On Thursday 14th May, this year's initial AssurMada meeting was held in Rotterdam. Most of the skippers of the boats registered for the crossing, 25 at the latest count, were present. Issues of navigation and safety on the crossing featured large among the topics discussed. The first leg of this year's cruise will be to Woolverstone, ETA p.m. Thursday 11th June. Next day, weather permitting, the fleet will set out for Lowestoft and the RNSYC.
Following the "official opening", the Lowestoft program will get under way in now traditional fashion with the Delta Lloyd herring party. This year, one of the sponsors, D-Risk, has equipped every participating boat with a so-called ‘Track and Trace’ device to record each one's course and speed. As is to be expected, the results of this exercise will be presented with great ceremony! On Saturday, skippers and crews will visit the Suffolk Game and Country Fair. Preceding the Allianz BBQ, Jamie Campbell, author of an excellent new book on the subject, will give a talk on the 150-year history of the RNSYC. Dinner will be followed by a homeward bound party in the club.
On Sunday morning, after the Schouten Insurance International breakfast, all will head home again, hopefully to arrive safe and sound on Monday morning.

Helen Wielders