Prologue
Autumn brought us during the last weeks preponderating cloudy and rainy days. Greyness taking over sky-blue and twinkling sunlight. Recalls to my mind the beautiful lyric of Bill Withers from the early seventies: ”Aint’t no sunshine when she’s gone, It’s not warm when she’s away, And she’s always gone too long, Anytime she goes away, And I know, I know, I know , I know”. So, in a metaphorical way we have to deal with summertime almost past, tonight wintertime resets our biological rhythm 1 hour backward. For that reason around this time most skippers and crew sail a final course on our lakes or coastal waters, ending a in some way crazy summer because of all restrictions and social distance to keep infection away from us. The positive side certainly is we may be grateful to possess a sturdy Gunning-yacht in this concerned times, meaning we could step on board anytime we want, sailing away of Covid-19, taking back our freedom and space for a while. Now it’s time taking care about our beloved Alcyone or Cormorant before putting her in wintershed. Old steelboats needs extra effort to keep them sailing.

No Wintermeeting 2021
This year we put all activities of Alcyone Circle on hold. No Summermeeting/Rally and announcement for a Wintermeeting in February 2021. So sorry for that. Normaly around this time we should start up plans for organizing a Wintermeeting, mostly just in time for reserve a smooth location for dining and sleeping at an old castle or landed estate. The second wave of Covid-19 makes this impossible, all of us better stay in our bubble for several months we think.

Summermeeting / Rally 2021
We don’t expect the virus completely will be gone next year, the question is when a vaccin will be available. We will keep you posted about the possibilities to meet eachother somewhere somehow with our Gunning-yachts, perhaps on Saturday 26th of June 2021 for a weekend at Hindeloopen or a Rally to Ostfriesische Inseln starting at Lauwersoog on Saturday 3th of July 2021 to avoid the crowdy Dutch lakes and coastal waters around that period. Sailing to the east occassionally could be a better choice.

News about ships and owners
This summer (July/August) Bert Glazenburg sailed with his Cormorant Woest maar Kalm to the Halligen and wrote his memories titled ‘Corona Cruise’ (story enclosed). Mr./Mrs. Richard & Natasja Oelen bought on 27th of June 2020 Alcyone II Helena (not warff build by Valentijn). Richard and Natasja, welcome to the Circle. See Ownerslist on our website for further details.

App De Kippenburg
During our last Wintermeeting at the picturesque land estate De Kippenburg we launced an app for fast communication through the year. Not everyone shares this app. A pity because you do not know where members are sailing, sharing their photo’s and interesting spots; to meet and greet eachother or receiving other information about ships and owners. If you would join up the app, please let us know and we will put you into the app De Kippenburg.

Arjen van Boekel & Joost van ’t Hull
Board of Alcyone Circle

Extra appendix
Undermentioned photo’s of our last Wintermeeting with the max. number of guests (18) allowed by the owner Lady Mieke van Panhuys at De Kippenburg 15th of February 2020 to remember the good old days before the virus reached us from China.