Dutch sailing barges aground

[Boo2]

This looks fun :

What do those boats sail like ? Obviously not going to win any races but how bad are they to windward ? Be a nice boat for the East Coast of the UK, anyone got one ?

Boo2

 

[DanTribe]

This looks fun :

What do those boats sail like ? Obviously not going to win any races but how bad are they to windward ? Be a nice boat for the East Coast of the UK, anyone got one ?

Boo2

Google skutjesilen if you want to see how they can go to windward.

 

[Gumpy]

 

[johnalison]

They appear to sail remarkably well. They do indeed race, and the races at Sneek are a well-know spectacle, though I think they use specialised boats. It was in fact on the Sneekemeer one quiet evening that their performance was brought home to me. We were anchored and there was almost no wind but one of these barges shot by at an impressive speed.

 

[DanTribe]

It is indeed a spectacle and the races attract large fleets of spectator craft. I was fortunate to witness them racing on Sneekermeer in a good breeze. There are very impressive and the skippers throw them about like Optimists, huge iron ones!
Specialised stripped out racers, not your typical Dutch barges.

 

[Wansworth]

Modern thinking about hull shapes look at latest 6.5 meter ocean racers!

 

[Malish]

having normal racing fleets bearing down on you is bad enough..... let alone this lot

Of course the Thames barges undertake races, although I don't believe the commentary side is quite up to Dutch standards.