22 May 2009
In addition to being a cyclist paradise and having a beautiful nature, Terschelling is well-known for two major events. One of them being the "Oeral festival", an annual event with dozens of modern artistic performances (mainly on the beaches), attracting thousands of visitors. The other one is the HT Race, which is taking place today. It is regarded to be the heaviest rowing boat races in the Netherlands, the "race of races", bridging the distance be
tween Harlingen and Terschelling. Fighting a sheer 34 kilometers the tidal currents, wind and waves with a crew of 8 to 10. First race was organized in 1975, and ever since yearly. This year over 130 rowing boats participate, but not all succeed to arrive in time or even at all. It typically takes about 4 to 5 hours muscle power, but also clever strategy. Taking advantage of the tidal current of course, where-ever possible, and making short cuts over the sand banks as long as the tide permits. If you are too late, making not the progress you calculated, you're done, getting stuck on the sand.
tween Harlingen and Terschelling. Fighting a sheer 34 kilometers the tidal currents, wind and waves with a crew of 8 to 10. First race was organized in 1975, and ever since yearly. This year over 130 rowing boats participate, but not all succeed to arrive in time or even at all. It typically takes about 4 to 5 hours muscle power, but also clever strategy. Taking advantage of the tidal current of course, where-ever possible, and making short cuts over the sand banks as long as the tide permits. If you are too late, making not the progress you calculated, you're done, getting stuck on the sand. As our group has a "day-off" for today, available for exploring the island on our own, most of us walk to the piers around the main harbour entrance to watch the show of the first arrivals at around 11:00 AM. They must have started very early this morning. It is a fantastic view to see them coming, accompanied by all sort of (sailing) ships, and the encouraging crowds on the piers. Of course we do as the islanders do, and have a raw herring with onions in the meantime.
For the remainder of the day we take it easy, walking the crowded small streets of West-Terschelling, taking a drink at one of the sunny terraces at the foot of the Brandaris - the characteric lighthouse which originally was the first lighthouse in the Netherlands (the original was build in 1323, which disappeared into sea in 1570. The current one originates from 1594, since 1907 electrically powered).
We end the day with our "captains dinner" with our Linssen Owners Group, to share our "seamans stories" , which become more heroic by the minute when day ends.
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