An update of the style sheet should allow for easy reading of the blog once again in IE6 (whilst still looking nice in IE7)
Haven’t got a clue how it all looks in other browsers. If you’ve got any comments, feel free to post them (and include your browser please).
Ciao,
Luuk
Something strange today, after a beautifull weekend with sun and really nice temperatures (way to high for this time of the year) it looked a bit like this last Sunday out on the water…
(photo is from the IJspegel website. More can be found here)
Sunny, right?
Today it looks like this out my window:
Strange weather…
The first race of the new year of the IJspegel races. These races are supposed to be about frostbiting, but today was more about a very nice day in the spring.
Temperatures were around 10 degrees (centigrade that is), the sun was out and the only thing missing was enough breeze for a serious race.
After some waiting the breeze showed up and about two hours later than normal the first start took place. The current pushed everyone over the line and a general recall followed. The second start was reasonable and the decision was made for one long starboard tack to be followed with a short port tack to the weather mark. Others opting to stay more out to sea (an early port tack in the first windward leg) seemed to have taken the right decision. Practicing spinnaker sets and gybes before the start paid off, as did the decision to stay close to shore on the starboard gibe after the weather mark. We rounded the bottom mark in sixth or seventh place and probably one of the best results up till know. A lot of boats had difficulties sailing past the bottom mark and whilst we set course for the final upwind leg the wind started to disappear. A big part of the fleet was pilled up trying to sail against the current and the RC decided to call it off.
Not the best message when sailing the best race of the winter season but shortly after the announcement our wind was gone as well. With no wind, we started the motor and got on the way to the harbour. The weather was awesome and the boat completely tidied up when we docked and brought out the ‘apres-sail’ drinks.
All in all a nice day out on the water. Tomorrow the new semester starts and normal life should resume. It’s going to be early days again.
Ciao,
Luuk
In my search for a new team for the upcoming sailing season I reacted on a request from the Eclectic Sailing Team. Their reaction was positive and a date is set on which I will join them for a practice on their new boat. Saturday the 17th of February I will try and prove myself before the team and I do hope I can show that I am a valuable addition to their team.
Anyway, the new Eclectic is a brand new Dehler 44 (European Boat of the Year 2006/07).
The yacht is designed to perform well under IRC whilst providing comfort for a fast and safe cruise.
My diary of Boot Düsseldorf (all times are GMT+1)
Tuesday 23 January 2007:
2.30: Finally asleep
4.30: Alarm clock goes off…
4.35: Step under the shower
4.37: Hey, the other shower goes on as well… Ah, a roommate has a shower just before he’s off to bed…
4.50: Time for breakfast, hardly any bread left…
5.00: Get my bike and paddle to the train station
5.15: Bike is put away and I can make my way to the platform… Why has the first night with frost have to be today?!
5.18: Train is on time! Get in..
5.33: Rotterdam Central Station, 15 minutes to change trains
5.40: It’s dark and cold but I found a spot and start settling, two hours to Venlo
5.48: And we’re off. Two hours by train through a very black Holland. Some reading, listening to ‘Jameroquai’, ‘Faithless’ and ‘Groove Armada’.
7.51: A slight delay, but there is still some time left as I arrive in Venlo. Time for coffee.
8.06: There is actually a bit of sun as the train starts on the tour to Düsseldorf Haubtbahnhoff. It’s actually quite busy with people going to work or school.
9.15: Another slight delay but I am in Düsseldorf. I’ve got a bit of time left and walk out of the station to have a look around. It really looks like any German city (to my opinion) with a lot of boring building that show the rebuild of a city after WW II, where fast was more important than beautiful.
9.35: It’s still cold, but the U-bahn is coming. It’s cramped with the latest congestion and people going to Boot.
9.55: After a uneventful trip I am walking up the stairs of the Messe.
10.00: The doors open and the people start going in. Here I lost track of time…
Do I go in a structured way or look at some things first… I already knew what I wanted to do first, off to Dehler. The 44 is coming along nicely but one of the first boats gets a new keel… It’s nothing and the production is going well. With the European Boat of the Year award the boat looks to gain momentum for Dehler. It still is a nice yacht but for a young gut like me still has far to much interior to be on my wish list…
13.00: What a lot of stuff, and due to the size it isn’t really cramped. But I am starting to think of lunch. The restaurants are a bit to much so a fast snack it will be. The choice is easy: Sausage (several types) with beer or wine or (and that was my choice) a sandwich with a coke.
15.30: Still impressed with the extents of the show I make my way to the sailing-podium where I was going to meet Large Thomas and check out the Barcelona World Race press conference. All previous talk were in German but this one is (partially) in English. I meet with Large Thomas who is indeed Large. We check out the thing and talk about sailing, the show and SA. But I am starting to notice that nearly 12 hours up after hardly any sleep is starting to take it’s toll.
