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Thursday, September 22

The last sailing day. Partly sunny, enough wind and three races to go. The start of the Gold Class was the 10 minutes signal for the Silver Class. The first and second race in Gold Class were won by team Amsterdam. The winner of race 3 was Kapo Zürich. In Silver Class team A-Tec took home all three day prizes.
The last race was witnessed by sponsors and police colleagues from the Netherlands. They had gathered on a huge police vessel that normally patrols the northern Dutch islands. The enthousiastic sponsors witnessed the dream start of team Doldrums, the tactical moves at rounding the buoys and finally the finish. Some of them took a windy and wet, but thrilling, ride on the rib that was sponsored by Roughneck.

After the races all teams gathered in the harbor for a shower, a good talk on board and preparations for the prize giving party that night. First the happy hour started in the bar. All teams talked the last week through and the overall sound was that they definately wanted to come back in two years. Yes Bavaria boats were no racing boats, yes the sails were a problem sometimes, but no: an event with 8 totally equal boats will never be an ICC.

At the price giving ceremony all sponsors and assistents were celebrated. After handing over the day prizes, race leader Jan announced the overall results of ICC 2011. The overall ICC winner was not a surprise: team Amsterdam!!!

For complete results of Gold and Silver Class, click HERE.

After the ceremony we had a nice barbecue dinner. The atmosphere was great. It turned late, helped by the nice weather that made it possible to also talk outside. It was an evening of magic tricks, special beers, laughs, broken English and cheers. Crews exchanged email addresses and Kapo Zürich and PSNI 1 and 2 agreed to meet the day after in Amsterdam to be (night) guided by the Amsterdam police in the city center. Bar closed not very late; all crews were told to leave the harbor before seven o clock the next morning. The following morning there were all busy but sleepy bees in the harbor. All boats were in time in Lemmer. We will meet again in two years, was heard most of all. Which is good!!!! After many hugs, ICC 2011 was over. Thanks everyone for your participation!!!

Wednesday, September 21

We thought today would be a nice, warm day with plenty of sun and a stiff wind. The day started however with rainshowers and it stayed grey all day. Wind was less than yesterday. Both Gold and Silver Class sailed close together: competition was strong. Due to the wind, there was only one ripped sail during the races. It could be replaced within a few minutes in the regatta harbor, so the team could ake part in the next race again.

For the Norwegian team Delta it was a sad day. After a day in the harbor with ripped sails, they had an encounter with a Swedish boat. Their boat was damaged to bad to continue the race and even the regatta. Both teams were disqualified by the protest committee. Since Delta cannot sail anymore, they decided to take an earlier plane back home. We are sorry to not have them around anymore but will welcome them back in 2 years.

In the evening there was a nice dinner in the restaurant. Thanks to the sponsor, the Swiss team Kapo Zürich brought a Luminox watch for one of the sailors. We draw the lot and Spanish crew member Fernando Souto is now the proud owner. Since the weather was kind to us in the evening, lots of us had a good time talking inside and outside the bar. Tomorrow the last day...

Tuesday, September 20

Great sailing weather today! Wind was 5-6 beaufort, the sun peeked through the clouds and temperatures were nice. We sailed again three races, today in two classes: gold and silver. Check below for the overview of the teams in Gold and Silver class....

Confusion around the 2nd start lead to some angry faces in the Gold class. The protest committee decided the race committee made a mistake and few corrections were made. The ICC committee thinks it is great that sailors come to really perform and fight for a fair race. 
After dinner the Medemblik shanti choir made its appearance, just like every two years. Their sailor songs created a nice atmosphere in the bar. For the first time this week some dancers where spotted... Since the wind had been strong today, most sailors were in bed early. The ICC event has a strong social character but it still is all about sailing.

Monday, September 19

Today was the official start of the 12th Interpol Coppers Cup. Sponsors and representatives of the Dutch police came to watch the first race of the day. Good ICC tradition is the Parade of Sail. With team Amsterdam up front, all boats came by the starting vessel to salute the VIPs. Some in a unique way. The Australians changed their skipper into an inflatable kangaroo. On an English boat we spotted a bobby helmet and a Dutch vessel came by for a second time, but this time empty.
After the Parade, the chief of police of the North-Holland-North region, ms Ans Rietstra, shot the fleet away. Temperatures were nice, wind was force 4 and the start was smooth. Nine minutes before the start, the Swedish skipper that was released from hospital was brought on board by a fast rib. He finished sixth...

Two qualification races were sailed today. The results were announced during the herring and genever party on the terrace of the MED restaurant. The first race was won by team Amsterdam (Netherlands), the second race by the Luzerner Polizei (Switzerland). All teams left for Medemblik to have dinner and to enjoy the festivities in town. Fireworks were nice.... 


Sunday, September 18

Skippers meeting at 08.00 hrs. First instructions were given on that days qualification races. The weather was not very kind to the sailors. All morning the rain poured down on them and afterwards lots complained about the cold. In the afternoon the sun started to shine and it was nice to see all boats enter the harbor after three races with the sun on the masts, dark clouds above them and sparkling water...

At six o clock the official guests arrived: the mayor of Medemblik (patron of ICC), the chief of the North-Holland-North police region and the head of the intelligence organisation of the Police Force of the Netherlands. The last one hosted a welcome reception for all sailors and spoke to all present about the value of ICC for internationale cooperation and friendship. Which we all agreed.

During dinner the results were announced by race leader Jan Bouwmeester. All three races had the same outcome. The 1st place was for team Amsterdam (Netherlands), the 2nd place for Waterguard (England) and the 3rd place for team Down Under (Australia).

After dinner the Swedish crew members of Go for the Money went to hospital to find out their skipper had to stay another night, but was okay and able to laugh again. Some crews went to the town of Medemblik, the rest went to bed early to be ready for the official start on Monday.

Saturday, September 17

No long lines at registration. Twelve teams already arrived Friday evening and were in line early. The rest of the teams arrived between 10 and 12, as planned. The last 6 teams were picked up from Schiphol but arrived late because of a bus problem. Luckily there were no races planned. All boats left when registration a ICC and the lessor were done. No hurry, just get in Medemblik before dinner. All succeeded. Some warm showers were needed afterwards: the weather was not at all nice... In Medemblik dinner awaited us at the Radboud castle, walking distance from the regatta center. It was great to have the whole gang together there! For skipper Stefan Holm (Go for the Money) it was a memorable night: he had to go by ambulance to the hospital with a serious nut allergy. He was stable that same night. The rest enjoyed the dinner and company, renewed the contacts and drank a beer to celebrate the 12th ICC. Before 12 o clock everyone was in bed.

Teams in Gold and Silver Class