Between the 16th and 18th of June, a fleet of classic Feadships was seen quayside in Haarlem or Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The occasion was the 10th Feadship Heritage Fleet Rendezvous, an annual event that brings together registered owners of yachts that are over thirty years old. The occasion was also used to honour Frits de Voogt, the legendary naval architect who had a hand in designing many of the Feadships at the event.
The Feadship Heritage Fleet’s (FHF) task is to promote Feadship’s yachting heritage while uniting the owners through services and events All yachts older than thirty are eligible to join the FHF. The events held are opportunities to bring their unmatched construction standards to the forefront and to celebrate the owners.
This year’s 10th rendezvous brought in 23 classic Feadships from the US, UK and The Netherlands. The fleet of motor and sailing yachts ranged in size from 5.5 to 18.5 metres and sailed along Haarlem’s Spaarne River, finishing by tying up along the city’s scenic quay. The event commenced with the city’s mayor, Jos Wienen, honouring Frits de Voogt who was head of De Voogt Naval Architects between 1960 and 1995 and played a pivotal role in the history of Feadship. The oldest yacht in attendance was 91 years old, younger than De Voogt himself at 96.
The yachts stayed moored up in Haarlem until the following morning where they then sailed through the locks of Spaarnedam, a small fishing village, and along The North Sea canal into Amsterdam. Once arrived in Amsterdam, they spent a week divulging in the shipbuilding culture and heritage as well as visiting historical sites such as the former headquarters of the Dutch East Indian Company and the Admiralty shipyards in addition to cruising the city’s UNESCO-protected canals.
The Feadship Heritage Fleet is a valuable voice and a growing community of owners and enthusiasts with nearly 100 classic yachts as members. With the mayor, Fendship’s senior partners and Frits de Voogt in attendance, it demonstrates how meticulously planned and anticipated the Rendezvous are. The planning for the 11th event is already moving forward for the next summer.
New sourced from Feadship.
