catamaran Club and make ready for a long day afloat.
In the semi-darkness there's much frantic activity of crews preparing.
A single hoot at 07:03 indicates sunrise and the start (no 5, 4, 1, Zero).– Crews rush to launch boats on the narrow beach.
A few craft come around from the marina where they were moored overnight - 24 boats from around Europe disappear into the surrise.
The rules are simple - Visit six checkpoints in any order you like and be first home. Finish before the 17:00 deadline.
Paddle, pedal, sail, row, multihull, canoe; any kind of boat allowed, but no motors, no handicaps, no safety boat.
Some people enjoy just cruising to a few checkpoints, stopping for lunch en-route and soaking up the sunshine - Less a case of "fierce competition, more a weekend for meeting of like-minded souls with a passion for sailing open boats." (Quote adapted from Hubert.)
Wind, SE Force 2. (What a contrast to the 40mph gusts Proteus survived at Falmouth in June!).
Proteus, determined to visit more checkpoints than last year heads South - A mistake? - Some old hands headed North - (See Map - top right)
Frantic preparation at the start 20240907_070400
Saturday - Day and evening - There are pictures and links to add to this section.
The breeze came and went, sometimes seeingly randomly, at others in the lee of trees. When progress under sail was slow “... remos adhibe”. When the wind could help, we used it. Sometimes we should have lowered the rig but you always hope the breeze will return. When is does, even brefly, you try to catch it. (Cue for a song?)
Our first checkpoint, Ezumazijl which is up a short side channel, was reached in six tacks and a little rowing. Some sailing and much rowing brought us to Lunegat in the SW. Going here may have been a mistake; there and back to the meer is 11 miles of river. We gained consolation by watching wildlife.
We determined Zoutkamp
(in the SE) should be our next desination; also up a longish trubutary thus possibly a second mistake, but there are few trees on the low banks. En-route we are rewarded by seeing the Highland Cattle which wade in the shallows. The SE wind propels us, with 20 or more tacks, all the way to a useful toilet stop.
Flushed (so to speak) back downstream by a following current, and with a broad reach across Lauwersmeer, we soon reached Gin-and-Tonic Island, eating lunch underway. Non-stop into the little bay at the island, loop around to starboard, then three tacks to get out again. With 4 checkpoints bagged, we ponder which others we might reach before 17:00. Not Lauwersoog in the NE (too far, and sometimes tricky approach / exit) - Maybe Hoek van de Bant in the NW? It woulld be 4.5 miles, then a return of 2 miles to the finsh. We decide to aim for Hoek van de Bant - If the wind improves, we'll manage. If not, we'll divert to the finish befofe if time runs out.
We soon realise taht the latter is the only option. The boathook makes a spinker-pole to spread the jib into the following wind. We finish with 30 minues to spare - not enough to have grabbed our 5th checkpoint. We'd earned 4 points, a better score than last year, and more than several other boats.
The winners were Bert Muller and Koos Winnips - reaching all 6 checkpoints in just 6 hours!
They'd paddled 'Kayak' all the way around - “Destitutus ventis, remos adhibe” - Where there's a will ... ..
The day rounded off with hilarious prizegiving then BBQ and pizza, kindly provided by Marten Jan and cooked in his portable oven. A great end to a great day.
Her crew (Paul and his Granson Bryn) were awarded medals for reaching four of the six checkpoints.
Pic from RX website Proteus & crew.
Sunday - There are pictures and links to add to this section.
We've not come this far only for a one-day event. On Sunday a respected long-term sail-maker celebrates his retirement. His son, a flim-maker records an impressive parade of sail, in what has now become a decent wind - (why not yesterday)? The event rounds off with drinks and nibbles at the marina restaurant "Raadsel van de Wadden" = Riddle of the Wadden (re. Erskine Childers' novel Riddle of the Sands).
That concludes the organised programme, but we're not finished yet! There are still corners of Lauwersmeer to explore, and waterways around the charming local fortified village, Dokkum.
Monday - We take a rest and collect Robin from the train
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Tuesday - We sail at amazing speed in a strong following wind to the marina at Lauwersoog in the NE of Lauwersmeer. While we are there the wind rises even more so while tacking back to the meer we decide to abandon the attempt and return to the marina. A walk, a bus ride and a walk along a meer-side dike take us back "home" where we collect the car and trailer to retrieve Proteus by road.
Wednesday - By road (the weather is poor) we visit a "RustPunt" - There are hundreds of these often quirky refreshment stops scattered across Netherlands. Usually they are close to waterways or the excellent Dutch cross-country cycleways.
Thursday - The weather is still poor but we are lucky to get cancellation spaces on a guided passenger boat tour around the meer
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Friday - We launch Proteus near Dokkum and explore the moat under oars. Lunch stop in the town centre (where there is a festival in progress.
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Saturday - Round the Island
Sunday - Morning - Canal exploration - Partially thwarted by a closed lock.
- Afternoon - We sail to the NW and walk to view the Waddenzee.
Monday - Drive to Hoek van Holland - Rest near the sea - Head to the Ferry.
Tuesday - Early arrival at Harwich - Breakfast at
Mayflower (Premier Inn) - Drop Bryn at station. Slow journey home due to over-running roadworks near Chelmsford.
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Solving “Riddle of the Sands”? 20240915_162152
Tracks - Add images and links to GPX.
