this is a view of the sound between Stavern and the Citadel Island on a nice summer day. the pyramid shaped roof in the background is part of the citadel. the small light in the foreground marks the entry to Stavern harbor. it is actually on a rock island very close to the mainland but to get there on foot one must scale some seep rocks and then wade out to the rock. in this photo it may seem like the harbor is a very quiet place but in reality during the short northern summer it is bustling and sometimes totally packed with boats.
the Colin Archer Memorial regatta is held every second summer from Lauwersoog in the Netherlands to Stavern/Larvik, Norway. in 2020. due to covid restrictions the race was held domestically in the Netherlands only but this year the race is back on course starting on July 16 and arriving at the home town of Colin Archer a few days later.
Born in Larvik in 1832, Colin Archer is Norway's best known boat- and shipbuilder. He constructed Fram which twice sailed in the polar ice on dramatic attempts to be the first to reach the north pole in the 1890's. He is also famous for his design improvements on sea rescue boats and fishing vessels as well as yachts.
A few of his boats are still in use, including the sea rescue boat named fittingly Colin Archer which was launched in 1893.
The Dutch have arranged the memorial regatta since 1982
and it is open to several different classes of modern boats.
Here in Stavern we are looking forward to seeing the harbor again completely packed from all the participating boats in the regatta.
these photos are from Stavern harbor in 2018
Here in Norway there is also a smaller memorial regatta for all the original Colin Archer boats still under sail, of which there are 26, the last of them was built in 1920.
source for a complete list of all boats:
http://www.colin-archer.no/ColinArcherByggeliste.htm
