We seem to be lucky most times we crodd the IJsselmeer. Yesterday, after some morning clouds, it was sunny and we left Medemblik in about 15 knots of breeze. Even that soon dropped and after 2 1/2 hours we reached Workum with no wind at all! Sitting on the foredeck in the sun was very pleasant! We found a place in the Marina (the first place they asigned to us was too narrow) and soon it got quite warm
During the night the weather turned and by morning it was still raining steadily. Hans and Jet (our friends from my student days, now also boating friends) came and we discussed our upcoming trip to the German 'Wadden' together. Early afternoon the weather cleared and I went to suss out the scene at the regatta site. Lots of preparation going on, but no-one there who could shed some light on what work there is for the volunteers. Will check again tomorrow and if there is nothing to do that's also fine, we'll spectate for a day or two and then to a bit of roaming around in Friesland before the appointment with the solar panel supplier next week Tuesday.
The naturalisation paperwork has been resolved and the marriage certificate (with the requited stamps, seals and signatures) will be on its way in the diplomatic mail from Cape Town to London via Holland tomorrow. Thanks Greg and Ineke!
This is "Onbekommerd"!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
DeltaLloyd regatta finished
The DeltaLloyd regatta has come to an end. We really enjoyed being part of a professionally run event. The results you can see on www.deltalloydregatta.org, one of the highlights for us was todays Womens Match Racing final in very strong winds (the highest gust measured was 39 Knots!). On one of the downwind legs, the Dutch finalist nosedived and 2 of the crew were washed overboard!. Anyway, it was very exiting and the Dutch eventually won, which was reason to celebrate! We are seriously considering doing it again next year. So different from regattas in South Africa: getting the results out to 'the public at large' is a big thing, so we (I was part of the communications team) made sure that within 5 minutes of a class finishing, the (provisional) results were on the website. Also continuous updates via Twitter and Facebook (we had two dedicated 'Twitterboys'). In addition, the medal races (between the top 10, counting double and not discardable) were streamed live on the Internet. We got reactions from as far as Australia from people who were watching our medal races and womens match race finals from their bed live as they happened. This is how to make sailing more accessible and interesting to the public.
Anyway, now that all this is over, we move to Workum tomorrow (the weather forecast is good, although at this very moment there is at least 30 Knots of wind). We have offered to our services as volunteers to the Dutch Youth Regatta, with over 700 boats, 450 of which are Optimists. That starts on Wednesday with registrations and Thursday (Ascension day) with sailing.
Will keep you informed!
Anyway, now that all this is over, we move to Workum tomorrow (the weather forecast is good, although at this very moment there is at least 30 Knots of wind). We have offered to our services as volunteers to the Dutch Youth Regatta, with over 700 boats, 450 of which are Optimists. That starts on Wednesday with registrations and Thursday (Ascension day) with sailing.
Will keep you informed!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Quick update on the DeltaLloyd regatta
The first day of the 2011 DeltaLloyd regatta saw winds from 20 to 32 knots, so it was challenging to say the least! All classes sailed in the end, although the Stars only returned to shore at 21.30 after a long postponement due to too much wind and sea conditions on the course. For more info see http://www.deltalloydregatta.org/ or follow us on Twitter!
Today it's the other extreme, all 6 courses have been postponed due to lack of wind! I sit here in my 'command past', with the microphone in front of me, looking out over a very flat IJsselmeer. It is so clear that I can see Friesland in the distance. But only a few knots of wind....
Today it's the other extreme, all 6 courses have been postponed due to lack of wind! I sit here in my 'command past', with the microphone in front of me, looking out over a very flat IJsselmeer. It is so clear that I can see Friesland in the distance. But only a few knots of wind....
Monday, May 23, 2011
Delta Lloyd regatta - ISAF World Cup #5
It was a good idea to do the Monnickendam - Medemblik trip on Saturday, because Sunday started out a bit rainy and ended up with 30 Knots of wind in the gusts, not too comfortable for a 28 nMile IJsselmeer voyage. But by then we were safely tucked away in our berth in the marina of the Medemblik Regatta Centre, where over 500 boats in the Olympic classes (including the 2.4 mR class, which is open to Olympic as well as Paralympic sailors) will be doing battle this week.
