August 24, 2025: Canoe salute SAIL 2025

In 2025, when Amsterdam celebrates its 750th anniversary, the 10th edition of SAIL Amsterdam will take place. The SAIL area is closed to non-motorised vessels during the event. But as always, canoeists and dragon boats traditionally get the opportunity to bring a CANOE SALUT to the Tall Ships in the IJ-haven. Other boats are not allowed in the IJ-haven.

On the last day of the event, Sunday 24 August, we will be allowed to sail in the IJ-haven for an hour, between 9:00 and 10:00. We will do this with a maximum of 360 kayaks, canoes and dragon boats.

From 3 starting locations we sail towards the Oosterdok. The three starting locations are, in order of increasing sailing distance:

• the club grounds of kv Zeeburg in Amsterdam East,
• the Weespertrekvaart towards Diemen, with kv Gaasperplas
• the club grounds of kv Sloterplas, at the Sloterplas in Amsterdam Nieuw-West.




For more information about the start at kv Sloterplas see further in the text. For information about the start location of kv Zeeburg and kv Gaasperplas, see the websites:

• https://www.kvzeeburg.nl/
• https://kvgaasperplas.nl/




The three groups sail towards the Oosterdok. We arrive there at least half an hour before we can enter the IJ-haven, all together. Here we have the opportunity to get out to stretch our legs and go to the toilet (dixies).

Then we sail in convoy to the IJ-haven. There we do one round along all the Tallships. TAKE YOUR TIME admiring the historic ships and enjoying the many canoes! An hour seems short, but in practice the participants appear to sail along the boats as if they are sailing a club trip and then you are past them too quickly. We do have to be on the north side, the side towards the exit, fifteen minutes before the end. We then gather at the beginning of the IJ-haven to leave the Sail terrain together.




Afterwards we will have the opportunity to take a break at the landing site before we start the return journey to the starting point.


Location start kv Sloterplas

The starting point with kv Sloterplas is our club grounds at the Sloterplas, address:

Christoffel Plantijngracht 1 in Amsterdam (New West).


Departure time and sailing distance

We sail in two groups and depart at 6am and 6.15am. You are welcome from 5 o'clock on the grounds of kv Sloterplas. It is 11 km sailing to the meeting point before we enter the Sail grounds. We assume a good 2 to 2.5 hours sailing on the way there. The round trip through the IJ-haven is a good 5 km, from the landing place and back. On the way back we can take an alternative route that is slightly longer than the way there. The total sailing distance will therefore be around 30 km! But we do that at a normal, quiet tour pace, certainly on the way back.


Transfer

On the way we have to bridge a difference in level between the polder of the Sloterplas and the city canals at bosom level. On the way back we can be locked in one of the two available locks anyway. For the outward journey the first lockage is normally not until 10 o'clock. We are trying to have the lock locked earlier especially for us via the Sail consultation, but it is not yet certain whether that will work. TAKE INTO ACCOUNT 1 portage. We will pause 1 time before we enter the Sail terrain and 1 time directly afterwards.


There and back journey

On the way there, we sail around the city center, to the Amstel and from there to the meeting point. On the way back, we can take a different route, through the center. It is important that we stay together, at least on the way there. Stay behind the leaders, listen to instructions from the guides, watch out for each other and sail to the right. Take enough food and drinks with you for the journey.


Parking

There is ample parking space and on Sundays there is NO paid parking. Space will be made for trailers on our site.


Clubhouse and canteen

In our clubhouse you can change, shower and go to the toilet. The canteen will also be open, in the morning only for coffee or tea, but in the afternoon also for another drink.


Camping

Guests are not allowed to camp on our grounds at this event. For this we would like to refer you to the campsite nearby in Nieuw-West:


Camping Amsterdam Gardens | Camping in Amsterdam

(formerly the Sport Camping)

Tom Schreursweg 10A

06 24615582




Terms and Conditions

This canoe trip is only suitable for experienced kayakers, open canoe and dragon boat paddlers who are affiliated with the Watersportverbond or the TKBN as an individual member or as an association. The boat must be rescueable (buoyancy and grab lines). All participants must wear a life jacket, and of course everyone must be able to swim well. During the trip everyone must have a valid ID with them.


(Anyone who appears unable to maintain a normal tour pace before the lock, or who appears unsuitable for the tour for other reasons, is requested to return to the club, or to take a tour through Nieuw-West.)




Ticket sales

Ticket sales start onTuesday June 10 at 8:00viathis linkof the organizing canoe clubs. The own contribution is €15,- per person including souvenir. Participation is at your own risk. The organization can cancel the trip in case of extreme weather conditions, or on the instructions of the SAIL 2025 organization. Refund of participation fee is not possible in such a case.




Supervisors of members of KV Sloterplas

For guidance of the tour from our club grounds, members of KV Sloterplas can register with the tour committee.