In the Meantime in Holland...

The Dutch Championships SKS-skûtsjesilen.

These converted barges from the early 20th century race each other each year.

Each barge represents a frisian town, this year 14 in total.

The skippers are local heroes and there are as many disputes about the legality of the boats as in the AC.

The protest room is rarely empty.

In their early days these boats were used to carry cowshit from Friesland to Holland to fertilise amongst others the bulbfields.

Also then it was important to be fast, get there first and you had chance on a better price.

It were tough times, skipper/owner and family would share a small cabin near the helm. As for the smell....

Of course those days the rigs were not as tall as on the racing versions nowadays, but with only your wife and a boy to help you it was tough.

No engine, no breeze or no room to tack in the narrow canals, it was two people pulling them "walking" on purpose build paths along the canals.