There are a total of around 800 individual competitors from 61 countries (including South Africa: Asenati Jim a.k.a. 'Squirrel' and Roger Hudson in a 470). Many of them are hopefuls for the 2012 Olympics, so you walk into 'heroes' like Torben Greal and Robert Scheidt, both Brazileans now sailing the Star. Also the 1996 (Langebaan) Optimist World Champion, Lisa Westerfhof is here, she by now has 2 * 470 World Titles under her belt, her crew Lobke Berkhout has Olympic silver and 5 Worlds Golds. So not a measly bit of sailing here this week. Lyn is the host in the Press Centre and I am the "Speaker" for the regatta, commenting for competitors and the public about 'what's going on'. That's not because I have a reputation of being a good speaker but they needed someone who knows a bit about sailing and is fluent in both Duch and English. So here I am, doing a job I've never done before!
Registration is almost finished now (Monday evening) and sailing starts tomorrow and will last until Sunday when the Medal Races are sailed. See http://www.deltalloydregatta.org/ or follow the regatta on Twitter and / or on Facebook (see, I have done my bit of advertsing). The idea is that results, down to markrounding positions, will be uploaded to Twitter as they come in. There are 2 people full time busy with this! How different to the results of the Western Cape Dinghy Champiships which were not on the championship internet site 4 weeks after the regatta (maybe still not, I have given up trying).
There are a total of around 800 individual competitors from 61 countries (including South Africa: Asenati Jim a.k.a. 'Squirrel' and Roger Hudson in a 470). Many of them are hopefuls for the 2012 Olympics, so you walk into 'heroes' like Torben Greal and Robert Scheidt, both Brazileans now sailing the Star. Also the 1996 (Langebaan) Optimist World Champion, Lisa Westerfhof is here, she by now has 2 * 470 World Titles under her belt, her crew Lobke Berkhout has Olympic silver and 5 Worlds Golds. So not a measly bit of sailing here this week. Lyn is the host in the Press Centre and I am the "Speaker" for the regatta, commenting for competitors and the public about 'what's going on'. That's not because I have a reputation of being a good speaker but they needed someone who knows a bit about sailing and is fluent in both Duch and English. So here I am, doing a job I've never done before!
Registration is almost finished now (Monday evening) and sailing starts tomorrow and will last until Sunday when the Medal Races are sailed. See http://www.deltalloydregatta.org/ or follow the regatta on Twitter and / or on Facebook (see, I have done my bit of advertsing). The idea is that results, down to markrounding positions, will be uploaded to Twitter as they come in. There are 2 people full time busy with this! How different to the results of the Western Cape Dinghy Champiships which were not on the championship internet site 4 weeks after the regatta (maybe still not, I have given up trying).
Saturday, May 21, 2011
A few more London days and back to 'Onbekommerd'
I am sorry, I have been a bit slow in updating the blog!
The last week in London was comparatively uneventful. We did quite a bit of walking as usual, nice but nothing spectacular. On Friday, we had a very nice lunch with Cynthia and John (Jr) Eloff at an Italian - seafood restaurant near Victoria station and after thatb we went to the 'Queen's Galleries' to see the 'Dutch Landscapes' exhibition (not planned, but quite appropriate).
When we got back to Kew, we communicated with Sean who told us he had been offered a job in Cape Town but was not keen to take it as it would not be what he wanted to do in life, a 'job but not the start of hisn career'. Its an audacious thing to do, but we are very proud that he has a clear vsion of where he wants to go. It does mean that he will now most likely come to the UK as well and that is a big change for him (and for us as well!). This will all play itself out in the next few months and we'll repor on it through the 'blog'.
This (Saturday) morning, we got up early and Gwilym was very kind to get up early as well and drive us to Heathrow for our 7.30 flight. Gwilym and Janine, our vey special friends in London have played (and still are playing) a crucial role in our 1 1/2 year sabattical / naturalisation effort here. To be honest, we dont quite know how we could have done it without their support, giving us accomodation, an address for all the formalities etc etc, as well as exceptionally nice companionship!
When we got to Monnickendam, all was well with 'Onbekommerd' and within 2 hours of the wheels of the aircraft touching the runway we would have been ready to set 'sail' if we would not have had to do some shopping. But at 13.20 we were off in beautiful weather and continued all the way to Medemblik where we got at 18.00. As we were pretty tired and did not feel like cooking, we treated ourselves to 'Dinner ashore' in the restaurant at the Regatta Centre. We'll be here for over a week, as 'helpers' at the Delta Lloyd Regatta, part of the ISAF World Cup for Olympic Classes. It appears there are over 600 entries from 61 countries.
