Dutch Championship 1

26, 27 and 28 july is it time for the Dutch Championship 12footdinghy again. 12footdinghy is in Dutch 12voetsjol. Since 1923 the oldest dinghy series in the world. It is organised by the Dutch watersportverbond, sailing club the Vrijbuiter and the class organisation Twaalfvoetsjollenclub on the Loosdrechtse plassen. 46 participants till now, 39 men and 7 women. Before the races starts at thursday the technical committee wil have a look to the mast and another important parts of the classic wooden dinghies. The principle is that all dinghies have the same speed (or better equal slowly), so the best helmsman become the new dutch champion. Who are the challengers. Joep Brinkmann, living in Germany now was 4 times Dutch champion. Martijn van der Pol the same, also 4 times. Jeroen de Groot 2 times, he is one of the best sailors in the Netherlands and very motivated in his brand new dinghy NED877, built by himself. Wim Bleeker is rather new in the class and in a good shape, he has won every dinghy race in 2013. Every year there is a black horse. Bob Heineke was the champion in another classic wooden class the Pampus. He wil try to do the same in the 12voetsjol now. Duuk Dudok van Heel (4 times world champion in the FJ class) is sailing a home race and a tactical genius. With a slow wind every dinghy sailor is afraid for the 81 year old woman Tonnie Surendonk. The championship is open for foreigners, the German Reinhard Schroeder would like to beat all the Dutch concurrents. Read it in 12footnews the next days. Want more information? See Nederlands Kampioenschap 2013


Tonnie Surendonk (l) and her crew Ineke Dankelschijn (photo Wietske van Soest)

George Cockshott

George Cockshott was the grandfather of Peter Cockshott and Jane Rowe. He died in 1952, when Peter and Jane were 13 years old. They have good memories to their grandfather, but never heard something about the 12 foot dinghy. A reason could be that their father died in world war 2. Peter Cockshott told a lot about his grandfather in his excellent speech in the clubhouse of the west kirby sailing club.
Wietske van Soest has sent me this article published in the local newspaper. In England is the 12foot dinghy suddenly well known again. A lot of people are thinking now to buy a wooden classic one.




WEYMOUTH sailor Jane Rowe and her brother Peter Cockshott (l) were special guests at the Centenary Celebrations for the International 12 dinghy held in Merseyside. The pair joined dozens of sailors from all across Europe at last weekend’s regatta at West Kirby Sailing Club to mark the 100th anniversary of the popular traditional dinghy, which was designed by their grandfather George Cockshott and became the first dinghy to compete in the Olympics.
The three-day event, held at the venue of the first-ever races for 12' dinghies in October 1913, is part of a series of centenary events the International 12 Foot Dinghy Class is holding this year across Europe.
Jane, who is a member of Castle Cove Sailing Club and Weymouth and Portland Cruising Association, said: “We made the trip to West Kirby to join in with the Centenary Celebrations of the International I2ft dinghy which my grandfather George Cockshott designed.
‘There were 25 boats competing from the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, Spain and Britain and my brother, my husband Ernie and I all had a go which was great.
“The International 12 was the first dinghy to compete in the Olympics. They held a competition for a design and Grandpa won it.’
Find out more at 12footdinghy and 12footcwc

12footcwc is launched

Some lovers of wooden classic dinghies has launched a new club: the 12foot classic wood club. Say 12footcwc. Reinhard Schröder is the spokesman. Have a look at the new website 12footcwc.org

West Kirby 5

Fish and chips in Harwich. Just before the ferry. Jeroen de Groot and Damy Jansen behind the dinghy of Huib Ozinga

West Kirby 4

Wim Bleeker and Marcel Bleeker are the winners of the west Kirby event. A part of the inTernational friendship series for classic dinghies. Jeroen de Groot and Damy Jansen were number two. Pieter Bleeker and Albert Helder number three.
Price giving ceremony by The president of the international 12 foot dinghy class organization Steve Crook and the grand daughter of the designer George Cockshott. Her name is Jane Rowe. A lot of pictures and movies are taken. In the next days, it will be published on this blog and other websites. For example the 12footcwc.org
During the dinner Reinhard Schroeder has given the organisation some presents. He has also explain the present dinghy situation in the world and what the plans are with the new organisation 12footcwc.

West kirby 3

Perfect sailing weather. Four races today. Wim Bleeker was unbeatable with four times a number 1. See the results beneath. Sunday the last day of this perfect organised event. Another 2 races to go. 16:00hr price giving ceremoney with peter cockshott and jane rowe. Their grandfather was george cockshott, the designer of the 12foot dinghy in 1913.

West kirby 2

The first sailing day in West Kirby. Strong wind. Most dinghy sailors has choosen to sail with a crew. Number 1 Wim Bleeker with a 1 and a 2. But there is a protest. In that case Jeroen de Groot is number 1. Stephen Beresford has shown his  new dinghy made from spruce in the nice clubhouse of the west kirby sailing club. See the picture. A lot of publicity, see 12footdata. Also a new class organisation is launched. See www.12footcwc.org

West kirby 1

Hans Reijers with 3 dinghies, Jeroen de Groot with 6, Harm Ploeger and Pieter Bleeker each with 1. We are now on the ferry. In Ipswich we have booked a hotel and the next day we go to west kirby.

Albert Helder

Dinghy sailor of the month July: Albert Helder. At the age of 27 year he was the best sailor in the Netherlands. Two times Dutch champion in the strong 16m2 class and winner of the PIP: the champion of all class champions. After that he has stopped with sailing regatta's, till he became enthusiast about a classic dinghy in 2012. He is now almost 70 years old and still a very tactical sailor. You can met Albert in West Kirby end of july. The picture is taken in Portoroz, Slovenia in 2012 while we were making a fun trip to Piranha with the dinghy.

Writers blog 12footnews