This year, 2009, is a very special year in the history of New York:
Four hundred years ago, in 1609, a Dutch ship called “de Halve Maen”, from Holland’s then most prominent Company, the V.O.C. (de Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie), under command of Captain Henry Hudson, arrived at the shores of (what is now) New York. The V.O.C.’s discovery led to the establishment of Nieuw Amsterdam on the Southern tip of Manhattan, and the colony of Nieuw Nederland, all the way up the enormous river Hudson had found which, rather than the “Hudson River”, he called “de Maurits Rivier” (after H.R.H. Prince Maurits van Oranje, King of the Netherlands at that time).
167 years later, on July 4, 1776, the birthday of the Unites States of America, the Dutch were the first to salute the flag of the United States, a truly historic salute!!
Throughout 2009 the United States of America, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the cities of New York and Amsterdam, will together celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship, freedom, openness, and tolerance those Dutch-American pioneers brought with them from the Netherlands, that still drives the USA today.
In this light, the Dutch Government has asked me to organize the center piece of these historic celebrations: two Flying Dutchman Championships in New York harbor, at the feet of the Statue of Liberty.
The Championships will be held in the presence of the Dutch Navy, a replica of “de Halve Maen”, a flotilla of 20 ancient Dutch ships (beautiful Dutch “plat-bodems” with leeboards), and “de Onrust”, a copy of the first yacht ever built in America (by Adriaan Block, yes, as in “Block Island”, when the ship he came here with from Holland, burnt down, and he had to get back…). Even H.R.H the Crown Prince of the Netherlands, Prince Willem-Alexander van Oranje-Nassau will be in New York for the festivities.
According to Captain Hudson’s logbook it was during the second week of September, 1609 (September 11, 1609 actually…) that he dropped anchor in New York harbor for the first time, so our commemorative races will be held during that legendary week: from September 8 through 13, 2009.
The first Regatta will be:
The 1609-2009
International Flying Dutchman Class
400th Anniversary of New Amsterdam Championships
from September 8 through 10
September 11, 2009 will be a day of non-racing, reflection, and respect towards our fallen fellow citizens,
after which the second Regatta will be held:
The 1609-2009
International Flying Dutchman Class
4th Centennial New Netherlands Championships
on September 12 and 13
To make all this possible, the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs has graciously decided to award a large grant to allow for free transportation of at least 60 Flying Dutchman dinghies from the 2009 FD World Championships in August in Medemblik, to New York and back to the Netherlands. In addition, more than 20 Flying Dutchman dinghies will come in from the Americas, so we will have a fantastic fleet of 80 FDs in New York harbor.
Mayor Bloomberg, who plays a central role in the Celebrations, has kindly indicated that New York City will put up Grand Stands at the southernmost tip of Manhattan, at Battery Park, so hundreds of spectators can enjoy the spectacle right in front of them, with the Statue of Liberty as backdrop!
Yesterday the U.S. Coast Guard, pending their formal issuance of “Approval of Marine Event”, agreed that we can proceed with the publication of the Notice of Race (Two Races actually) so participants from all over the world can start planning and preparing their attendance.
Attached therefore please find the Official Notice of Two Races, along with the Entry Form for both. I ask the IFDCO, all FD National Secretaries, ISAF, US Sailing, the KNWV, and all other National Sailing Authorities to please publish the NOR and the Entry Form on your websites, to notify all FD Sailors in your realm, and to kindly urge them to submit their entry forms early (before the deadline of June 30, 2009) as the free transportation across the Atlantic is on a “First Come First Served” basis.
I thank you for your cooperation and I look forward to welcoming the Flying Dutchman fleet to these historic Championships in the former Nieuw Amsterdam, in September.
With best regards,
Job Sandberg
International Flying Dutchman Class Organization
Jhr. Job B. B. Sandberg
Commodore for North and South America (ret.)
47 Pear Tree Point Road
Darien, CT 06820, USA