Will keep you updated!
The last week in London was comparatively uneventful. We did quite a bit of walking as usual, nice but nothing spectacular. On Friday, we had a very nice lunch with Cynthia and John (Jr) Eloff at an Italian - seafood restaurant near Victoria station and after thatb we went to the 'Queen's Galleries' to see the 'Dutch Landscapes' exhibition (not planned, but quite appropriate).
When we got back to Kew, we communicated with Sean who told us he had been offered a job in Cape Town but was not keen to take it as it would not be what he wanted to do in life, a 'job but not the start of hisn career'. Its an audacious thing to do, but we are very proud that he has a clear vsion of where he wants to go. It does mean that he will now most likely come to the UK as well and that is a big change for him (and for us as well!). This will all play itself out in the next few months and we'll repor on it through the 'blog'.
This (Saturday) morning, we got up early and Gwilym was very kind to get up early as well and drive us to Heathrow for our 7.30 flight. Gwilym and Janine, our vey special friends in London have played (and still are playing) a crucial role in our 1 1/2 year sabattical / naturalisation effort here. To be honest, we dont quite know how we could have done it without their support, giving us accomodation, an address for all the formalities etc etc, as well as exceptionally nice companionship!
When we got to Monnickendam, all was well with 'Onbekommerd' and within 2 hours of the wheels of the aircraft touching the runway we would have been ready to set 'sail' if we would not have had to do some shopping. But at 13.20 we were off in beautiful weather and continued all the way to Medemblik where we got at 18.00. As we were pretty tired and did not feel like cooking, we treated ourselves to 'Dinner ashore' in the restaurant at the Regatta Centre. We'll be here for over a week, as 'helpers' at the Delta Lloyd Regatta, part of the ISAF World Cup for Olympic Classes. It appears there are over 600 entries from 61 countries.
Will keep you updated!
Monday, May 16, 2011
To the South Coast - Battle
On Saturday morning, David - Lyn's cousin - picked us up at Waterloo station to take us to Bexhill on Sea where his parents (Lyn's uncle and aunt) live. They are well into their 80's and moved here from South Africa in November last year (just when the heavy snow started, which was the first snow he - at 88 - ever saw, he is ex Rhodesia).
The first thing that struck us is how long it takes to get out of London by car. The traffic, even on a Saturday morning, is quite heavy and this city is really enormous. It took us about 2 hours to get to Bexhill, which is close to Hastings. We had dinner with uncle Grenville and aunty Nan and slept on the sleepr couch in their lounge. They live in a small house in a 'mews', a sort of retirement complex. On Sunday we went to a place called "Battle", where the battle of Hastings was fought in 1066. They have a very well organised setup there, with an audio tour around the battleground, giving a detailed account of the battle (between the Normans under William the Conquerer and the Anglo Saxons under King Harold II). Obviously William won (otherwise he would have been called 'William the Loser). They also give the whole background to the battle and there are also the ruins of the Abbey that William built there in honour of Harold (whom he respected even though he beat him) and as an atonement for the bloodbath (7000 people were killed in a single day battle and the battleground is not large either!). Afterwards, we went with the family, now including Allison, David's sister and Roxy, her daughter to a pub for lunch.
After a 2 1/2 hour drive (traffic!), we got back to Richmond.
We dont have any fixed plans for the rest of the week, probably some more walking and then on Friday we have lunch with Cynthia Eloff from Cape Town and her son John who lives here. Early on Saturday morning we go back to the boat in Monickendam. As the flight is at 7.30 (the 8.30 was 100 Pounds per person more expensive!), we need to leave here at 5. At that time there are no trains on the underground District line yet, so we'll take a bus to take us to a Piccadilly line station where we can catch the first train to Heathrow.
When there is anything to report, the blog will be updated!
The first thing that struck us is how long it takes to get out of London by car. The traffic, even on a Saturday morning, is quite heavy and this city is really enormous. It took us about 2 hours to get to Bexhill, which is close to Hastings. We had dinner with uncle Grenville and aunty Nan and slept on the sleepr couch in their lounge. They live in a small house in a 'mews', a sort of retirement complex. On Sunday we went to a place called "Battle", where the battle of Hastings was fought in 1066. They have a very well organised setup there, with an audio tour around the battleground, giving a detailed account of the battle (between the Normans under William the Conquerer and the Anglo Saxons under King Harold II). Obviously William won (otherwise he would have been called 'William the Loser). They also give the whole background to the battle and there are also the ruins of the Abbey that William built there in honour of Harold (whom he respected even though he beat him) and as an atonement for the bloodbath (7000 people were killed in a single day battle and the battleground is not large either!). Afterwards, we went with the family, now including Allison, David's sister and Roxy, her daughter to a pub for lunch.
