The Grevelingen Cup is organised as a winter series on the Grevelingenmeer, running one race day per month from October through March. The structure includes six main events and one reserve day, giving sailors a steady rhythm through the colder season.

The event describes itself as “de grootste winterserie van de Benelux”, and the format reflects that ambition: multiple classes, a broad range of participating boats, and a consistent program that has become a fixture in the winter sailing calendar.

With the first race completed in October, the second event took place in November, bridging the transition from autumn into true winter conditions. At this point in the series, the focus isn’t on any single result, but on the commitment of the sailors who choose to keep racing long after most other boats have been hauled out.

November sailing on the Grevelingenmeer means colder mornings, heavier clothing, and crews preparing themselves for a full day in low temperatures. It’s the month where teams start bringing out thermals and anything else that makes long hours on deck more manageable. The appeal is simple: winter racing brings a different kind of concentration and camaraderie.

For many participants, the monthly rhythm is part of what makes the Grevelingen Cup workable. The schedule gives crews time between events to prepare their boats and check gear without the intensity of a weekly circuit. Marina Port Zélande, where the event is hosted, also offers moorings for active participants, making it practical to keep boats in the water throughout the winter. 

By November, the sailors taking part are the ones who genuinely enjoy the challenge, the cold, the focus required, and the satisfaction of keeping their season alive when others have stopped. Each event is another example of crews choosing to brace the winter weather and stay out on the Grevelingenmeer. Well done to all the winter sailors, see you in the next one. 

photos Bronny Daniels