Five Races, One Great Season: Willem III Takes the Overall Win
Five races, five different challenges, plenty of memorable moments, and a fantastic result to finish the season. This summer, our team FAAM represented Willem III in Amsterdam in the C4x+ mixed class, taking on challenging courses, getting to know our competitors, and learning that rowing fast is sometimes as much about technique as it is about power.
Here are some highlights from our summer regatta season.
Race 1: Mastering the Buoy at RIC
The first race, hosted by RIC, had one clear focus: the buoy just in front of the club. With a turn around the buoy just before the finish line, we knew that mastering this manoeuvre would be crucial. So that’s exactly what we practised, again and again and again. And it paid off! We rounded the buoy smoothly and efficiently, putting our preparation to good use and winning the race.
Race 2: 200 Metres of Pure Speed at Poseidon
The second race, hosted by Poseidon, was short and intense. Over just 200 metres, there was no time to settle in: it was all about speed, power, and getting everything right from the start. It was also a beautiful summer day, with plenty of tourist sloops sharing the water. We gave our race everything we had — perhaps a little too much! After the first heat, the whole team was gasping for air. Maybe we had pushed just a bit too hard, or simply forgotten to breathe properly in the excitement. To top it all off, we caught our first crab of the season.
And we weren’t the only Willem III crew to have an eventful race. A tourist sloop collided with a W3 team right on the finish line! Thankfully, nobody was hurt, although the incident made for a memorable story—and some repair work for the boat workshop.
Race 3: A Beautiful Setting and a Bit of Strategy
Our third race took us to Michiel de Ruyter in Uithoorn. A lovely setting and a great course made for an enjoyable day on the water. By this point in the season, we were also beginning to understand our competitors a little better. We started looking beyond the individual races and thinking about the overall standings: which teams were serious contenders for the final competition, and which might not qualify because of changes in their line-ups? The regatta was becoming as much about keeping an eye on the bigger picture as about rowing fast.
Race 4: Club De Amstel
The fourth race at rowing club De Amstel was in more than one way an atypical race. The race was in a more urban setting and quite a bit longer than the others. After practicing one time, we already knew that this one was all about ‘dosing’ our energy and power. And, if we would do it right, we might make a huge step to becoming the regio champion for this season. Would we be able to do it?
Race 5: A Grand Finale on the Bosbaan
What better place to finish the season than the famous Bosbaan in Amsterdam? Known as the training ground of the Dutch national rowing team and a venue for the recent World Cup, it provided a fantastic backdrop for our final race.
The format was simple but exciting: 500 metres, with two boats starting side by side. We had one last chance to put everything we had learned over the five races into practice. And what a way to finish! We won our race and, even better, took the overall competition victory in the C4x+ mixed class.
A Season to Remember
Beyond the results, one of the best parts of the regatta was seeing such great participation from Willem III with plenty of opportunities to cheer each other on, share stories, and connect with rowers from other clubs.
A special thank-you goes to Ilayda, the most successful stuur of the season, with two medals to show for it. Thank you for coaching us, keeping us on course, and pushing us to give our best in every race.
From mastering the turn around the buoy at RIC to sprinting through 200 metres at Poseidon, navigating busy waterways, and finishing strong on the iconic Bosbaan, this season gave us plenty to remember.
Here’s to great teamwork, good competition, and another season on the water!
Team FAAM (Frauke, Anna, Arie, Mark)
