Medemblik Venue Guide

Jim Saltonstall provides essential advice to all ferrets taking their ships to SPA Olympic Regatta

Racing Areas

There are normally five race areas set up for the regatta, which you can be expected to use any at the discretion of the race committee, depending on the weather conditions and whether they are active or not on any given day. But normally whichever one you get, is the one which you would normally stay with.

The water is shallow and quite brackish and it is a short chop venue when the wind is from the south - west - north west. Anywhere from the north east - east south east, the chop is steeper, especially on or near the Andijk shoreline when from the N/NE sector.

The prevailing wind direction is predominently from the SW- W- NW sector giving you an offshore wind, with the land mass being relatively low all round, the wind shifts are not that dramatic in the leeward/starting mark areas. Surface current is wind driven, the warmer surface layer sliding over the cold layer below - this needs checking on a daily basis, as generally there is very little unless there has been a strong breeze for some time from the same direction.

Wind Direction 000degs
When racing in the race areas close to the land, there tends to be more pressure on the port side of the course which you will only feel if you can get close to it as the land mass is low not giving a great convergence area to seaward. With the wind in this direction it is quite stable to seaward both in direction & strength as there is nothing to windward to disturb it.

Wind Direction 030 - 120degs
Stable in direction & strength, more confused water with backwash off the land, speed mode, slightly less in the height mode.

Wind Direction 120 - 160degs
If racing in the Southern race area off the Andijk shore, there is flatter water on the starboard side of the course, also slightly less wind in the divergence wind area, but with lifts on starboard tack off the shore, if the race committee set the course so that you can get close enough to it.

Wind Direction 180degs
For those near the western shore, less wind on the stb side of the track in the divergence area, also shifts can now be detected as the wind comes off the Andijk shore line to the south. The shifts are more relevant to those racing in the southern race area.

Wind Direction 180 - 260degs
Less pressure close to the land, but lifts on starboard tack close to the land, slightly more wind velocity middle left on the track with shifts as the wind is coming off the land, but they are not huge as the land is low - 5-10-15dgs depending on the wind speed. We have seen with the wind at 190degs in the southern race area, ships go left at the bottom and right at the top come out smelling of roses!!

Wind Direction 270degs
Shifty, more so in the WWMK area as you would expect, so it is back to basics - do not forget that the first sheer of wind from land to water in the northern hemisphere is to the right, lifting starboard tack as you approach, closer into the land, lifts on port. How far the WWMK is from the land depends on which will be the predominent lifting tack into the mark. If racing in the southern race area off the Andijk shore, there is more pressure on the left along the shore, again if you can get close enough to it.

Wind Direction 280-000degs.
Shifty with lifts on port tack near the shore, also slightly more pressure on the left with the convergence area.

Sea Breeze
The true sea breeze comes from the west off the North Sea, 15-22knots. The signs of a good sea breeze day, light north easter in the morning, clear blue skies, land getting hot enough in relationship to the water temperature, tall towering cumulus to the east over mainland Europe. Now we stand a chance for the breeze to come in from the North Sea from approximately 270dgs. Failing the true sea breeze, you will get a local thermal from the east, 080 - 100dgs, but it will only be local, close to the shore & light.

Medemblik is a great place, make sure that you enjoy it and have a ferret around if you have the time, Hoorn is a popular place to visit.

Have a great regatta - with very friendly people, the Dutch hospitality / friendliness is great.