World record in my own back yard..............the road to it was a bumpy one.

In the beginning of the week the forecast looked promising for Saturday.  WSW were predicted which is the favourable direction if you sail at the Schotsman, Veerse lake. During the week the forecasts for Saturday showed subsiding winds in the evening so I changed my mind and targeted Friday as the record attempt day. SW winds and in the morning briefly backing to SSW. This means gusty winds to start with however stronger (unfortunately still gusty) winds throughout the day.

Set the alarm at 03.30, arrived at the Schotsman, Veerse lake at 04.30 and was on the water at 05.10

Started with slalom JP 121 - 44 fin - NP EVO IV 7.8

For the first three hours the rain showers came and went. Rain is nice for your hands but the wind dropped after every shower making the first 100 km gruesome with lots of unplaneable moments.  In those three hours I rigged my 6.4 NP EVO IV with F2 SX 58 and 34 fin so this kit was ready for when the wind would veer to SW.

 09.15 the first 100km was completed and I thought for a moment to save my energy for a possible record attempt the next day. Just then the showers seemd to dissipate and the wind picked up and shifted to the SW.

Changed The JP 121 for my Tabou manta 69 with 38 fin and did the next 100km on this setup. 

Around 12.00 the GPs was reading 200km and I changed to the 6.4 with the F2 58

Every 50 km I stopped for a snack, keeping the goal of 550 km in the back of my mind during the stoppages. For such a long haul I tried to conserve as much energy as possible not taking any risks with top speed.

After work Jean Pierre showed up on the water for the last couple of hours of motivation, thanks mate. 

Towards sunset the wind dropped a bit and the sailable stretches became shorter. Luckily my father was the perfect caddy and brought over my 7.8 with the tabou. Just after sunset (22.00) this set also became a bit small and once again he came over to the middle of the lake, this time with my 8.6 NP EVO IV and F2 silberpfeil 82 with 48 fin. With this setup I sailed towards the darkness, knowing that is was going to be touch and go if I would make 521 km.  I could barely read the displays of both GPS devices at the end but knew I made it.  I had a head torch on stand by, used for the rigging in the morning, but did not want to use it on the water. I felt It had to be done without the lamp and on my last jibe to the shore the mast of the 8.6 was ready to go to sleep as well and promptly snapped! Quickly switching the two GPS devices off in case they would get a water ingress I swam for 15 minutes to the shores.

At 23.15, 18 hours after the start Jean Pierre came over with a beer for celebrations, job done.

I can think of many places that people would say are more suitable for this record, however for the challenge of the surf spot, the chance to promote the home turf for our surf club "Zuidwest zeven" and as well as thumbs up  for my sponsor Roha Active sport and their surf training centre on the Veerse meer this is a good result for us all.

p.s. the doppler reads 524 km so not sure where the 527.76 comes from. I will ask the keepers to verify this.