Saturday morning (31/5) at 11.10h the starting signal for the IRC 1 and CR B classes sounded from the Eastern breakwater of the harbor of Blankenberge for an offshore race of 22.5 nm. The IRC 2 and CR A classes started 10 minutes before.  In a 12 knot breeze, we sailed close to the wind towards the casino. In our class, CR B, just four boats were participating, Felicity II, Jokken, Bolderik (winner of the Ostend –Ramsgate race) and Pikes. Pikes is the mini of Koen Willaert, who would be challenging us on his pogo together with two of his friends. Our goal was clear: finish before the other mini.

It has been quite a while now, but we all still vividly remember the successful Belgian Boat Show stand we had with the project.  On that stand, it was possible to participate in a contest, to win a trip with Felicity II.  All you had to do was write down that Peter Laureyssens was the series-class winner of the Transat 2005 and guess how long it would take Felicity II to sail from Zeebrugge to Oostende.

Well, it has taken us a while, but on Friday May 23rd, we finally had the opportunity to sail this trip in reasonable conditions.  And this time, we timed it.  Read on to know the final time that we sailed, and to know if you are the lucky winner ...