Our partner in the 1000-Mile Race is Bergen Shetland Races 2010. In 2010 the races, again sponsored by the Norwegian Sjøassistanse, will set off from Bergen Wednesday June 16th 2010. Yachts will start second leg from Lerwick, Shetland Isles Sunday 20th. Normally this means yachts will cross the finishing line at Marsteinen some time Monday the 21st.
The Registration for 2010 is well under way! Two of this years entries were the first to sign up, just hours after the registration opened! Owner and skipper Andreas Iversen on Hyggen X was first to commit to the 2010 race, with Rasmus Tørnqvist on Bjørkski only hours behind.
One inflatable lifejacket will be awarded to each of the first 20 yachts to register for the 2010 Bergen Shetland Races!
Official IRC results are ready: We'll be back in 2011!
As we already mentioned in previous newsitems, the Norwegian sailors doublehanded crew of Farvide has officially won the Lombardini Marine 1000-mile Doublehanded Race 2009!!! Congratulations!
It is great to see that the top three is from the three countries we visited: Norway, Shetland and Holland.
As you will see the race committee has changed the points of leg one to DOUBLE points in stead of HALF points. The reason is that leg one is the toughest leg of the three. We sincerely regret this mixup in points.
Dutch Doublehanded sailors read Zilt Magazine
The latest issue of the Dutch online sailing magazine Zilt pays special attention to the Lombardini Marine 1000-mile Doublehanded Race. Greyhound co-skipper Ruben Zeegers wrote a story about the first leg from Scheveningen to Bergen. Only 20 miles off Bergen their rudder broke off and they had to call a lifeboat to tow them in. End of race! Sad for skipper Gerard Schalkwijk, who started the race with the goal of winning it.
Next to the 1000mile article you can read about the history of the Fastnet race,
Click on the magazine to open it.
Zilt Magazine is written in Dutch.
020709 | bron: 1000mile.org |
Thank you all for sailing with us!
Greyhound has finished leg 3 of the race and is the last yacht in the race. Therefore we can say this years Lombardini Marine 1000-mile Doublehanded Race has officially ended. Of course we will soon publish the overall IRC results.
The line honours of leg 3 is as follows: 1. Farvide 2. Greyhound DNF Piao DNF Vandal DNS Fandango DNS Blue Jane DNS Meka II
It's official: Piao out of the race A couple of SMS'es and a phonecall from the middle of the North Sea this morning confirmed our assumption that Piao is out of the race. Skipper Peter Bunschoten told the race office that he regretted the desicion, but due to the light conditions they decided to quit the race and sail directly to their homebase Lauwersoog in The Netherlands. This means that since we started in Scheveningen 14th of June, only one of the seven competitors was able to officially finish all three legs: FARVIDE!!! It wil not be hard to predict the winner of this years race. But we will not start the party before Greyhound has finished. And hopefully they will reach Norway this late afternoon with only 21 miles to go.
Farvide made it! They made it! After more than 36 hours Farvide crossed the finishline early this morning. Like leg 2 they take line honours. For them the Lombardini Marine 1000-mile Doublehanded Race is over. Thank you for racing with us!
We are now waiting for Greyhound, with still 38 miles to go...
Recording to the tracker information Piao is going off route to the south. Either they quitted the race, or they connected the tracker to a whale and continued racing invisible! So with Piao out of the race (but we are officially not sure) only two die hards are still in the race: Farvide, with the bigger headsails in the lead and doing really well in the Shetland-Bergen doublehanded class, followed by Greyhound with her self-made rudder. Greyhound also has a doublehanded IRC, in which they chose for the high aspect/genoa 4 to be their biggest headsail. They will really mis them in this leg! Let's hope for them they can use their spi- of genaker.
Crew Vandal homesick??? Vandal turned around, started its Lombardini Marine diesel and went back home to Shetland. The slow speed was too frustrating for the crew. By quitting leg 3 of the race, they loose their chance for the overall victory. In a short phonecall skipper Leslie Irvine explained that their Doublehanded IRC with a high aspect as their biggest headsail is in great disadvantage of Farvide, who sail with their Genua 1 and make more speed. Irvine said he enjoyed the race and wanted thanks his fellow competitors for a great couple of weeks.
DTF YACHT (standings 16.00 CET) 39 Solo 57 AdmundsenOmega 58 Farvide* 82 Greyhound* 92 Storm 108 Anemoi 109 Bjorski 114 Ishar 139 Piao* SUS Vandal* *participant of the Lombardini Marine 1000-mile Doublehanded Race
Farvide is going for the victory The vikings of Farvide are really doing well in light conditions. At this moment they only have the open 40 Solo in front of them in the Shetland-Bergen doublehanded class. With more than 10 miles in front of Greyhound they can think of taking the line honours in leg 3 of the 1000-mile race and maybe even the overall victory.
DTF YACHT (standings 9.00 AM CET) 77 Solo 93 Farvide* 94 AdmundsenOmega 108 Greyhound* 115 Storm 136 Bjorski 139 Vandal* 139 Ishar 140 Anemoi 144 Piao* *participant of the Lombardini Marine 1000-mile Doublehanded Race
At least nine yachts have given up the light conditions and chose to turn on the engines. They probably have work appointments or some important meeting. We are happy to see that 'our' 1000-mile racers are still sailing - or floating - to Bergen.
