North Sea Race 2006 – Harwich to Scheveningen

Friday 26^th May 2006 dawned to be a grey and miserable day with penetrating rain and light winds, a far cry from the beating that the Dutch yachts in the Vuurscheepen Race to Harwich had suffered earlier in the week, with very strong head winds and high seas. These two races followed by six inshore races in Scheveningen form the 2006 ABN AMRO North Sea Regatta.

A fleet of 35 yachts gathered at the start line off Harwich Harbour in the strengthening south westerly breeze. Flexi course marks allowed the race committee to set a one and a half mile windward leg before the boats turned for the 190 mile or 149 mile courses around the North Sea, all of which were then off the wind.

Following a general recall the boats on the long course got away at 1045 with those doing the short course starting at 1055.

The first boat to finish, seconds before 0600 BST Saturday having averaged 10 knots, was Piet Vroon’s Lutra 56, Formidable 3, leading to speculation as to whether his 19 hours, 14 minutes and 38 seconds is a course record. He once again wins the Smith’s Knoll trophy for the first of the long course boats to round the Smith’s Knoll Light Vessel.

The J92 Jimjams reported the race as being like a cruise, enjoying a hot meal, coffee and noodle soup on the way across; a far cry from the race over to the UK when they lived on choc bars.

Broersbank also reported a great race with lots of superb sailing under spinnaker, as did Que Guapa who also enjoyed the Royal Harwich Yacht Club and RORC party at Woolverstone on Thursday evening.

The Lutra 52 Aquis Granus broke the main halyard at the Galloper and consequently had to sail the rest of the Race with the mainsail reefed.

Windveer took the alternative route from N. Shipwash, deciding to go inshore for less tide but this did not prove to be to their advantage. However like many others: nice trip, nice weather!

Unfortunately for the slower boats the tide turned foul just as it started to rain on Saturday afternoon giving a rather more miserable end to the race for them. In spite of this all boats had finished by 2020 local time, and the crews were still reporting having enjoyed the race.