The 24-hour sailing race is the largest sailing event in the Netherlands with more than 400 participating cabin sailboats for both competitive and touring sailors.
Goal: make as many miles as possible in 24 hours.
The start will be on Friday evening, August 29, 2025 in 3 groups between 18:30 – 19:00 (start time depends on the class you sail in). You may decide in which starting port you want to start. This is the first tactical choice to be made. The mass finish will be after 24 hours of sailing on Saturday evening, August 30, in Medemblik, where the participants will be enthusiastically welcomed by many spectators on the quay and harbor heads.
Starting ports Markermeer:
- Corner of the IJ
- Volendam
- Horn
- Lelystad South
- Enkhuizen South
Starport Wadden Sea:
- Den Helder
Starting ports IJsselmeer:
- Enkhuizen North
- Lelystad North
- Lemmer
- Medemblik
- Stavoren
- Hindeloopen
- Den Oever
Finish Port: Medemblik After the start you decide which route to sail. Rakken are plotted on the Markermeer, IJsselmeer, Wadden Sea and North Sea. These can be found on the 24 hour course map. Each stretch may be sailed a maximum of 2 times. This makes the 24 hour race so much fun! Which route yields the most miles? How do we get the boat to sail as fast as possible? To lock or not to lock? Will the lock time compensation make up for lost time or not? How will the weather and current develop and where will we get the most wind? And last but not least, how do we make sure we do not incur penalty miles by crossing the finish line too late or too early? Here you can find our tips and tricks and read more about the preparations for the 24 hour race.
That’s the 24-hour sailing race!
Sailing for 24 hours, turning watches, cooking, eating and sleeping during the race, night sailing and at the same time getting a great result. For many sailors, these are often new experiences. You just have to have done this! You can join the trip or compete.
Read more about the 24-hour trek and race here.
View photos and videos from previous editions here.
During the 24 hours you can use the online declaration which starting port you started in and which buoys you rounded. This allows you to see your progress in real time. After the finish, you also enter your finish time. This data is used in results processing.
And then after the finish to Medemblik. Medemblik is then at its best! You will be welcomed upon entering by the 24h announcer. In a span of a few hours, some 400 sailing yachts will arrive by the end of the day Saturday. The hospitality industry on the wharf is putting its best foot forward. Dweilorkers and a band in front of Cafe Brakeboer really make participants and spectators enjoy themselves. Super atmosphere!
In short; an event not to be missed!
Planning 2025
Webinar: Not yet known. (tips & tricks to prepare)
Start: in 1 of 13 starting ports on Friday, Aug. 29, between 6:30 and 7 p.m. (3 starting groups)
Finish: in Medemblik on Saturday, Aug. 30, between 5:30 and 8 p.m.
Sunday morning, 10 a.m., at Radboud Castle in Medemblik, the awards ceremony will take place, with each participant receiving a results booklet and commemorative plaque or year mark.
In the race documents you can find your own start time (and start group) and final finish time after registration.