Medemblik, Holland
As the ISAF Race Director, Robert Lamb was leading this year's Delta Lloyd Regatta in Medemblik, Holland.
This is an event with a tradition of racing for the Olympic classes extending back to 1985. Each course area is managed by a Dutch club as far as resource is concerned (boats and personnel).
Marinus Blickman has been the PRO for 5 years and a Course RO for many years prior to that. He has strong ownership of the event as does Frans Hin who is the other race management representative on the organising committee and the lead ‘backroom’ person. Arjen Rahusen, a non-sailor, is the chairman of the organising committee. Rob worked closely with these three individuals from an ISAF perspective.
With numbers down in 2012 (178 boats with no Stars, 49ers or Match Racing) due to a number of reasons, not least the Olympics, the format was modified with the permission of ISAF. Racing for Laser Standards and RSX was as normal, but the Laser Radials, 470s and Finns had four races each day over just three days rather than five. The opinion of the sailors was varied but it seems that most enjoyed the change.
The Delta Lloyd Regatta will be back in 2013 as part of the newly formed European Cup Series of EUROSAF.
