For today a sailing regatta has been planned just outside Warnemuende’s sea channel. On the palaver which was held on a very early hour an explanation was given about the course of the regatta which seemed to be simple enough: sail a distance of about 6 miles in a northerly direction, round a designated buoy and sail back. It turned out to be a little bit more complicated, the wind is increasing to force eight in squalls  and because we are sailing with a ship filled with enthusiastic but inexperienced guests some care has to be taken. The late ending of yesterday’s evening trip is still in the muscles of the deck crew and not everything runs as fluent as we are used to. The start is chaotic and before we have really started we have earned minus points for crossing the starting line too early. The ship nevertheless is in top shape, even with only half the sails up we run like a train and within 1 ½ hours we are back at the finish.
When all participants have finished it turns out that we have ¾ of an hour margin on our competitors. Even with 15 minutes deduction because of our early start it means that the party can commence.
A ship is as good as its crew, today the ship was even better…..

Cosmo Wassenaar
Captain Stad Amsterdam