290609 | bron: 1000mile.org |
Standings at 9.00 PM (CET)
DTF YACHT 146 Solo 153 AdmundsenOmega 154 Farvide* 154 Storm 158 Greyhound* 166 Vandal* 167 Bjorski 171 Ishar 172 Anemoi 176 Piao* *participant of the Lombardini Marine 1000-mile Doublehanded Race Live report from Piao This afternoon our race reporters onboard of Piao had time enough to send a couple of SMS'es. At 4.00 PM (CET) we received the following message:"Windspeed 1 knot, angle looks like E-NE, boatspeed 0,00 to 0,02 knots. Waves stop us. We started a five course teatime break / dinner. We're trying to tack for fifteen minutes now. Code 0 is hanging there to dry ;-)".
A couple of minutes later another SMS: "COG 264, SOG 0,4 kn. We are being pushed back to Shetland :-(".
And at 7.20 PM (CET): "We just picked up some wind. Still not on the right course. Many have stopped. Yours, Piao".
Leg 3 has started The final and third leg of the 1000-mile race has started. The approximately 180 nautical miles to Bergen started with only two knots wind. The light wind came from all directions. In an SMS Piao explains that boats in their direct surrounding all had wind from other angles. At 2.30 PM (CET) Piao reports that the wind is more constant coming from East Northeast, 6 knots. Back to Bergen under Spinaker!
The finish of Piao in Lerwick was also under extreme light conditions. Their ground speed was sometimes only a half knot. Co-Skipper Niels Tatters prepared the oars and used 'ellbow steam' to get away from the rocks. Many of the Shetland-Bergen competitors gave up their attemt to float in Lerwick harbor and turned on their engines. Not for Piao, they managed to reach the finishline according to the regulations.
We will see if all crewmembers have the patience to sail the full length of the race back to Bergen. The Lerwick Race Committee reported that 4 yachts already started their engines. Fastest sailing yacht is the open 40 Solo. And we can say that all 1000mile competitors started the race this afternoon. Keep yourself updated by checking the trackers of the Bergen-Shetland race every now and then.
Farvide and Vandal share first place overall! The 1000mile competitors Farvide and Vandal share the first place in the overall IRC results after two legs. This means that the last leg will be important for the overall victory. Nice detail is that it will be the real Shetland-Bergen race. It wil either be a Shetland of a Norwegian victory!
Of course Piao and Greyhound still have a chance to win the Lombardini Marine 1000-mile Doublehanded Race, but Farvida and Vandal will both have to quit the race. Piao and Greyhound therefore have to fight for the third place.
280609 | bron: 1000mile.org |
Waiting for the results...
The race committee of Shetland will announce the overall IRC results tomorrow moring during the briefing of the race back to Bergen. This means we will not publish the leaderboard today. We just have to wait till tomorrow morining...
The race will start Sunday 28 June at 12.00 CET, 11.00 local time.
270609 | bron: 1000mile.org |
Farvide also IRC winner leg 2!
The Norwegian Beneteau Farvide has won both line honours ánd IRC in leg 2 of the Lombardini Marine 1000-mile Doublehanded Race! Second is Vandal and third Greyhound, also both on handicap and line honours. Farvide had done a fantastic job to take both the prizes in the same leg. They must have felt powerful sailing on home waters.
On the left Farvide skipper Arvid Høgelid who just received the third prize in leg 1 of the Shetland-Bergen Race (picture from www.shetland-race.no).
Tomorrow we will pronounce the overall standings after two legs.
The Norwegian race committee has published some pictures.
Prize giving at 6.30 PM CET The prize giving of leg 2 will be held in Lerwick at 5.30 PM local time (6.30 PM CET). The results of leg 2 and the overall results will be published soon after that time. We can tell you that the race is everyting but over yet and the third leg will be the most important for the overall IRC prize...
End of leg 2 With a groundspeed of 0.5 knots Piao had to crawl to the finishline. Last night the wind dropped when the crewmembers of the faster yachts were preparing for a party on the docks of Lerwick harbor. Still a couple of yachts in the Shetland-Bergen race were in the race, all with the island Bressay in sight. Luckily for the ones still sailing they did not have sight to the party on the docks...
At 2.35 AM Piao sent a message in which they report thick fog not making progress at all! A couple of hours later at 5.50 AM they had only one mile left. Skipper Peter Bunschoten reported that the harbor master "was not amused" with the slow speeds of the yachts in the harbor entrance. The last message was sent at 7.00 AM when Piao was moored and the crew was looking for a drink to celebrate the end of leg 2.
Congratulations to the crews of Farvide, Vandal, Greyhound and Piao who started ánd finished leg 2!
Line Honours leg 2 1. FARVIDE 2. VANDAL 3. GREYHOUND 4. PIAO DNS FANDANGO DNS BLUE JANE DNS MEKA II
260609 | bron: 1000mile.org |
Second day in leg 2
10.30 PM: SMS from Piao "Piao has land in sight. Still 12 miles to go. We have light winds for eigth hours now with waves that slow our boat down. No pint for us tonigt! The gannets (in Dutch: Jan van Genten) are beautiful though. Good compensation. Greets, Piao"
9.00 PM: Call from Lerwick A happy Leslie Irvine called the race phone to report the finish time: 17:47.46 (GMT). He said he finished just in front of Greyhound. In the last couple of miles he and his co-skipper managed to get in front of their direct competitor.
