Delta Lloyd 24 Hour Race improves safety on Wadden Sea

2015 Delta Lloyd 24 Hour Race © Laurens Morel / www.saltycolours.com

The Delta Lloyd 24 Hour Race 2016 will have more secure laps on the Wadden Sea. Fresh Chairman Klaas Jan Kroon made this announcement on the day before the start of the online registration.

As of April 1st teams can register by using the entry form on www.deltalloyd24uurszeilrace.nl. The starting gun of the biggest yacht race in northern Europe will be fired on Friday August 26, one day later followed by the finish of an estimated fleet of 600 yachts (about 2.500 sailors) off the coast of Medemblik, Netherlands.

'Motivated by the evaluations, we bring changes to the courses on the Wad,' explains Klaas Jan Kroon, the new Chairman of the 24-hours Committee. After twelve years of dedicated leadership by Dinand de Ridder, Kroon took over the chairmanship. 'For security purposes, we have adjusted the way of rounding marks on the Wadden Sea. The navigation channels within the waterway remain leading, but the participants must now round the cardinal instead of lateral buoys. A cardinal mark indicates on which side you should pass. This will avoid participating yachts to go outside the navigation channel in shallow water along the seamarks, as sometimes happened in the past. "

In the autumn of 2015, Klaas Jan Kroon was finally installed as chairman of the 24-hours Committee. About his objectives for the coming years, Kroon says: 'First of all, I would like to keep the event successful, which means maintaining the current partners and attracting new sponsors. In addition, we are looking for technological innovations. We work with 8 Committee members and 60 volunteers, who share a lot of knowledge and enthusiasm. Together we focus on better possibilities of following the 24 Hours Sail Race. We will soon announce our primary innovations. '

On Friday night 26 August 2016, about 600 to 700 yachts will start racing from 15 places along the IJsselmeer and Markermeer. Twenty-four hours later, the massive and impressive finish will take place in Medemblik on the IJsselmeer.

About the race

The 'Nederlandsche Vereeniging van Kustzeilers' (Dutch Association of Coastal sailors) organizes the 52nd edition of the Delta Lloyd 24 Hours Sail Race. The combination of navigation, sailing, good atmosphere and survival creates this event, still beloved by yacht sailors. The fleet consists of cruising and racing classes. All teams must sail as many nautical miles as possible in a day. They may set course on the IJsselmeer, Markermeer, the Wadden Sea and the North Sea. Every lap may only be sailed twice, so navigation is essential. In addition to seaworthiness and endurance of the entire crew, good interpretation of the weather, the sailing area and the currents are important factors for the final result as well.

Participation in the Delta Lloyd 24 Hours Sail Race is open to the ORC Club, round and flat-bottom yachts, VKSJ associated (classic) yachts, offshore multihulls, Poly Classic yachts as well as to non-measured boats. The vast majority of the fleet takes part in the cruising class. The rest divides itself into the various racing classes.

In addition to title sponsor Delta Lloyd, the following companies co-sponsor the 24 Hours Sail Race: Gemeente Medemblik, Stadshavens Medemblik and Stichting Jachthaven Medemblik.