Sailors Ronde om Texel awaits a big challenge on the Wadden Sea: ‘Sailing or klunen’

Chairman Jan Schouwstra hopes that 300 boats will appear at the start. “230 participants have now registered for the competition. But due to the beautiful weather we hope for a few last participants,” he says.

The race was canceled for a few years due to the corona pandemic. “That was a drama. We then had to skip two editions. Then nothing happens at all. I have been chairman for four years now, but active chairman in two rounds.”

The Ronde om Texel can count on 300 volunteers. “We have had no problems getting them back together. The Round Texel Race is a household name. Everyone is very enthusiastic, it is one big family.”

The weather forecast looks good. “Only the wind comes from the east. I personally don’t like that very much. That means that the participants have to start with half wind. That’s great for sailing, because that’s ‘clapping’ with that stuff.” Only an easterly wind also causes a little less water. “Particularly on the east side near the VC buoy, the participants may have to clumsy,” says Schouwstra with a smile.

There are many sandbanks in the Wadden Sea. And especially when the tide is low, parts of it dry up. “If all goes well, the sailors will have a corridor like a bullet. It will only become a ‘thing’ on the east side.” The aim is for the sailors to pass the VC buoy in time. Because otherwise they have to sail back.

The start time will be set this morning at 7am. “Then we request data about the tide, wind forecast and other matters. Of course we want to get as many participants as possible about that drought. It’s not about the fastest lap for us, because that’s just one boat. two hundred participants. We want to give everyone a good feeling. That means we want to give them the chance to round the island.”

The Ronde om Texel is sailed annually in June. “We do that on a day when there is also a spring tide. Then there is extra water. It may only be two feet, but that’s the difference between walking or floating.” The surfers, who start fifteen minutes after the catamarans, will probably have fewer problems. They can walk over the sandbanks with their board.

“It is dangerous if we let the surfers leave earlier. Because if one falls, he only sticks out of the water with his head. And then a fleet of 200 catamarans follows. That is of course life-threatening.”

One of the early volunteers is 69-year-old Henk Daalder. He was present at the first round in 1978. The start was at Paal 9. “I only missed one round”, says Daalder. “We were then still with an old SRV car. There were only twenty participants.”

He was asked by his neighbor and immediately became enthusiastic. As a former crane operator, he is part of the ‘Transport and Transport’ team. This means that he ensures that the catamarans can be safely transported to the beach. Daalder also experienced top times with 1,000 boats at the start. “We had 21 tractors then. That was about 10 years ago. We even had to park the boats at post 15, two kilometers from the starting line.”

The sense of togetherness is important to Daalder. “You spend a week together. It’s a nice group. And the sailors have also become acquaintances.”

The drivers are ‘sponsored’ with a tractor for the round. Daalder will be riding a Ferguson from Hollands Noordkop from Breezand this week. Due to the nitrogen rules, a lot of electric transport must now also be used. “When it gets very busy, the electrical equipment is used and the tractors remain on the beach. We are in a Natura 2000 area, but the beach is not included. So we are still allowed to drive there. The catamarans are electrically transported to the beach and then we take over.”

Daalder has met many sailors. “They are very different. Surgeons, bankers, but also cleaning people. One thinks he is quite something and the other behaves normally. To me they are all the same. On Texel they are treated equally. Yesterday I had happened to be a young German tourist who wanted to ride along. He sat next to me in the passenger seat and wanted explanations about many things. I love that.”

He also lives in suspense the week before the round. Hopes everything goes well. “Once the start has been made, that tension disappears,” says Daalder. “Then I’m happy that everything went well and it was a success for me again. And that the race continues. Because I’ve had the race canceled twice due to weather conditions. That’s a downer. And everyone wants to enjoy the beach.”

He has never sailed himself. “Those catamarans are too slanted for me. Far too dangerous.” He once fell out of a jet ski and therefore avoids water sports. “That was no fun.”

He has no plans to stop just yet. “As long as my health allows, I want to keep doing this for years to come.” He does not have to take vacation days with his employer. “I only have one boss, who is at home. But she also likes it a lot.”