7.00 PM: Greyhound and Vandal reached the Shetlands Both Greyhound and Vandal made it safely to Lerwick harbor. They can prepare for a big festival on the Scottish island. Greyhound did very well, knowing that they have a self built rudder after the original broke off in the first leg. For Vandal it is the first entrance of its home harbor. She was built in the Neterlands last year and her skipper Leslie Irvine used the 1000mile race to bring her home. Of course Irvine will complete the 1000mile race and head back to Bergen in a couple of days. We now wait for Piao to arrive. She is still some 20 miles away, so they will miss the start of the events on shore. Actually we know that they don't care, referring their SMS earlier today, in which skipper Peter Bunschoten was talking about the fantastic weater. After Piao arrived we will publish the finishtimes on this website. Of course the IRC handicap results will also be published, but we'll first wait for the official prize giving that will take place tomorrow.
4.00 PM: Farvide takes line honours leg 2 The Norwegian yacht Farvide is the first 1000mile competitor to arrive in Lerwick. For that reason this Beneteau 44.7 takes line honours in leg 2 of the Lombardini Marine 1000-mile Doublehanded Race. It took Farvide about 28 hours to sail the 200 mile distance between Bergen and Lerwick.
DTF YACHT 0 Solo 0 Farvide* 0 AdmundsenOmega 6 Storm 8 Greyhound* 8 Vandal* 21 Ishar 25 Bjorski 27 Anemoi 34 Piao* *participant of the Lombardini Marine 1000-mile Doublehanded Race
1.00 PM: First yacht finished! The Norwegian doublehanded yacht Solo has won line honours of the Shetland-Bergen race to Lerwick. Our 1000milers are still on their way to the finish, but we expect them any moment.
From Lerwick Port Control we received the following message: "There is a webcam at Lerwick Harbour showing the Race finishing line at Lerwick and the yacht berthing areas – you need to select Live Webcam 5." So please visit that website now!
DTF YACHT 0 Solo 17 Farvide* 19 AdmundsenOmega 27 Storm 28 Vandal* 29 Greyhound* 38 Ishar 42 Bjorski 43 Anemoi 51 Piao* *participant of the Lombardini Marine 1000-mile Doublehanded Race
7.30 AM: Good morning After a comfortable night in my luxury king size bed and a refreshing shower in my large bathroom first thing I do is check how our 1000milers are doing. While I was sleeping they were doing three hours on, three hours off, preparing a quick meal on their small cooker, refresing themselfves with, with nothing actually... Still, I would change directly to be on board one of the competing yachts. Sailing in a race on the 60th degree North, where the night doesn't fall these days, dolphins play with your boat and orca's curiously spot you from a safe distance is not to compare with any other race back here in Holland!
While we were sleeping, our doublehanded friends made some progress:
DTF YACHT 45 Solo 58 Farvide* 59 AdmundsenOmega 65 Storm 66 Vandal* 67 Greyhound* 71 Ishar 75 Bjorski 76 Piao* 77 Anemoi *participant of the Lombardini Marine 1000-mile Doublehanded Race
250609 | bron: 1000mile.org |
Report of leg 1, first day
11.30 PM: Half way! Shorthanded sailing is getting more and more popular in the Shetland-Bergen race. During the last Round Britain and Ireland race the crews of the two races met on the island, both for a stopover, waiting for the following leg. This is were Huib Swets and Dick Koopmans, both participants of the RBI race, met the Norwegian race committee and an idea was born. In 2007 the first 1000-mile Doubelanded Race was held. After the first leg, the race joined the Norwegian race to Lerwick and back. The 1000milers gave great competition to the fully crewed yachts and even managed to take the line honours on both legs! Since that time the doublehanded class of the Shetland race is growing in popularity. At this moment another doublehanded competitor is leading the race for line honours. Unfortunately it is not a 1000mile racer, but still, we like it when shorthanded crews are faster than fully crewed racers. In the list below you can see the results til so far. The sailors are half way and did 100 miles in about 11 hours! DTF YACHT 091 Solo 100 Farvide* 106 Greyhound* 106 AdmundsenOmega 107 Storm 108 Vandal* 113 Piao* 113 Ishar 115 Bjorski 118 Anemoi *participant of the Lombardini Marine 1000-mile Doublehanded Race
4.00 PM: Heading for Lerwick At 2.30 PM the race office received a message from Piao. They were in the race 1,5 hours wit a westerly wind of about 20 knots. Skipper Peter Bunschoten also mentioned the beautiful sunny weater... The weater predictions say that the wind will come from the north soon with a maximum of 10 knots.
With these circumstances the doublehanded crews will have an easy ride to Lerwick, compering with the first leg. And with the sun going down for about one hour, the blue skies will stay blue all night too. Sounds more like vacation to me!
Because of the Shetland-Bergen race, the Doublehanded competition has grown to 10 yachts. During the race we will keep you updated!
DTF YACHT 146 Solo 148 Farvide* 150 AdmundsenOmega 151 Storm 151 Greyhound* 151 Vandal* 153 Piao* 153 Ishar 155 Anemoi 155 Bjorski *participant of the Lombardini Marine 1000-mile Doublehanded Race
Greyhound (left) has a great start of leg 2 Bergen - Lerwick. Picture from shetland-race.no
240609 | bron: 1000mile.org |
Ready for the Shetlands!
On Wednesday 24th of June 43 yachts will leave Norway for an invasion of the Shetlands. The start of the Shetland-Bergen race 2009 will be at 1.00 PM local time. Ten yachts of the fleet are doublehanded competitors, so our 1000milers have new competition. Actually, as we know from previous years, we learned that our shorthanded sailors are good competition for the fully crewed yachts too! Does that mean we will see a 200 mile east to west run in 24 hours? Of course the weather has to help a little with goals like that, but we think it is possible...
