Archive for March, 2026

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

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.

 

 

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

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