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For a number of years now, when my time permits and enough vacation days are left, I've been trying to finnish the sailing season at one of the regattas for flat-bottomed Dutch ships in the Netherlands. I managed to do that again this year. What always lures me there are great impressions of sailing ships, getting to know new people on board and just another kind of stress. Regatta sailing is a great experience! Ever since I first took part years ago I want to experience it again and again.

For me, such a sailing event begins with a long journey. But once you are in Harlingen, you will see hundreds of masts on the quay. The Brandarisrace is like a magnet for the Dutch flat-bottomed ships that offer guest trips in the Wadden Sea. This year about 60 sailing ships were at the start. I checked in on the "Suydersee", a sailing ship of the grand klipper class. As for the regatta results, I'm not very ambitious. For me, it's more about seeing many of the sailing ships in action. This idea in mind it's better if you don't sail away at the front of the field. That's why I like to change ships from year to year. By the way, you don't have to be an expert to sail on this regatta. Everything will be explained to you if you are interested and on board of the "Suydersee" I experienced the best introduction to handling the ropes this year. The regular crew was very committed.

After a good breakfast we started. Strong wind was announced and so things got really busy. The skipper said on the end that he was rarely on the ship so fast. Most of the Brandarisraces it doesn't need to tack very often. So it was this time too. A jibe and a few evasive maneuvers because of the fairway buoys. But there were also a lot of other ship crews who tried to change, add and reduce the sails to get a little more speed.

Finally we reached the island of Terschelling. Here you usually have some time to explore the small town. The lighthouse Brandaris, who gave the regatta its name, cannot be climbed. But you can go to the rather high dunes to get a wonderful view. For the end of October the weather was still really warm.

On Sunday we got back on the water late. That was too bad. Most ships sailed back to Harlingen far ahead of us. But it was possible to enjoy some sun in late autumn and a relaxed sailing trip across the magnificent Wadden Sea. In the afternoon the ship docked again in Harlingen.

Incidentally, the "Witte Swaen", a replica of a ship belonging to the Dutch seafarer, explorer and cartographer Willem Barents, is now in the port of Harlingen. He sailed the Arctic Ocean in the late 16th century and is credited with discovering Svalbard. At the replica still sails were attached, although I don't think there was another voyage that year.

Kuiper-Brandarisrace