Yachts gather together in the harbor of beautiful Bergen. Picture from shetland-race.no
The start of the second leg of the Lombardini Marine 1000mile Doublehanded Race will be combined with the Shetland-Bergen race. That is why the fleet has grown to 43 yachts. Unfortunately not all seven yachts that started in Scheveningen will be present at the start of the leg to Lerwick. As we know first leg winner Fandango will not complete the three legs, but also Meka II and Blue Jane had to cancel the race for several reasons. Blue Janes co-skipper for example has damaged his shoulder during the rough first leg so bad, that racing another 400 miles to Lerwick and back to Bergen was not an option.
Still, four serious competitors, Vandal, Piao, Farvide and Greyhound (with a new rudder!), will fight for the overall IRC prize of the 1000mile race. We hope to hear some great stories again and of course a safe trip to Lerwick for all crewmembers!
230609 | bron: 1000mile.org |
A culinary day off in bergen
Last two days we've been with four boats in the city centre of Bergen. Saturday evening Willem from the Blue Jane showed his cooking skills to cook "draadjesvlees" with Grand Cru red wine from 2000 in his pressure cooking pan! The 8 competitors who were in Bergen enjoyed his cooking skills and the good ambiance that evening. After a good dinner the evening was continued in the night life of Bergen and we enjoyed some drinks in the pubs and had a good time with all the Norwegian people at the streets.
The following morning was a slow start with some breakfast and coffee. And waving goodbye to Ruben from the Greyhound and Kees from the Fandango who needed to go to work again on Monday morning. Kasper from the Fandango wanted to climb one off the mountains around Bergen where you have an excelllent view on Bergen, the harbour and our boats and of course the surroundings with the fjords and the sea. Klaas from the Blue Jane and 'Greyhound' Gerard joined the climb of 410 metres to the top of Flojen.
When walking up we meet Helge cycling, who is a competitor of the 1000 miles 2007 with the 'Embla'. Later he invited the competitors who were in Bergen for a lunch/ BBQ at his place. Before this lunch we had to finish our climb to the top of the mountain and after that walk to his place which is more to the north of Bergen. After a walk of three hours we arrived at his place where we were warmly received. The fish and meat from the BBQ was with a wonderful taste and an even more amazing view from his garden over the fjords. How wonderfull this is such a warm welcome and spontaneous lunch! Thank you very much!
Now back in Bergen where we are now enjoying the last sun. And thinking about if we still need to have dinner.
The first leg of the Lombardini Marine 1000-mile Doublehanded Race is won by sailing yacht Fandango. Exactly four days after the start in Scheveningen the FF110 managed to cross the finish line in Bergen just in front of their direct competitors Blue Jane, a Huisman 44, and Farvide, a Beneteau 44.7. The three yachts finished with a time difference of only fifteen minutes in four days! At the same time Greyhound had no reason for celebrations. They were towed by a Lifeboat because of severe rudder problems. The Dehler 39SQ was towed safely to Askoy harbor and hoisted ashore. The whole rudder appeared to be broken off.
The winning skipper Kees de Walle is about to be a well known shorthanded sailor in the Netherlands. Early this year he received the Magic Marine Cup from the Dutch North Sea Club, for being the best shorthanded sailor in the Netherlands. One of the reasons: winning the Lombardini Marine 1000-mile Doublehanded Race in 2008! De Walle did what he was expected to do to win the first leg of this race on both line honours ánd IRC. Unfortunately Fandango cannot win the overall prize this year, because De Walle has obligations back home next week. This means that second and third IRC winners Blue Jane and Vandal see opportunities for the overall victory.
Changing weather situation The competitors left Scheveningen with great sailing weather for a 600 mile trip to Norway. A south to southwesterly wind, force 4, seemed to give room for a record braking crossing. A windlesness period of six hours after about 150 miles sailing spoiled that attempt. Heading closer to the Norwegian coastline the weather changed dramatically to sometimes 40 knots, eight Beaufort. The boat speeds raised to sometimes 20 to 25 knots! The heavy circumstances were too much for at least one spinnaker (Vandal), one headsail (Fandango) and a rudder blade (Greyhound).
Greyhound stearless One of the favorites for the overall IRC prize, Greyhound, had to call for lifeboat assistance in the early morning of 18 June. The circumstances, SSW 8 and heavy seas asked too much of the rudder construction. Skipper Gerard Schalkwijk did not want to get closer to the dangerous Norwegian coastline without help. The excited skipper could tell us with some pride that he managed to reach speeds of almost 20 knots in the hours before the rudder problems began. Suspending the first leg was a hard decision, especially because Greyhound had only 40 miles to go, and the yacht had a great chance to reach the finish first. Once in safe harbor, brought there by the lifeboat, Greyhound was hoisted onshore where it seemed that the whole rudder was broken off. Not a chance they could have made is safe to the Fjords without assistance. Great decision of skipper Schalkwijk.
We received some great photo's and videos of the first leg.
The prizes for the first three yachts on IRC were sponsored by Tijssen Watersport in Leiderdorp, the Netherlands.
200609 | bron: 1000mile.org |
All competitors arrived in Norway
The last 20 or so mile took Meka II almost a full day. With a speed of about 1.5 knots they were crawling to the finishline. At 4:30 PM they crossed the finish line and could start their engine again to make sure they would be in time for the fridayafternoon drinks in Askoy Harbor. Right now the teams are enjoying themselves with a BBQ. Tonight the IRC winner will be presented. We will of course publish the results on this website.
