Here are the pictures

03.09.2016 | Pictures and movies of the Dutch OK class Championship and Eastersee Regatta 2016

Here are the pictures of the regatta. Most of the pictures are from saturday, the perfect sailday of 2016. You can find the pictures if you follow the next links: Friday pictures, Saturday pictures, Sunday pictures, by Wietze Huitema

Arjenne Dijkstra (crew of the rescue boat) made a few movies from the fleet. You can find them on his facebook page.



Dirk Dame is the 2016 champion !

28.08.2016 | Dirk Dame wins the Dutch OK class Championship and Eastersee Regatta 2016

What a great championship in the Netherlands on the 27th and 28th of August. We had 42 sailors from 4 countries competing and after 20 years we finally have a new champion 'OK dinghy' in the Netherlands. After a real battle between five Germans the title of Dutch OK class Champion and Eastersee Regatta winner, went to Dirk Dame from Germany. Dirk sailed a very consistent regatta and could scrap an 11th place, which brought him the title with only 11 points. A trophee and a ribbon for this fantastic champion and ambassador of the OK dinghy. Right behind him Frank Strelow and Joerg Rademacher, also from Germany, battled for second and third with the both of them scoring 13 points. On the first day the circumstances were splendid (temperature 26 degrees, sunny, breeze 3 to 4) and four races were sailed. In the evening the sailors could enjoy a sailing trip on the lake on the hundred years old skûtsje Frisia.

The second day started with thunderstorms and the start was delayed till 12.00 o'clock. Rod Andrew played music and everyone waited for the weather to clear. Then in the afternoon two races were sailed in a building breeze (4+) to complete the series of six races before the fleet returned form the water to be home on time. The organising authority WSV Zevenwolden and race officer Age van der Bles did a great job putting the lanes in perfectly. Behind the five top Germans, sailors form Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany and the Netherlands were racing eachother. Ronny Poelman (BEL) took sixth place overall right before best Dutchman Stephan Veldman who beat his brother with just 3 points. There were great battles throughout the fleet. More information, pictures, stories and movies will appear here in the coming days.

Results can be found here



Getting ready

26.08.2016 | Preparations and training

It’s friday and one day before the regatta. Today around 8 sailors already took their OK on the lake for some training. The weather looks nice with 3 to 4 Bft for saturday and sunday. The race officer and rescue from the organizing authority ‘WSV Zevenwolden’ arrived, just like the skutsje Frisia. Tents are in place, coffee, sugar bread, we are ready to welcome everyone…



Thirty-nine sailors looking forward to the 2016 edition

20.08.2016 | thirty-nine is a great fleet to have

With one week to go, thirty-nine sailors pre-entered for the regatta. That’s really great. With a few entries on friday and saturday prior to the regatta there will be a fleet of between 40 and 50 OK dinghy sailors on the lake Tjeukemeer. And that is quite remarkable. Only the Spring cup gets an OK fleet like that in the Netherlands. But this is an inland lake and it attracts also some other sailors, perhaps because of the circumstances that differ from the ijsselmeer at Medemblik. One week and we will know who will be the OK class Champion 2016 in the Netherlands. Please have a look at the regatta from the town of Oosterzee or follow the event through this website.



Thirty-two sailors already pre-entered for the 2016 edition

10.08.2016 | thirty-two and looking for more

Last week another 8 sailors entered for the 2016 edition. Sipke Hoekstra en Rob Ligtenberg from the Netherlands, Paul Verrijdt and Samuel Podevyn from Belgium and four sailors from Germany; Michael Wolf, Joerg Rademacher and Marina and Jan-Dietmar Dellas. Great to have you all at our regatta !!!



Twenty-four sailors pre-entered already from 4 countries !

