Tim,
Lets make a relaxed day of it. I checked everything and I may even have a wetsuit for you if push comes to shoove. Boat is ready if you care for a spi and the sailing club bar is open after 12:00 am if you care for a beer. I will bring a magic marker so you can sign you name on our visitors table. There should be a few Aussie signatures on there as well ; from last years DCC F16 event. Who says that cat sailors don;t travel the world for sailing ?
I'm definately NOT going to Texel this year. This is final now. Best way to hook up is for you to find your way to Den Haag railway station (either one, it doesn't matter much which) and catch a train to either Zandvoort or Heemstede-Aerdenhout railwaystations. The latter two are small local railway stations. I can pick you up there from either or you can walk down to the club yourself (when arriving at Zandvoort station). Train trip will be about 38 minutes or 58 min depending on were you get off the train (Heemstede or Zandvoort). More details later in this post.
You have my phone numbers. Give me ring if you drop by. It is pretty sure that I will go sailing; either solo or with you.
For weather forcast go to
www.windguru.cz and select "netherlands - zandvoort" in the windguru location input box (and press go.
There is significant cloud cover but also 8 to 12 knots of wind and a moderate seastate of 1.1 mtr tall waves. The wind is from the north west (sea breeze) so should be stable and constant in force. This will be pretty good sailing weather although some more sun should be nice. It will be pretty much upwind along the coast the the north and then downwind under spin, again along the coast, to the south.
If you can't reach me on my fixed line, then try my mobile phone. I could be out on the beach already. If for some reason miss each other then my boat is at the Zandvoort watersport vereniging (Zandvoort watersport club) we're on the South boulevard of zandvoort almost on the extreme southern edge of the town of zandvoort. The club contains many tens of boats so you'll recognise the forrest of masts from a distance. If you have to look for than find the beach in Zandvoort and walk south along the beach.
Travel details :
I can't really see what you best option for transport from the hotel to the Den Haag railway station is. I think you can best ask at the Hotel. There is a direct connection for Den Haag CS station (=Den Haag Central Station) to both Heemstede AND Zandvoort. It is a halve our service meaning that each hour at xx:10 and xx:40 a train leaves with end destination Zandvoort (passing through and also stopping at Heemstede). There are even more trains in this direction but you will have to switch trains at stations to get to zandvoort. I figure it is easiest to take the direction connections and wait it out till the final station (=Zandvoort itself). The cat club is about a 10 to 15 min walk from this station. Head due west till you hit the beach. Than at the water front turn left (south) and walk on till you pass the sail club.
Alternatively you can get out at Heemstede and arrange for me to pick you up. In general both routes will take about as long.
Tim, you can just buy a one-way ticket as I'll be driving you back to the Hotel at the end of the day; It is on my route to the movie art house and my friends.
Pretty much I will go about my business as I would do under normal circumstances, till I receive your call that is. Mostly hanging about and fiddling with my boat.
For more info on the train route, fare and etc go press this link :
Train info to zandvoort It should show you the details to the train trip to zandvoort immediately.
Well, that is it I think.
Have a good flight !
Wouter