Kamer 2 Sailing Marathon
Encyclopedia
The Kamer 2 Sailing Marathon is an epic 50 kilometer steeplechase
type regatta
for sloops in the lake district between Amsterdam
and Leiden in The Netherlands
. The race is held each year in September and attracts some 70 participants. Boats can be manned by a crew of three or, for all female teams, four. The race leads from the Kaag
Lake through Does and Wijde Aa to the Braassemermeer and from there through the Ringvaart
to the Westeinderplas. There a turning point is situated directly beneath the watertower of Aalsmeer
from where the race goes back along the Ringvaart
to the Kaag Lake.
A significant part of the route leads through narrow waterways with fixed bridges. As a result the competition is restricted to sloops with masts that can be lowered and raised easily. Some of the canals are too narrow to be negotiable upwind by sail. Therefore participants are allowed to paddle, punt or tow their sloops to overcome trajectories that offer prohibitive circumstances for sailing. When winds are strong the Kamer 2 Sailing Marathon is essentially a sailing race. In quiet weather, however, paddling and mast handling skills can become crucial for victory. Due to the length and difficulty of the route, it is not unusual that more than half of the participants do not reach the finish line in time (before dusk).
The Kamer 2 Race was first organized in 1992 by Hanz Zwart, the first non-Frisian winner of the Brio Race, a similar contest over 60 kilometers held each year in Friesland
in May. Since 2003 the race is organized by a group of sailing centres in Kaag
Village. From 1999 through 2003 the race was dominated by the Hoogenboom family team. The 2006 edition was won by Edmond Öffner, a Dutch mountaineer who climbed Mount Everest
in 1992.
Steeplechase
Steeplechase may refer to:* Steeplechase, an event in horse racing* SteepleChase, a Danish jazz label* Steeplechase , a 1975 arcade game released by Atari...
type regatta
Regatta
A regatta is a series of boat races. The term typically describes racing events of rowed or sailed water craft, although some powerboat race series are also called regattas...
for sloops in the lake district between Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
and Leiden in The Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. The race is held each year in September and attracts some 70 participants. Boats can be manned by a crew of three or, for all female teams, four. The race leads from the Kaag
Kaag
De Kaag is a village in the Dutch province of South Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Kaag en Braassem, and lies about 8 km northeast of Leiden.De Kaag lies on an island, Kagereiland, in a lake system called the Kaag Lakes...
Lake through Does and Wijde Aa to the Braassemermeer and from there through the Ringvaart
Ringvaart
The Ringvaart is a canal in the province of North Holland, the Netherlands. The Ringvaart is a true circular canal surrounding the Haarlemmermeer polder and forms the boundary of the Haarlemmermeer municipality...
to the Westeinderplas. There a turning point is situated directly beneath the watertower of Aalsmeer
Aalsmeer
Aalsmeer is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Its name is derived from the Dutch for eel and lake . Aalsmeer is bordered by the Westeinderplassen lake, the largest open water of the Randstad, and the Ringvaart Canal...
from where the race goes back along the Ringvaart
Ringvaart
The Ringvaart is a canal in the province of North Holland, the Netherlands. The Ringvaart is a true circular canal surrounding the Haarlemmermeer polder and forms the boundary of the Haarlemmermeer municipality...
to the Kaag Lake.
A significant part of the route leads through narrow waterways with fixed bridges. As a result the competition is restricted to sloops with masts that can be lowered and raised easily. Some of the canals are too narrow to be negotiable upwind by sail. Therefore participants are allowed to paddle, punt or tow their sloops to overcome trajectories that offer prohibitive circumstances for sailing. When winds are strong the Kamer 2 Sailing Marathon is essentially a sailing race. In quiet weather, however, paddling and mast handling skills can become crucial for victory. Due to the length and difficulty of the route, it is not unusual that more than half of the participants do not reach the finish line in time (before dusk).
The Kamer 2 Race was first organized in 1992 by Hanz Zwart, the first non-Frisian winner of the Brio Race, a similar contest over 60 kilometers held each year in Friesland
Friesland
Friesland is a province in the north of the Netherlands and part of the ancient region of Frisia.Until the end of 1996, the province bore Friesland as its official name. In 1997 this Dutch name lost its official status to the Frisian Fryslân...
in May. Since 2003 the race is organized by a group of sailing centres in Kaag
Kaag
De Kaag is a village in the Dutch province of South Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Kaag en Braassem, and lies about 8 km northeast of Leiden.De Kaag lies on an island, Kagereiland, in a lake system called the Kaag Lakes...
Village. From 1999 through 2003 the race was dominated by the Hoogenboom family team. The 2006 edition was won by Edmond Öffner, a Dutch mountaineer who climbed Mount Everest
Mount Everest
Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point...
in 1992.