03.08.2016 | twenty-four and counting

Already 24 sailors from Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg en the Netherlands pre-registred for the 2016 edition of the regatta. A strong German an Belgian fleet. Ronny Poelman entered form Belgium. He's a good friend of the regatta and in for the podium. Some sailors prepared by sailing the Worlds in Quiberon and did a lot of boat-time. Thorsten Schmidt (GER) is also someone to keep your eye on as an early entry and last years second overall. Heinz Ridder entered form Germany. From the Netherlands Hessel Hoekstra entered straight form the worlds. Let's hope his brother Sipke will also be there. Sadly local favourite Jan Siebe de Vries can't make it to the ragatta but his boat will be sailed by Erwin Veldman (brother of Stephan and both winners of international regatta's in the Splash). We are still hoping on the Danes and World champion 2016 Jim Hunt. Fingers crossed !



Joost Rommelaere and the 7 question interview

03.07.2016 | interview Joost Rommelaere

In the prior to the regatta we asked different sailors about their experience with the eastersee regatta and their thoughts on the 2006 edition. Third in this row is the 24th sailor to register for the 2016 edition, Joost Rommelaere from Belgium.

How long have you been sailing the OK? I am sailing the OK since 2022. That's 4 + 10 years = 14 years. How many times have you sailed the Eastersee Regatta? This year I will sail the Eastersee Regatta for the third time. What was your best result in sailing? In the Eastersee Regatta 2014 I came in sixth, that was really great. Last year I finished 23rd, but the fleet was a lot bigger than in 2014. How would you describe the Eastersee event? The lake is very good and the atmosphere is really nice. What are your expectations for the 2016 edition? Nothing special. Who do you think we should look out for regarding this years podium? Ronny Poelman ;-).




SAILING INSTRUCTIONS ONLINE

29.07.2016 | sailing instructions edition 2016 and Dutch OK class championship

The sailing instructions for the 2016 edition are available. Please click here to view it. This year's edition will be the official Dutch OK class championship (not the same as a national championship, but almost). There is a red pennant to win so there's everything to race for. We are looking forward who will be the next OK class champion to add his or her name to a list of great Dutch nationals winners like Roozeboom, Emil Verharen, Wim Sinke, Hans van Pagee, Rolf Vrolijk, Roel Wester, Willem Monshouwer, Piet Verstelle, Luc Choley, Ingvar Bentsson, Ids Bakker, Hans Hoedeman, Ulf Greve and Erik Vliegenthart.



With a big thanks to our sponsors

22.07.2016 | great sponsors we have this year

The 2016 edition of the Eastersee Regatta wouldn't be possible without our sponsors. We are very glad more and more sponsors want to partner with us to organise this international regatta. Thank you !



Eighteen sailors already from 4 countries and six weeks to go !

18.07.2016 | entry numbers are growing steady

Already 18 sailors from Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg en the Netherlands pre-registred for the 2016 editio of the regatta. We think this year's winner will be hard to predict. The Germans will be there with a strong fleet. Dirk Dame entered for the third time and is still looking for the overall win after two really well sailed editions. Two time winner Frank Strelow will also be there. Ralf Mackmann will make them work hard as he is in his new GER 800 and will aim for the title. Let's hope we will also see Belgium's ace Ronny Poelman who hasn't entered yet. We particularly welcome sailors for whom this year will be their first regatta, like some of the Danish sailors perhaps. More to come we hope !



NOTICE OF RACE ONLINE

20.06.2016 | the notice of race 2016

The notice of race 2016 is available. Please click here to view it.



TWO times winner Frank Strelow and the 7 question interview

07.06.2016 | interview Frank Strelow

In the coming months we will ask different sailors about their experience with the eastersee regatta and their thoughts on the 2016 edition. Second in this row is back to back regatta winner Frank Strelow from Germany.