1. FANDANGO 18 June 12:04:35 2. BLUE JANE 18 June 12:13:38 3. FARVIDE 18 June 12:20:12 4. VANDAL 18 June 14:19:12 5. PIAO 19 June 03:15:12
6. MEKA II 19 June 16:35:41
- GREYHOUND SUS
9.00 AM: Meka II on its way Still on the water is the brave crew of Meka II. The smallest yacht of them all, a Sigma 33, is about 15 miles south of the island Fedje now. In a couple of hours they will finish and probably get some sleep for the rest of the day. There will be a warm welcome in the harbor of Askoy by the rest of the fleet.
4.00 AM: Piao is finised Early this morning Piao crossed the finishline safe and sound. Of course they had the same heavy weather as the rest of the fleet, but skipper Peter Bunschoten is not impressed so easily. During the first leg we received brief daily SMS'es with a description of the weater situation. We're now waiting for Meka II...
190609 | bron: 1000mile.org |
Four days sailing
10.00 PM: video of the start
3.00 PM: Vandal made it
She's in, brand new Vandal made her first crossing over the North Sea. She only spoiled a spinaker, but is that really her fault or can we blame the fanatic crew for that? Welcome in Norway Leslie and Andrew!
1. FANDANGO 12:04:35 2. BLUE JANE 12:13:38 3. FARVIDE 12:20:12 4. VANDAL 14:19:12
- GREYHOUND SUS
1.00 PM: Line honours for Fandango!
With only 15 minyutes time difference, three yachts have finished after exact four days at sea. Fandango took the line honours for leg 1. Blue Jane followed at only 9 minutes. Seven minutes later Farvide crossed the finish line at Herdia.
12.00 AM: Daily update from Piao
And what happens at noon? The racephone beeps twice. SMS from Piao of course.
"Pos. 59.39.0N 4.11E. Barre nacht gehad SE8 en zware buien. Zee was erg rough. Met 3 reven nog te veel tuig. Nu W5 en zon. Drogen de spullen weer. Groet Piao"
Rough translation: Pos. 59.39.0N 4.11E. Had a rough night SE8 and heavy showers. Sea was very rough. With 3 reefs still too much sail. Now W5 and sun. We're drying our stuff. Greet Piao"
11.45 AM: Pictures from finish line control
The shorecrew of the Shetland-Bergen race is posting at the finishline. The pictures they make can be seen online.
11.00 AM: Greyhound out of the race
One of the favourites for the overall IRC prize is out of the race. Greyhound experienced rudder problems and called for lifeboat assistance at 5.30 this morning. They are being towed to Askoy Harbor right now. The crew is OK. Skipper Gerard Schalkwijk sounded very disappointed, but was convinced calling the lifeboat was a wise decision. The conditions at sea were a too big risk for entering the fjords without assistance.
10.00 AM: Finish line control is ready
The Shetland Bergen race committee has organised a finishteam at Herdia. Since last night a crew is waiting for the first yachts to cross the finish and they will stay there until the last yacht has crossed the line. This great effort of the Norwegian race organisation means a warm welcome to the doublehanded crews after a heavy first leg and of course oficial finish times. In Askoy harbor, where the competitors will moor their yachts, warm showers and a full refrigerator are waiting... Thank you Norway!
8.30 AM: Vandal reached speeds to 25 knots!
A call from Lesly Irvine, skipper of Vandal: "We're about 20 miles south of the island Fedje. It has been a heavy trip! We reached a maximum speed of 25 knots in a serious surf. We also lost our spinaker. We were doing 14 to 15 knots at 30 knots wind when I told Andrew (co-skipper) to take the spi in. Andrew said to keep on going. Ten minutes later the spi was ripped in parts. Besides that we had a fantastic race. Vandal is doing very well turns out to be storm proof." Vandal is a brand new VQ32. A yacht designed for the Ostar by Dick Koopmans.
7.30 AM: Norwegian line honours?
A couple of hours ago Fandango made a critical dicision to sail inside the Fjords. This morning co-skipper Kasper Silvius called the race office and told us that the circumstances at sea were that heavy that they expected better conditions in the Fjords. Once they were in calmer waters, the weather changed dramaticly. Fandango is now sailing with only 2 knots of wind against! This could cost them the linehonours of leg 1, but, as Kasper told us, the're still fighting for every mile!
Still, Fandango's decision can work out very well for the Norwegian crew onboard Farvide. Looking at their IRC handicap, they must be the fastest yacht in the race. In the next couple of hours we will see it they really are. The 'vikings' have to beat Fandango ánd Blue Jane.
Let's not forget Blue Jane! This yacht has done some serious sailing in short history (6 times Fastnet!). Blue Jane is manned by a highly experienced crew and can come up with some tactical moves to surprise the rest of the fleet crossing the finishline first.
00.30 AM:First arrivals expected between 6 and 7 o'clock
Looking at the tracker information we can say that Fandango is doing very well. Unfortunately the trackers of Meka II, Vandal and Greyhound did not give a signal since early Wednesday morning. So it is still had to say who is winning the first leg of the Lombardini Marine 1000mile Doublehanded Race. What we can say is that we expect the first yachts to cross the finishline between 6 and 7 o'clock this morning.
Be aware that the DTF on the schedule below is the direct lint to the city of Bergen. To reach the finishline the yachts have to enter the Norwegian Fjords between the islands of Fedje and Fedjeosen (pos. 60.44N 4.44E), just northeast of Bergen. The finish will be west of Herdla (pos. 60.34.5N 4.56E). On the Race Chart you will find these positions.
