The Legend of the “Dutse Wurste Race”

In a recent Scuttlebutt article, Craig Leweck jokingly suggested that sailing (olympic sailing) needs Le Mans starts—with sailors sprinting to their boats—to make the sport more exciting. It’s a brilliant idea, but the Snipe Class was already years ahead of the curve!

The Legend of the “Dutse Wurste Race”

Long before anyone else dreamed of such chaos, the Antwerp Snipe fleet was perfecting the art of the Dutse Wurste Race (The Sausage Race). Held on the tiny Galgenweel lake during the chilly Belgian November, this event was a masterpiece of sporting irony.

The regatta featured a unique set of rules:

The Warm-up: Before the Le Mans start, all competitors had to participate in a mandatory group gymnastics session, presided over with firm authority by Nadia.

The Dress Code: This was a masquerade on the water. Racing was done in “funny masks,” proving that aerodynamics are overrated when you’re having fun.

The Pit Stops: To survive the November cold and embrace the festive spirit, sailors returned to shore between races. The goal? To recharge with hot food (wurstel and other local delicacies) and a healthy dose of alcohol. It was a true competition within the competition—only the most “highly trained” could handle the mix of sailing and spirits.

Time for a Comeback?

It is a real shame that this regatta hasn’t been held for a few years. With the sailing world looking for more engaging formats, the timing for a revival is perfect.

Big Ben Van Cauwenbergh and Nadia, the creators of this legendary event: it’s time to get the Antwerp fleet back together and bring the Dutse Wurste Race back to life.

It would undoubtedly be a massive success

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