Okay the event has ended a week ago and I was to busy to put daily reports up. My appologies ! But don't despair as in the coming week I will give you the delayed reports.
The beginning.
Everything started when I picked up Phill Brander from Schiphol airport. I had met Daniel van kerckhof some 3 weeks earlier but he still had to go to the F18 Worlds then promoting the Capricorn F18, so that one doesn't count.
We met up with with the guy building the European Blade prototype and we only left for home some time after midnight. The first night of only a few hours sleep but certainly not the last. Before finally turning in we discussed the "leftover" tasks that needed to be completed. One of those was my mast. It still needed diamond wires and I had been unable to get some 3 mm dyform wire for it. Next morning we took care of that and some other parts that had failed to be delivered. This thursday was also the day that Tony Jenkins would arrive by train after flying in into Frankfurt. Sure enough the second night became a late one and I think the boys OD-ed a bit on the rum-cola's. At least there were some comments about this combo in the later days. Geert Ruesink arrived on Friday and also bunked at my place. So now we had some 4 adult males in a singles European appartment. After midnight the livingroom was transformed into a dormetory. We even had a serious "Snorring competition" going on. Daniel and his crew Annaliese Byrne had taken a relaxed drive up North from Puntala (F18 worlds) to Zandvoort and we hooked up with them on Saterday. They had already put their Taipan 4.9 Spi in the boatparking at the catamaran club Zandvoort and Stephan Mastenbroek showed them the way as I was still at home with the other 2 Australians and Geert. Thanks Stephan.
This saterday, the start of the DCC event, was also "cats-and-Friends" day at the cat club Zandvoort. Meaning that during the day several clubmembers offered everybody who wanted too a ride on any catamaran or monohull dinghy. There were also kayaks and a "everybody is invited" dinner party in the evening. I think Tony took a ride on a prindle 16 for the first time in his life and I even believe he had never seen a P16 ever before. Actually most boats at the club were pretty outlandish for the Aussies. Nacra I-20's Nacra 4.5's, Prindle 19's, Prindke 18/16's, Hobie Dragoons; etc
The weather was absolutely prefect. Flattish water; only some windchop, and a good windforce 3 to 4 blowing under a blue and sunny sky. Daniel took some sailors along for a test ride on the AHPC supplied Taipan 4.9 + spi demo. There were some that were really interested before the boats arrived but after the testrides there was a noticable spike in approval ratings. It is probably fair to say that the Taipans are as unfamiliar to Europeans as the Prindles were to the Aussies. With the following difference, I don;t think any Aussies now wants a Prindle but the Zandvoort sailor sure have acquired a desire for a Taipan or other F16. The English crew with the Stealth arrive later in the morning
One sailor, already pretty much on the track to go F16 next season, saw his changed and took the testride. His expression when coming back said everything. This guy knows a thing or two about sailing as does Daniel and the two of them immediately recognized eachothers skills and potential. Both of them are about 65-73 kg and the two of them on a F16 would make the rest of us roll our eyes in despair. Luckily Daniel is pretty hooked on the current crew Anneliese. Good fortune for us mortals ! Although Daniel and Anneliese are seriously fast together. Anyway, this guy had one but and that was wether the Taipan would behave as convincingly in rough conditions with swell and more pronounced chop.
He got his wish the next day to the detriment of the rest of us. Sunday, grey skies almost dark grey. Windforce 5 and above (good 20 knots and higher), On shore wind and serious swell. The Australians were remarking that Dutch summers were colder then their Winters and on that day they were absolutely right. The evening before the weather forcast had suggested that the weather could turn foul. We decided to stay at Zandvoort and see what the weather was going to do. After his second testride the conclusion was made. Yep the demo behaved just as the day before and he absolutely loved the boat. I think I can welcome another F16 sailor at my club next year. At least that is what I thought at the time. Now it looks like it may be more than 1. You don't hear me complaining about that.
The Brits got a bit of a scare when they capsized in the surf; lucky both Daniel and A zandvoort Clubmember dashed for the boat and turned the boat around with the mast facing towards the breaking waves. It was a close call or some team would have a new mast on the boat.
Report on the next days later
Wouter