212 nm 03:00 AM 1,054 Greyhound 213 nm 05:00 AM 1,049 Vandal 226 nm 05:00 AM 0,914 Meka II
DTF = Distance To Finish
LTS = Last Tracker Signal
180609 | bron: 1000mile.org |
Three days at sea
After three days at sea we can already say that the seven competing yachts have seen all kinds of weather during the race. Leaving Scheveningen with rain and 3 Bft southern winds, the weather changed to no wind at all and blue skies within 24 hours. After that the wind changed to North to Northwest 4. Right now the winds are South to Southeast, 7 to 8 Bft!
Looking at the Distance to the Finish (DTF), we can say that Fandango is still leading the fleet. But we are not really sure about that. Why? Well, Greyhound's tracker has not communicated with sattelites since 3 AM today. Their postition could easily be 60nm more north in the current conditions. Same story for Vandal and Meka II.
Just keep on updating the racechart every uneven hour and you will see the progress of the doublehanded crews.
DTF LTS IRC Yacht 152 nm 09:00 AM 1,004 Fandango 157 nm 11:00 AM 1,121 Farvide 158 nm 11:00 AM 1,036 Blue Jane 212 nm 03:00 AM 1,054 Greyhound 213 nm 05:00 AM 1,049 Vandal 215 nm 11:00 AM 0,967 Piao 226 nm 05:00 AM 0,914 Meka II
DTF = Distance To Finish
LTS = Last Tracker Signal
170609 | bron: 1000mile.org |
Message in a digital bottle
Yep, at twelve o'clock today we received another SMS from Piao. Skipper Peter Bunschoten wrote: "Pos. 57.11.4N 2.54 E. Vannacht liggen tobben met wind shifts, nu 7 soms 8 s-se. Piao Peter". In English: Last night worries with wind shifts, now 7, sometimes 8 s-se. We're looking forward to midday tomorrow for another update...
170609 | bron: Piao / 1000mile.org |
Great mobile network on North Sea?
Another 12 o'clock SMS from Piao today. We hope it will be a daily message. It seems that the mobile phone companies cover the North Sea area this year! The message: "55.19N 3.10E. Since 2 hours N-NW 4. Greets Piao".
160609 | bron: Piao / 1000mile.org |
Results after 48 hours sailing
At twelve o'clock today last year's winner Fandango leads the pack, followed on a short distance by the 'vikingship' Farvide. Vandal and Greyhound have chosen the more western route. We'll see if this tactical move will work out well for them! As we read in Piao's SMS the competitors have to beat the North to Northwesterly winds, wich means that the predicted 600 miles in 4 days can be hard to attain.
DTF LTS IRC Yacht 358 nm 11:00 AM 1,004 Fandango 359 nm 07:00 AM 1,121 Farvide 373 nm 11:00 AM 0,967 Piao 405 nm 11:00 AM 1,054 Greyhound 405 nm 09:00 AM 0,914 Meka II 423 nm 11:00 AM 1,036 Blue Jane 424 nm 09:00 AM 1,049 Vandal
DTF = Distance To Finish LTS = Last Tracker Signal
160609 | bron: 1000mile.org |
1000mile Ostarians finished!
After 22 days on the Atlantic both 1000mile doublehanded race founders Huib Swets and Dick Koopmans seperately finished the Ostar in New York harbour today. Huib and his Vijaya arrived only four hours before Dick and his Jager. The 1000mile Race Committee congratulates these two shorthanded heroes and their fellow Ostarians with their incredible achievements!
160609 | bron: 1000mile.org |
Blue Jane tracker
Like previous years we learned that the trackers are sensitive things onboard. The trackers give a signal to only one sattelite every uneven hour. This means that the tracker can miss that sattelite for several reasons. The power can be switched off, a crewmember hang a coat over the tracker, etc. At this moment we did not receive signals from Blue Jane since 3 AM today. This is not a reason to get worried and call the coastguard!
Whenever Blue Jane's tracker will give another signal, she might appear in front of the fleet on the race chart. So do keep an eye on that part of this website.
150609 | bron: 1000mile.org |
SMS of Piao
At exact midday today the race office received an SMS of Piao. The following message was sent: "Pos. 53.37.6N 4.27E 6 uur windstilte groet Piao Peter" ("windstilte" is no wind). This means that Piao, and probably all competitors had a frustrating morning, trying to catch all 2 of 3 knots of wind...
150609 | bron: Piao / 1000mile.org |
First pictures online
The first pictures of the startweekend are published in our gallery (check the menu for 2009). You will see photo's of the welcome party onboard Fandango, the Optimist race and of course of the start. Later this week we will show more results...
150609 | bron: 1000mile.org |
And the're gone...
Fourteen sailors ran over the docks of Jachtclub Scheveningen this morning. Their goal: Bergen, Norway. Luckily for them, only 300 meters of the 600 miles ahaid was by foot. The rest is reserved for some serious sailing. Greyhound was the first yacht to leave Scheveningen. The crew is familiar with the 'le mans' type start, because of their experience of sailing the Dutch 'Schuttevaerrace' (running, cycling, sailing) many times. Besides that, skipper Gerard Schalkwijk is eager to win this years 1000mile doublehanded race. But, we don't want to put our money on only one yacht after a 300 meter sprint. All seven competitors can win the race, because of the IRC handicap. In four to five days we expect the yachts to cross the finishline and we'll see who has won the longest of three legs.
140609 | bron: 1000mile.org |
Back on track!
Like previous years we will provide all competitors with a tracker this year. This means that the race can be followed on our website by family, friends, supporters and sponsors. A great tool made by SWETS CAMPIONI Electronic Publishing. The trackers are provided by Star Tracking.
