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13/04/2026

World Championship – early entry fee is still available 4.3 (6)

This summer, the FD class is heading to Kiel for the World Championship – and it’s shaping up to be an event you really don’t want to miss.
If you’re planning to join, now is the perfect moment: the early entry fee is still available until the end of April.

Here’s what you can look forward to:

Exclusive camping area for the Flying Dutchman class – right next to the dedicated FD boat park
Your own race course directly in front of the Kiel Lighthouse
Great media coverage
Three social events – the perfect chance to meet, connect, and celebrate
Daily food and drinks after sailing – because nothing tastes better after a long day on the water
Plenty of entertainment for families – so everyone has a great week, on and off the water

If you have any questions or need help with the entry process, feel free to reach out to the German FD Class Association– they’ll be happy to support you.

–> Registration-Link

28/03/2026

In Memory of Rob Taal (1942–2026) 0 (0)

IFDCO News

Rob Taal – 29 August 1942 – 22 March 2026

With great sadness, we say farewell to our dear sailing friend, Rob Taal, who passed away last Sunday.

Rob was a familiar and respected presence within the Flying Dutchman community for many years. He first sailed with his brother Ruud, and later with his close friend Henry Koning. Those who knew them will remember the many fine hours they shared on the water.

Rob was deeply committed to the class. He served for many years as President of the Dutch Class and, in the early days, helped build the IFDCO together with his wife Sonja, working closely with, among others, Cle Jeltes. Even in recent years, he remained involved, taking on the role of Boat Registrar.

We will remember Rob not only for his dedication, but also for his presence within our community.

Our thoughts are with his family in this difficult time. We trust that he has now reached his final windward mark.

11/03/2026

New IFDCO Boat Registrar – Welcome, Peggy Bahr! 5 (6)

2nd Hand Items, IFDCO News

The IFDCO is pleased to announce that Peggy Bahr has agreed to take on the role of Boat Registrar.

Earlier this year, Rob Taal stepped down from the position for health reasons, and we would like to express our sincere gratitude for his work and dedication. We are currently in a transition phase, during which all enquiries will be handled centrally.
Please direct all requests to info@sailifdco.net.

Peggy brings an exceptional combination of professional expertise and deep class knowledge. As a civil engineer working in an engineering office, she is well‑versed in IT‑ and office‑related responsibilities — an ideal foundation for the administrative and technical aspects of the Boat Registrar role.

Within the Flying Dutchman community, Peggy is widely known and highly respected. She has been sailing the FD for many years together with her husband, Torsten Bahr, and is one of the most successful helmspersons in our class. At World Championships, she has repeatedly proven her skill as the best female FD sailor. Her commitment to the Flying Dutchman class spans decades and is exemplified not only by her own achievements but also by the engagement of her family: their daughter Vivian is actively racing internationally as well.

We are delighted to welcome Peggy into this important role and are confident that her experience, dedication, and enthusiasm will be of great value to the IFDCO and all FD sailors worldwide.

All Boat Registrar enquiries can be done online: https://www.sailifdco.com/technical/
For any other questions please contact info@sailifdco.net.

Warm regards,
IFDCO Executive Committee

11/02/2026

A Modern, Easier Way to Confirm Your IFDCO Membership 3.7 (3)

IFDCO News

To make our membership-processes more future‑ready, reduce unnecessary effort, and avoid issues with forgotten or lost membership cards, we are moving entirely to a digital solution.

We will no longer send out membership stickers, and the traditional membership booklet will be discontinued. Your IFDCO membership is now verified exclusively through the IFDCO App.

Your national secretaries will confirm and activate your membership directly in the app.

What you need to do:

Load the IFDCO App in the App-Store (Apple App Store | Google Play Store)
Register in the IFDCO App with your profile.
Select the role “IFDCO Member”.
Your national secretary will then approve your membership.

If you have your membership number at hand, perfect — but it’s not required for the first registration; you can add it later on – but please make sure to have it for the next Worlds.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any trouble registering. We are still optimizing the process and the look & feel of the App.

10/02/2026

New IFDCO Class Rules 4 (4)

IFDCO News, Technical

Dear IFDCO Sailors,

As of March 1, the new IFDCO Class Rules are in force. These updated rules provide a solid and practical foundation for the years ahead, while remaining true to the traditions and principles that have long defined our class.

The rules have been rewritten using the latest World Sailing template. This brings greater clarity, consistency, and alignment with current international standards. In addition, a separate document has been created in which all measurement instructions are brought together in one concise and accessible reference, making the process clearer and more practical for sailors and measurers alike.

The development of these rules is the result of dedicated work by Tanja Heijink-Bausch (NED) and her technical team. Special thanks go to Ioannis Remoundos (GRE), Paul Hemker (USA), Bill Bernard (USA), Kai Schaeffer (GER), and Meike Greten (GER) for their valuable contributions. We would also like to express particular appreciation to Peter Hinrischen (CAN) for providing the original drawings, and to André Verkooijen (NED) for carefully redrawing one of them to meet current requirements.

All remaining changes are documented in detail in the CRC document, which we encourage you to consult for a complete overview. With these new rules in place, the class is well prepared to move forward—grounded in its heritage and ready for the future.

New Rules – > FD Class Rules 2026

IFDCO