Berthon Lymington, Sevenstar committing SRBIR 2014, RORC Racing Season Trophies

November 15, 2012

On Monday 5th of November, Leen, Floris and myself travelled to Lymington to discuss the winterjobs with Berthon to be done on Winsome. The smaller jobs are no problem but our conclusion was that the rudder has to be taken out. The details are too complex to explain in this blog but I am confident that Winsome will be in a super condition for the 2014 season; in time. Leen promised to travel soon again to Lymington to supervise the job. Obviously the rudder is of the greatest importance.

On Wednesday 7th of November, Floris, Richard (in his function of CEO of Sevenstar), travelled to Southampton to attend Sevenstar’s commitment to the 2014 Round Britain & Ireland Race. When I came home and explained my 89 years old mother, turning 90 next Saturday, where I was and why. I told her that I considered myself too old for this race in 2014 since I would then turn 70. After a short discussion with her, in which she pointed out to me that it is not your age which counts, but your mind and condition, I entered instantly Winsome for the 2014 race. Some of you may remember that I vowed not to do that race ever again. Hm. Within hours after I announced it to the crew I had a firm commitment of more than 75% of the crew already . Have a look at www.rorc.org for the annoucement by the two CEO’s i.e. Richard Klabbers and Eddie Warden Owen.

On Saturday 10th of November we* collected the following prices at the Annual Dinner of RORC:

2012 Competition: Cowland Trophy for 1st place in IRC Four

Freddie Morgan Cup for a Classic Yacht in IRC

The last price we must have received already five or six times by now.

We* were Peter Morton and his Queen Alison, Richard Klabbers y su mujer Lourdes, Floris Oud, Joost Nijhoff, Sophie Andersen and myself. Floris and Joost kept their English girls hidden for us and stayed tight lipped all evening about them.

The speaker of the evening was Ian Walker, Skipper of Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing and Olympic silver Medallist. He made us feel humble regardless of our 2012 results in coastal sailing with RORC. Nevertheless I learned something from him in a private conversation after the dinner, but one will appreciate I am not giving away my newly obtained secret on this blog.

It was a busy week and I got the impression that the sailing season 2013 has nearly started. In my mind perhaps, but first of all the winter is awaiting us and the boat needs to be repaired and prepared for the season.