"Did you learn anything new today?"

My son has been asked to join the RNWA U19 Talent Squad for the 2019 season (starting today). 9 U19 young boys had their new team's kick-off today in Medemblik. One of his new trainers is Maxime Jonker, #9 on the World Ranking. She didn't succeed to get an 'Olympic Ticket' for Japan. So she turned her focus to coaching. Today was her first day with the new squad.

At the end of the day, I asked my son:
"Did you learn anything new today?"
His reply:
"Learned anything? Everything, yes everything I heard today, was new! It's like the first day I got into an optimist!"

I think that it's going to be a wonderful year.



Here they're discussing the proper length of the control lines.

Started sailing the Laser at 34... I've missed out on so much! Wish I had been introduced to sailing at their age!

Been sailing Lasers since the mid-'70s, personally I think there's no finer craft for all-around use... of course, others will differ in opinion, but that's okay, I have a veritable truckload of good memories associated with Laser sailing, and nothing or nobody can ever take those memories away from me, with the possible exceptions of Alzheimer's & Death, AYE??? Good on ya, Thieuster, for looking after your son and getting him involved in clean wholesome activity that will generate a lifetime of primo memories. Moi, I'm back to my glampsite and a cold beer while watching the sunset, LOL.

I was out on Tomales Bay yesterday and I took a break on Heart's Desire Beach. Two kids about ten or eleven years old came by and admired my Sunfish. They were from San Francisco and it turns out were in a youth sailing camp. The conversation turned to Lasers and they lit up and both repeated, "Lasers are the best, Lasers are the best".... Great to meet those two mariners..

The Dutch Olympic Committee has appointed Bouwmeester for Japan. Maxime Jonker (the lady on the pic) and Bouwmeester have fought hard for the Olympic ticket. The Championship in Japan last summer and Arhus tipped the scale in favour of Marit Bouwmeester.

She's currently copying her successful Rio program: long (months and months) periods training on the Olympic water. I suppose -like last time- that she will permanently camp in Japan from mid-2019 up to the Olympic races.

Menno

thieuster said:

The Dutch Olympic Committee has appointed Bouwmeester for Japan. Maxime Jonker (the lady on the pic) and Bouwmeester have fought hard for the Olympic ticket. The Championship in Japan last summer and Arhus tipped the scale in favour of Marit Bouwmeester.

She's currently copying her successful Rio program: long (months and months) periods training on the Olympic water. I suppose -like last time- that she will permanently camp in Japan from mid-2019 up to the Olympic races.

Menno

Click to expand...

Thanks for this information. My wife and I really like watching videos of Bouwmeester and others sailing Lasers on the big waves as well as the videos of the races at Bandol. Appreciate those...

Ah! Bandol! That's where all Dutch sailing teams (not the RNWA's, but the 'normal ones') start their season in February. We've been there since 2013 or 14 I think. First years in the Optimist, later in the Dutch dinghy Splash. Never with the Laser. That had to do with school exams.

Bandol is a typical French Côte d'Azur town like you see on old postcard pics. Boulevard, flowers, not too crowded in February. Coffee & crêpes on the Boulevard when the kids are on the water. Fun thing is, when the kids are on land again, the lady who sells crêpes, fires up the stove when she sees them coming from the waterfront with their wet gear still on!

BTW, the Go-kart centre in Hyères is brilliant as well.

Menno

Sounds absolutely beautiful! Sure wish I could get to Europe, I know I would love to meet the people and see the architecture. My grandpa was born in Copenhagen so I'm not too far off the mark... Also thanks for the Laser videos from Lake IJsselmeer!