17.30: After a final stroll around the show (actually just the sailing parts) I get on the U-bahn back to the station. Then I remember that the train to Venlo leaves at 17.48 (or at 18.48) and I am getting a bit frightened that I am going to miss the train. I decide to use the ICE when I miss the train. So no longer any worrying and relaxing the rest of the way back.
17.44: Arrival at the Haubtbahnhoff, get out turn right, turn left, up the stairs, turn left, no turn the other way. Track 4, up the stairs, ‘Delayed’…..
17.55: The train leaves Düsseldorf and my visit is now truly over. Another train-ride with a lot of people, now they are just on their way home.
19.05: A slight delay as the train enters Venlo. I am a bit hungry now and start my search for some dinner. Venlo is not that great when it comes to dinner at the station… Two sandwiches and a ‘Chocomel’ make for a dinner as I settle in the last train for the day, directly to Delft.
19.19: And off we go; music on, same magazine and a bit tired. Again it’s dark outside so very little to see outside (but not much better within the train).
Eindhoven
Tilburg
Breda
Dordrecht
Rotterdam
Getting my stuff together as the train slows down into Delft.
21.27: Right on time the train stops in Delft. It is again freezing when I get out and get my bike.
21.45: Home… How has everybody’s day been?
23.15: Really going to bed now…
23.30: Really, really going to bed
23.32: Asleep…
Visiting Boot Düsseldorf resulted in photos of the Maxi Dolphin 33, the Brenta 30 and the Brenta 38 some serious daysailing boat porn…
Here’s a gallery:
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The first three are from the Brenta 30, the following 4 are of the Brenta 38 and the last two are of the MD 33
As always you can mail me for the original files (larger, no watermark).
Ciao,
Luuk
So Key West has finished (I’ll update on that later) the week has ended and another one is lurking around the corner.
Last week:
Doing work for university during the day, following Key West early evening. Nothing to excited, but interesting to say the least. Some lovely yachts performing good and enjoying the conditions.
Weekend:
A visit to my parents and getting my hair cut… Remember to collect the videos and photos of KWRW and comment on that all…
Next Week:
Keep up with university work and visit Boot Düsseldorf! Really looking forward to Tuesday and my visit to the largest boatshow in Europe (World?). I already have made a planning (go there early, return late), made contacts (probably meet Mister Schickler of SYD-E, most certainly meet with “Large Thomas“) and am charging my camera batteries!
I will publish my report asap after the visit.
Enjoy your weekend!
Ciao,
Luuk
Several classes have been decided, which left them a bit of room for a great night yesterday…
Alinghy has won the Farr 40 class with one race to go (and no exclusion possible). The Mumm 30 also has no exclusion and still could see Mean Machine take the overall victory.
Esmeralda (CS 42) has won IRC3 with one race to go (and possibility of an exclusion), with the French Sinergia an almost certain 2nd. IRC 1 and 2 still have quite a day to cope with, nothing is certain in these classes.
To see for yourself, click here. Around 17.00 GMT I expect the first results to pop up…
Ciao
Dispite the fact that IE7 doesn’t co-operate with my view of how the coding should be displayed, another update on Key West Race Week…
SA is already running the ‘day 4-thread‘ as before click to get the latest info.
Standings:
– One Design (Farr 40, Mumm 30): Faults made the racing much closer in both classes. And We’re just past the halfway mark. Another interesting couple of races coming up here.
– IRC 1: Again very close at the top. It seems mister Coutts has got the Swedish team going. Best Swan 601 in class (and it is a sub-class)
– IRC 2: Tied for first place, can it get any closer? Another day should prove the ability of Magic Glove in slightly stronger conditions…
– IRC 3: The CS42 is slightly ahead of the French Sinergia 40… It’s going to be tight there.
– And still the other classes haven’t been able to get my attention…
For the latest videos and photos, I have updated the list from the 3rd-day-post:
Video by Jobsonsailing.com (Should open in Quicktime):
– Day 1
– Day 2
– Day 3
– Day 4
– Link to videos by jobsonsailing.com (take-outs and interviews)
Photos:
– Tim Wilkes
– gallery #1
– Washburn, RC
– Sjambok KWRW2007 gallery
Maybe I’ll just start a new part with all photos and video links, but that’s something for the future. I’m gonna do some work for uni and get my room tidied up a bit. Enjoy another day of KWRW.
Ciao,
Luuk
Bugger,
just installed Ie7, but it seems to screw up with the coding… Kinda strange as it is supposed to be a very simple html coding…
Anyway, all is still readable. I’ll look into the problems…
——–Edit——–
Changed the style-sheet… Looks better in my IE7 anyway but IE6 loses some text
——–Edit——–
Ciao