100609 | bron: 1000mile.org |
Ready to race?
With less than one week to go, we are looking forward to meet the doublehanded crews of this year’s 1000mile race. The Race Committee has planned some events and hope that the crews will all attend at the welcome reception on the docks of Scheveningen Harbor. The Race Office will be in the new office of the harbor master. All necessary race information will be published on the Race Office window/door.
Saturday 13 June - Whole day: Flag Day Scheveningen, many events in and around the harbor - 09.00 – 12.00 hour: Safety checks - 12.00 – 14.00 hour: Optimist race - 14.00 – 17.00 hour: Race Office open - 17.00 – 18.00 hour: Race briefing at Race Office
Sunday 14 June - 11.50 hour: assemble for the start at the Race Office - 12.00 hour: start of the Lombardini Marine 1000mile Doublehanded Race 2009!
090609 | bron: 1000mile.org |
1000mile video
Check out this video of last year's winner Fandango
Other video's of the previous races are available on You Tube
080609 | bron: 1000mile.org |
Thanks!
With only a couple of weeks to go, we can say that many people are busy with the 1000mile race! Of course the competitors, who are preparing their yachts and themselves for the race. But also a bunch of people who will not compete in the 1000mile race. Most of them are (partly) sponsoring this race or help the Race Committee to get everything together. The Lombardini Marine 1000mile Doublehanded Race would never exist without all these people. A big THANK YOU in advance!
030609 | bron: 1000mile.org |
Ostar has started
The 1000mile ‘Founding Fathers’ Dick Koopmans and Huib Swets have started in the Ostar 2009! They started in Plymouth one week ago. At this moment they are both leading their classes! Of course you can follow them on ostar2009.com or on their own websites.
020609 | bron: 1000mile.org |
Sailing instructions online
The latest version of the Sailing Instructions is published on this website. In this document you will read about the three legs, positions of start and finish, rules of the Bergen-Shetland Race, etc.
020609 | bron: 1000mile.org |
100 mile qualification
According to the sailing instructions a 100 mile qualification trip is obligatory. The 100 Mile race, held during the North Sea Regatta, is the last change to finish this qualifier. We have seen some names appear on the entry list of the 100 and 1000mile doublehanded races.
210509 | bron: shorthanded.nl |
Something different
The start in Scheveningen will be one to remember. The race committee has decided to start ‘Le Mans’ style. This means that the race will begin onshore with a short sprint over the docks to the yachts. From there the competitors are allowed to use their engines (max. 5 knots) until between the two harbor lights on the piers. More details about this start and the rest of the leg will be given during the race briefing in Scheveningen.
Yes, the race committee has been quiet for a while, but don’t think nothing happened! We have been preparing this year’s race to make it as good as the 2007 and 2008 editions. And of course we have been sailing! We are proud to have eight competitors in the first leg and seventeen on leg 2 and 3! The Race Committee is looking forward to some great sailing between yachts in the varied fleet!
Doublehanded training During the 50 Mile Doublehanded Race in Lelystad members of the race committee joined the race together with competitors of the 1000mile race. 1000mile competitor Lesly Irvine impressed by finishing 3rd of 43 yachts in the 30-35 ft class with his brand new VQ32 Vandal. And of course we met Diane Rabin and Reese Williams of Meka II. This Brit-Dutch couple will join the 1000mile race for the 3rd time. Welcome back again!
Starting in Scheveningen Scheveningen is part of the city of The Hague and well known of the busy beaches, sparkling nightlife and luxury hotels. The biggest event of the year is “Flag Day” which will be held in the weekend of the 1000mile start! Another reason to bring your family… Before you will leave Scheveningen for the 600 miles to Bergen we are sure you know your fellow competitors a little bit. We planned a couple of events to get acquainted. From joining the Optimist race to drinking beer and eating herring on the welcome reception…
Ostar ambitions Unfortunately the two founders of the 1000mile race, Huib Swets and Dick Koopmans, will not join the race this year. Their excuse is acceptable, because they will join one of the biggest solo challenges for sailors: the Ostar. The Race Committee will follow their efforts and publish news on the 1000mile website.
110509 | bron: 1000mile.org |
1000mile briefing on Saturday 28 March
The Lombardini Marine 1000 mile Doublehanded Race invites sailors who are interested in joining this challenging race for an informative racebriefing on Saturday 28 March at 16.00 hrs. The briefing will be held in the yachtclub of the Houtribhaven in Lelystad, the Neterlands. During the briefing the future competitors and other interested sailors will be informed about the doublehanded race from the Netherlands to Norway and Scotland. Beside the race information and preparation we will present the race programme wich also includes the social events.
You are most welcome to visit the briefing, even when you are not really sure to join the race! Please let us know you will come by writing an email to race @ 1000mile.org
The Italian marine engine producer Lombardini Marine will again be the namesake of the most challenging race of the northernmost North Sea, the Lombardini Marine 1000mile Doublehanded Race. This is what the Dutch importer Kemper en Van Twist Diesel B.V. and the race committee have agreed. The namesake of the race is one of the agreements that have been recorded in the sponsorcontract which was signed at the maritime trade exhibition Mets in Amsterdam. The race committee receives the financial amends that are needed to organize the race between the Netherlands, Norway and Great Britain.
