Blauwvoet Races 2026

Blauwvoet Races

2026 Results

Recreational sailors

1. Twiest
2. Uppercut
3. Cassiopée

Sport sailors

1. Lord Jim
2. Zega Team
3. Varuna

Every sailor, of every level, is welcome to participate on an individual or permanent basis. Participation is free, a beautiful course is mapped out each time, and the start is flagged between 1:00 PM and 1:30 PM. Start times until 1:02 PM are reduced to 1:00 PM (see full regulations below). This helps us avoid the hectic atmosphere that sometimes discourages recreational sailors. It is a great opportunity to showcase your trimming, navigation, and helmsmanship skills, or simply to experience a sea sailing race at your own pace.

Atmosphere and fun share the top spot with competitive sailing! The award ceremony always takes place around 6:00 PM with a drink, and there is the possibility, weather permitting, to have a barbecue (based on the ‘Bring Your Own Meat’ principle).

The Blauwvoet challenge cup is awarded every year to the first place overall. The best 3 out of a total of 6 races count towards the ranking. Whoever receives the challenge cup two years in a row wins the actual Blauwvoet Trophy! In addition, there are playful daily prizes (unlucky bird, numbskull, lucky bird, etc.).

The Blauwvoet is open to all cabin sailing yachts, small or large, fast or steady. The J/80 races will also continue on the same days, but J/80 boats cannot compete for the trophy. We would like to introduce more people to recreational competitive sailing and make a warm appeal to skippers to open their boats to new crew members (including students from our Flemish Sailing School). Please let us know if you are open to this.

PROGRAM

• • 11:00 AM Briefing for all participants!!

• • 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM START

• • 6:00 PM AWARD CEREMONY

We would also like to make a warm appeal: would you like to sail along but don’t have a boat yourself? Or do you have a boat but are looking for crew? Register via: https://www.vlaamsevaarschool.be/crew

REGISTER FOR THE BLAUWVOET RACES 2026

(DOWNLOAD CRUISER RATING DOCUMENT)

A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

a.1 Regulations

The basic rules are the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), as established by World Sailing: https://www.sailing.org/inside-world-sailing/rules-regulations/racing-rules-of-sailing/

a.2 Collisions

Avoid collisions at all times. Anyone who intentionally causes a collision (see regulation a.1) may not participate in the race for 2 years.

a.3 Sportsmanship

Sportsmanship and seamanship are all that matter during the Blauwvoet Races. However, nitpicking is not allowed. After 3 instances of unsportsmanlike conduct in the same race (not rounding a buoy, crossing the start line too early, intentionally providing incorrect ratings or times), the offender must treat the other participants to a standard drink at the bar.

a.4 Rating

The CR (Cruiser Rating™) system is used for the rating. If desired, this can be renewed before the start of the first race. Once the rating is determined at the beginning of the year, it remains in effect for that year.

a.5 Start Procedure

The start is at 1:00 PM. Start times until 1:02 PM are reduced to 1:00 PM. From 1:02 PM onwards, the start time is recorded at the exact moment of starting. Starting is possible until 1:30 PM. This gives more competitive boats a small advantage, but allows all boats to take a calm, safe start if they wish.

a.6 Safety

Legal provisions regarding safety apply.

a.7 Greeting

When entering the harbor after the race, one greets the Blauwvoet as thanks for a safe voyage.

B. PRIZES

b.1 Challenge Cup

All participating boats are included in the race report; however, only the first boat with dacron sails, an aluminum mast, and on which one can make coffee and has a toilet on board can win the challenge cup.

The best 4 out of 6 races count towards the final ranking (so you must sail a minimum of 4 races to be included in the final ranking). The penalty for not finishing is: the number of participating boats +1. At the award ceremony at the end of the season, the winner takes the Blauwvoet challenge cup home.

All sportier boats that fall outside the category mentioned above (including J80 boats) can compete for the Early Bird Challenge Cup. For this, the final ranking is calculated in the same way as for the Blauwvoet challenge cup.

b.2 Daily Prizes

In each race, a maximum of 6 playful daily prizes are awarded at the jury’s discretion: the Lucky Bird (boat that had a stroke of luck), the Unlucky Bird (boat with bad luck), the Happy-go-lucky (boat that was nonchalant or too late), the Strange Bird (boat that performed a strange maneuver or has a peculiar appearance), the Numbskull prize (boat that made a silly mistake), and the Peacock (the boat that looks the most beautiful).

b.3 Blauwvoet Trophy

When a participant is allowed to take the Blauwvoet challenge cup home with their sailboat for 2 consecutive years, they receive a unique Blauwvoet Trophy!