How long have you been sailing the OK? I am sailing the OK since 2012. I was searching for a single handed boat, which is not too expensive and which makes fun sailing it. So I joined the OK-Class and enjoyed it from the first moment. How many times have you sailed the Eastersee Regatta? This year I will sail the Eastersee Regatta for the third time. What was your best result in sailing? In the OK-Dinghy the first place last year on the Eastersee Regatta was definitely my best result. Good results in other classes (in the Vaurien), are so many years ago (about 35 years), that I think they are not worth to mention them. How would you describe the Eastersee event? It is a very well organized regatta on a big lake with the best sailing condions. It is near the Ijsselmmer, so there is mostly enough wind. The atmosphere before and after the races is perfect, because of a very friendly hosting and the hard work of many helping hands before the regatta starts. What are your expectations for the 2016 edition? I think it can not be better then the edition last year. I hope that this year also more than 30 sailers will take part at the races and that the weather and the wind is nearly as good as last year. Who do you think we should look out for regarding this years podium? For me Ralf Mackmann, Thorsten Schmidt and Dirk Dame are some of the sailors I regard for the podium this year, because of their good results in the beginning of the year, aswell as Stephan Veldmann, who is a very good sailer and who has improved his boatsspeed comparing to last year. Although I think, that we will see a new winner, I will not give up my back-to-back-Championship without fighting. Complete the next sentence. When I grow up I want to... sail as much as possible. After a long break because of less money during my time at univerity, much work and smal children afterwords, I always was longing for a restart after the children grew up...



Stephan Veldman kicks of the 7 question interview

10.05.2016 | interview Stephan Veldman

In the coming months we will ask different sailors about their experience with the eastersee regatta and their thoughts on the 2016 edition. First up is Stephan Veldman from the Netherlands.

How long have you been sailing the OK? I'm sailing the OK since 2010. Starting in the NED 500 (Vlieger) and later on in the NED 663 (O'Donnell). How many times have you sailed the Eastersee Regatta? This will be my third edition, so I've competed in every edition. By the way I think it's time for a new winner (haha). What was your best result in sailing? I have won a couple of OK dinghy races in different events and won the easter regatta this spring. In other classes I won a Dutch and European title. How would you describe the Eastersee event? The event was based on training races on the lake Tjeukemeer and soon it became a fantastic OK dinghy regatta that attracts sailors of different levels and with different material. Organising such an event starts soon in the year and you this doesn't go unnoticed. They try and think on everything and the organization is open for criticism which is very positive. It's nice to have these international sailors in this little town in the Netherlands for a weekend of racing. A great event where you can improve your skills and experience. What are your expectations for the 2016 edition? Predictions are hard. In the class event being best Dutchman should be possible. Internationally I'm looking for top 5, preferably the podium. The OK dinghy fleet is strong so there are many potential winners. I'm trying new material, which I have to test and tune in the upcoming weeks. Who do you think we should look out for regarding this years podium? Tough question. For sure last years winner Frank Strelow and of course I'm hoping to be up there myself. Complete the next sentence. When I grow up I want to... still enjoy myself sailing en everything around it. And I would like to teach my kids how to sail (succesfully). A large and competitive Dutch OK dinghy class would be great as well...



27.03.2016 | world ranking points up for grabs

On 27 and 28 August 2016 the third edition of the 'Eastersee Regatta' will be held on the Tjeukemeer in the north part of the Netherlands. After the succes of the 2015 edition with 38 competitors from the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg and Germany, we hope to see 50+ competitors at his years weekend regatta which will include world ranking points. The 'Eastersee Regatta' (pronounced in english as 'yestersay regatta') is named after the frisian name for the small and enthousiastic town of 'Oosterzee'. With it's 20 square kilometres, lake Tjeukemeer has perfect conditions for sailing and enjoying nature and breeze.



01.03.2016 | wsv zevenwolden to host 2016 regatta

The racing in the 2016 edition will be organised by the 'WSV Zevenwolden'. This local sailing authority is famous for it's skutsjesilen and small boat races. In 1971 they organised an international OK dinghy regatta on the ijsselmeer of the coast of Lemmer. That regatta was a week prior to the 1971 Europeans that were held in Almere. We are looking forward to have them organise everything on the water with their experience. Hopefully this cooperation will give a good base for a long lasting high quality regatta !!