Volvo Ocean Race 10-06 till15-06

As the Volvo Ocean Race boats made their way up to Rotterdam, we made our way down from Enkhuizen to Rotterdam.
We where scheduled to sail with guest on day/evening trips during the festivities of the sail in. Our first daytrip was on the real sail in on Saturday the 10th. To make sure there would be something to do during the day, the organisation organised a race just outside the Rotterdam Harbours. With about 30 or 40 commercial sailing vessels (varying from boats like the Tecla to the Stad Amsterdam and the Swan fan Makkum) and at least 100 small private boats we sailed out to the leg to look at the Volvo Ocean racers of last year.
Winds had decreased to a wind force of 2 or 3 bft witch caused a delay in the arrival of the boats of this year, we did not expect to see them come in, but as we arrived on the race course somebody yelled ˝Look there is the ABN ambro ONE˝. Everybody thought that the ABN One had finished long ago and had proceeded to the harbour, but there she was. As fast as the light all the small boats went up to the ABN One to welcome her home and congratulate the crew with their finish and first place.
Second to arrive was the Pirates of the Caribbean (my personal favourite) and third was the Brunel. And to avoid total chaos in the harbour the boats had to wait before entering the harbour. This gave us the opportunity to take some pictures and look at the boats up close. And even with a wind speed of almost nothing we had difficulties keeping up with the racers on full speed.

In the evening we had another trip, with a new group. This time we stayed in shore and went to see DJ Tiësto on the Erasmus brug.
DJ Tiësto arrived on an old version of the race boats totally decorated with light strings and music equipment. The bridge was packed with people and on the water again there where a lot of boats to see the show. As the music started the sun went down and the light show started. On the surrounding buildings you could see a projection of Tiësto and in the end there where fireworks.

During the rest of the week we prepared for our trip to Ireland and had one more daytrip. Luckily we had beautiful weather all week long, up to the last day, it rained during the sail out. Again we where scheduled for a daytrip, in shore. We sailed to the Vissershaven, where the racers where and saw all of them leave. Although it was great to be part of a spectacle like the sail in and sail out, I must say, my mind was constantly busy preparing for our own sail out the next day..

Deckhand
Jet Sluik