So the only question left is the sailing preparation with our sailing training and the formal qualification by means the 300 regatta miles. The latter are not only formally important for us - due to our lack of regatta experience, we also have no benchmark as to how well we (can) do with SNIFIX in a regatta field.

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That's why we had already planned to take part in the SKAGEN ROUND at NORDSEEWOCHE in 2020 - which, as is generally known, was canceled. Due to COVID 19, sailing with full crew was otherwise difficult in the spring of 2020 too and in the summer, when contact with several people is finally possible again, the families of the crew are demanding their rights - the family vacation has priority over sailing training.

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So we're counting on the NORDSEEWOCHE 2021 - but this again is a disappointment, the race is canceled for the same reason as the year before,, the same applies to our planned training at Easter.

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However, the ROYAL OCEAN RACING CLUB, which organizes the FASTNET, is flexible, everyone has the same problem, no regattas, no regatta miles, and so adequate private qualification cruises are also approved by teh RORC as a qualification for the FASTNET.  Thus, at the beginning of June 2021, the four of us set sail for a non-stop North Sea triangle of around 450 nm over ground.

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It was a nice trip, down river Weser, then westward between the two TSS to the length of Terschelling, rounding a gas production platform and heading NE to BLAVANDSHUK and the SLUGEN and then heading south back to Bremerhaven. The whole cruise was quite comfortable with easterly (!) winds and sun, it could have been just a few degrees warmer. However - the final hurdle on our way to COWES to the FASTNET Race has also been overcome.