Kemper en Van Twist Diesel B.V. connects the brand Lombardini Marine to the race because of the maritime link. The diesel engines of Lombarini are often built in both race- and pleasureyachts. The dieselspecialist was looking for a striking and proper way to present the brand to the public. This was found in sponsoring the 1000mile Doublehanded Race. A challenging race where 30 foot pleasureyachts and open 40 racers appear on the same startline and, because of IRC handicap, all make the same chance for the overall victory.
The Lombardini Marine 1000mile Doublehanded Race will start on Sunday 14th June 2009 in Scheveningen, the Netherlands. Registration is opened. Check this website for more information.
011208 | bron: 1000mile.org | Dordrecht
Prizegiving 2008 race
During the open day of our sponsor Kemper & Van Twist the IRC cup of the Lombardini Marine 1000-mile DH race was handed over to proud winner Kees de Walle, skipper of Fandango. He received the cup from host and sponsor Rob de Wijs in company of competitors of this years race. Race organiser Jules Bänffer interviewed the winner ánd fellow competitors to give an idea about the race to the present visitors of the open day.
In this years 1000-mile DH race Fandango was unbeatable. She won all five legs on IRC. Skipper De Walle and his co skippers worked hard for their victory: "When I'm sailing a race, I look for the limits of me, my co-skipper and my ship. After a couple of days offshore you have found these limits and have to work very hard to keep them high. I have pushed my crew and myself to find the energy for every sailchange and tactical move. I am proud of the result!". In next years 1000-mile DH race, Fandango will be thé boat to beat. Everyone who dares this challenge, should join the race! Check this website for more information.
041008 | bron: 1000mile.org | Dordrecht
Launch 2009 Edition
We are very proud to announce the next edition, the third in a row, of the 1000-mile DOUBLEHANDED RACE. The 14th of June 2009 at noon (EST) the race will start in Scheveningen and the boats will be heading towards Bergen and Lerwick. Read more about the race and how to participate on the 2009 Info page
From today the Notice of Race is available for download from the Race Documents page. For more detailed information, please contact race (at) 1000mile.org.
As we already mentioned in previous newsitems, the Norwegian sailors doublehanded crew of Farvide has officially won the Lombardini Marine 1000-mile Doublehanded Race 2009!!! 
The prize giving of leg 2 will be held in Lerwick at 5.30 PM local time (6.30 PM CET). The results of leg 2 and the overall results will be published soon after that time. We can tell you that the race is everyting but over yet and the third leg will be the most important for the overall IRC prize... 
Both Greyhound and Vandal made it safely to Lerwick harbor. They can prepare for a big festival on the Scottish island. Greyhound did very well, knowing that they have a self built rudder after the original broke off in the first leg. For Vandal it is the first entrance of its home harbor. She was built in the Neterlands last year and her skipper Leslie Irvine used the 1000mile race to bring her home. Of course Irvine will complete the 1000mile race and head back to Bergen in a couple of days. 
The Norwegian yacht Farvide is the first 1000mile competitor to arrive in Lerwick. For that reason this Beneteau 44.7 takes line honours in leg 2 of the Lombardini Marine 1000-mile Doublehanded Race. It took Farvide about 28 hours to sail the 200 mile distance between Bergen and Lerwick. 
Kees from the Fandango who needed to go to work again on Monday morning. Kasper from the Fandango wanted to climb one off the mountains around Bergen where you have an excelllent view on Bergen, the harbour and our boats and of course the surroundings with the fjords and the sea. Klaas from the Blue Jane and 'Greyhound' Gerard joined the climb of 410 metres to the top of Flojen. 
Now back in Bergen where we are now enjoying the last sun. And thinking about if we still need to have dinner. 
The winning skipper Kees de Walle is about to be a well known shorthanded sailor in the Netherlands. Early this year he received the Magic Marine Cup from the Dutch North Sea Club, for being the best shorthanded sailor in the Netherlands. One of the reasons: winning the Lombardini Marine 1000-mile Doublehanded Race in 2008! De Walle did what he was expected to do to win the first leg of this race on both line honours ánd IRC. Unfortunately Fandango cannot win the overall prize this year, because De Walle has obligations back home next week. This means that second and third IRC winners Blue Jane and Vandal see opportunities for the overall victory. 
One of the favorites for the overall IRC prize, Greyhound, had to call for lifeboat assistance in the early morning of 18 June. The circumstances, SSW 8 and heavy seas asked too much of the rudder construction. Skipper Gerard Schalkwijk did not want to get closer to the dangerous Norwegian coastline without help. The excited skipper could tell us with some pride that he managed to reach speeds of almost 20 knots in the hours before the rudder problems began. Suspending the first leg was a hard decision, especially because Greyhound had only 40 miles to go, and the yacht had a great chance to reach the finish first. Once in safe harbor, brought there by the lifeboat, Greyhound was hoisted onshore where it seemed that the whole rudder was broken off. Not a chance they could have made is safe to the Fjords without assistance. Great decision of skipper Schalkwijk. 
The last 20 or so mile took Meka II almost a full day. With a speed of about 1.5 knots they were crawling to the finishline. At 4:30 PM they crossed the finish line and could start their engine again to make sure they would be in time for the fridayafternoon drinks in Askoy Harbor. Right now the teams are enjoying themselves with a BBQ. Tonight the IRC winner will be presented. We will of course publish the results on this website. 
Yes, the race committee has been quiet for a while, but don’t think nothing happened! We have been preparing this year’s race to make it as good as the 2007 and 2008 editions. And of course we have been sailing! We are proud to have eight competitors in the first leg and seventeen on leg 2 and 3! The Race Committee is looking forward to some great sailing between yachts in the varied fleet! 