After a 2 1/2 hour drive (traffic!), we got back to Richmond.
We dont have any fixed plans for the rest of the week, probably some more walking and then on Friday we have lunch with Cynthia Eloff from Cape Town and her son John who lives here. Early on Saturday morning we go back to the boat in Monickendam. As the flight is at 7.30 (the 8.30 was 100 Pounds per person more expensive!), we need to leave here at 5. At that time there are no trains on the underground District line yet, so we'll take a bus to take us to a Piccadilly line station where we can catch the first train to Heathrow.
When there is anything to report, the blog will be updated!
Friday, May 13, 2011
Royals, schools, shops and music
We have had a busy 2 days! Yesterday (Thursday) we did the "Windsor and Eton" walk from 'the book'. By train to 'Windsor and Eton Riverside' and then a walk past Windsor castle (yes, the queen was there, her flag was flying) and then over the river (Thames) to Eton, the most exclusive and famous boarding school in the UK. The boys wear black tail coats as school uniform and the masters (teachers are called 'masters', even female ones) wear tail coats AND white bow ties (maybe not the female masters). It is a big place, with 1300 boys and it has the feel of a university campus. As it was founded in 1440, it is full of interesting history. (in case you are interested, the fees are around 30000 Pound a year, which includes tuition, board, lodging, laundry, most books and extramurals - but not music lessons which most boys seem to take. scholarships available but hard to get!)
Today we did another walk: through Kensington Park and Knightsbridge, which means you pass Harrods, a very big (and exclusive) department store. Of course we had a look inside. It is said that at Harrods you can buy anything from a bag of potatoes to an elephant. We did find the department where they sell the potatoes (in the 'food halls', which must be seen to be believed), but not the 'elephants department'. We did resist the urge to buy a writing desk, not only because it was too big for 'Onbekommerd' but also because the price (23000 pounds, yes that is a quarter of a million South African Rand) was a bit beyond our budget (it was NOT the biggest and most expensive desk). Also the grand piano at 91000 Pounds (a cool Million Rand) is still in the shop. Even the fish and chips we had to pass, at 25 pounds a head that is about 5 times as much as at the "Garden Fish shop" here around the corner. We did ask them about a book Lyn wanted, but it was not in stock (so one wonders about the elephants!). But it sure was fun to walk around. We saw someone buy a framed picture of Harry Potter, signed by Harry Potter (or maybe the guy who plays him in the movies) for 2500 pounds - and Harry Potter does not even exist!
We ended off today by going to a concert in the church on Kew Green, about 20 minutes walk from here. It was in aid of a new piano for the church and the programme included the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto and the Mozart C major Piano Concerto, so that was really nice.
We are off for the weekend, more on Sunday night or Monday morning!
Today we did another walk: through Kensington Park and Knightsbridge, which means you pass Harrods, a very big (and exclusive) department store. Of course we had a look inside. It is said that at Harrods you can buy anything from a bag of potatoes to an elephant. We did find the department where they sell the potatoes (in the 'food halls', which must be seen to be believed), but not the 'elephants department'. We did resist the urge to buy a writing desk, not only because it was too big for 'Onbekommerd' but also because the price (23000 pounds, yes that is a quarter of a million South African Rand) was a bit beyond our budget (it was NOT the biggest and most expensive desk). Also the grand piano at 91000 Pounds (a cool Million Rand) is still in the shop. Even the fish and chips we had to pass, at 25 pounds a head that is about 5 times as much as at the "Garden Fish shop" here around the corner. We did ask them about a book Lyn wanted, but it was not in stock (so one wonders about the elephants!). But it sure was fun to walk around. We saw someone buy a framed picture of Harry Potter, signed by Harry Potter (or maybe the guy who plays him in the movies) for 2500 pounds - and Harry Potter does not even exist!
We ended off today by going to a concert in the church on Kew Green, about 20 minutes walk from here. It was in aid of a new piano for the church and the programme included the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto and the Mozart C major Piano Concerto, so that was really nice.
We are off for the weekend, more on Sunday night or Monday morning!
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