Ostrea Rose Classic Race 2018

Our end of season event has once again been the Ostrea Rose Classic Race in Blankenberge, and the race itself was a smooth and fast ride with the ideal wind to run perfectly under our three main sails without the topsails. Lona proved her upwind capabilities and outran even the modern (for Lona's standards) Dragons and Solings that are marconi rigged former Olympic racing classes. Lona was second over the line behind the impressive Ping with her two identical unstayed masts and she won her second consecutive 'Golden Rose' as fastest gaff rigged boat.

That was the easy part. But getting to Blankenberge and getting back home in Antwerp were a different matter. Exiting the Schelde, coming to the sea we ran into a 6 Bft and a 3 Kts current, both right against us, which resulted in steep waves and lots of water on board, and a progress of less than 3 knots. After 3 hours of this we turned to Cadzand for drying our stuff before the night. Blankenberge the next forenoon was a fine ride, sailing against the wind and the residual waves.

And returning to Antwerp, the second day from Breskens was in a whistling force 7. However, this time in the protected waters of the Schelde and coming from the right angle to allow sailing with just the two foresails. Which was already hard, and took 7 hours.

Lona's 2018 sailing season totalled more than 1200 fine nautical miles and many new routes and destinations.