Folkboat at a sailing regatta at Laboe, wikimedia, author VollwertBIT, Creative Commons License

Sweden, late summer 1941: The Royal Swedish Sailing Association (Skandinavisk Seijlerforbund) publishes the final drawings and building regulations for the Nordic Folkboat. In total, 59 design drafts have been submitted – a number non-expected to attend – the jury made their choice on. The basic idea for a ‘scandinavian unity-class’ moved into gear already 1939 through C.G. Fast, member of the Gothenburg Sailing Association on the Scandinavian sailors day. Challenges which have been made on the Nordic Folkboat, were a relatively advantageously priced production, made of local lumbers, and affording a bedroom and living space for three to four people.

Today the allrounder Folkboat has an international fanbase from Europe to the USA with more than 4000 by now built boats. The German Folkboat Association is firmly established in the Nordic Folkboat culture and counts a proud number of about 800 members. For all, who would like to respire this historic airstream, we recommend you the oncoming hanseboot boatshow 2011 at Hamburg. With a special exhibition area on 200 square metres in fair hall B4 (opening 29 october, 16 pm) with boats of 7 decades and the premiere of a special edition, the 70th Folkboat birthday will be celebrated on the 52. boatshow edition of the hanseboot 2011. Fitting, nautical-solid elegance for Men and Women on– and offshore offers you the latest Gaastra Basic Collection with allrounders perfect to combinate like Gaastra shirts, blouses polos, pullovers and winterjackets. Ahoy and Happy Birthday!

Sneekweek 2011 with Gaastra Sportswear as sponsor © 2011 KWS

Sneekweek 2011 with Gaastra Sportswear as sponsor, © 2011 KWS (2)

What a pleasure! The 76th edition of the popular Dutch Sneekweek in the hometown of Gaastra Sneek, presented itself this year from august 6–11 anew as a special highlight amongst the European Sail Events 2011: 6 days full of sailing passion, organised by the ‘Koninklijke Watersportvereniging Sneek’ (KWS) and Gaastra as one of the sponsors, attracted this year again thousands of participants and visitors in spite of sportively weather conditions.

A great TV-Report about the Sneekweek 2011 was done by the Dutch channel SBS 6: Here you can watch it online at full lenght and look back to the best moments of last weeks Sneekweek! And for the reading pleasure, we refreshingly recommend you the Sneekweek Journal. The 77th edition of the Sneekweek 2012 will run from august 4–9. Till then, ensures the present, strongly Limited Gaastra Sportswear Sneekweek Collection 2011 for Women and Men with Sneekweek Poloshirts and Sneekweek Sweatshirts your fashionable entertainment. Save your favourite colour and size now, only as long as stocks lasts!

Sneekweek 2011 with Gaastra Sportswaer as sponsor, © 2011 KWS (3)

Gaastra Sneekweek 2011 Sweatshirt-Roerkoning, www.gaastraproshop.com

Swanline, www.nautorswan.com

Nautor’s Swan was founded in Finland in 1966 by Pekka Koskenkylä with the intention to build the first 10m yacht capable of both cruising and racing. A highly crafted but strong yacht that combines speed and competence in racing with comfort and manageability. Fibreglass was the primary building material, with the trimmings in wood and always with the consistently high demands in creating the best and superior yachts capable of mastering all the world’s seas under any conditions. These values are synonymous to the high quality ones of Gaastra, that’s why Nautor’s Swan and Gaastra share a special partnership with Gaastra as one of its official partners. The first Swan 36 was delivered in spring 1967 to British sailor Dave Johnson, who skippered the yacht with remarkable success in tournaments around the British Isles. These racing achievements generated immense positive feedback that established Nautor’s Swan as a manufacturer of high performance racing yachts. Over 2,000 Swans have been produced till now of which almost all are still in use. The next upcoming event that attracts the world’s elite of Nautor’s Swan owners will take place from 9 – 15 July 2011 at the 15th edition of ‘The Swan European Regatta’ in Cowes (UK), organised by the prestigious Royal Yacht Squadron. A wide range of competitors from across the globe spanning the classic and modern Swan model range will participate in this special Nautor’s Swan Regatta with Gaastra as its partner. The Official Gaastra Online Shop congratulates to 45 years of style and high performance!

Gaastra Sneek, hometown Netherlands

Sneek, Zeilmakerij Douwe Gaastra

You are still looking out for a special challenge in june? You can still register for the Kleine Sneekweek 2011 till coming Wednesday, 25th May 2011 and set up for the main Sneekweek, that will take place from august 6th to 11th this year. The Kleine Sneekweek will welcome passionate sailors and many visitors for the 41st time in the historic atmosphere of Gaastra hometown Sneek and on beautiful Sneekermeer. The Kleine Sneekweek is organized by the Koninklijke Watersportvereniging Sneek (Royal Water Sports Association of Sneek) with Gaastra as the familiar sponsor also this year again.

Naturally, the heart of Gaastra will always beat in this lovely town, because everything began 1897 in Sneek. The 22-year-old Douwe Gaastra set up his sailmaking company in Sneek with the ambition of making sailing faster as well as more competitive and efficient. In a short space of time, Gaastra then became a well-established name in the global world of sailing and is nowadays the high-quality fashion brand for nautical lifestyle and professional sailing gear. Enjoy the Kleine Sneekweek!

Gaastra says Happy Birthday to Koningin Beatrix © wikimedia, Emiel Ketelaar

Oranje boven! Orange banners, orange-coloured foods and drinks, orange clothes like the Gaastra Queensday Poloshirt, orange accessories and even orange water fountains: Orange craze (dutch: Oranjegekte) rules the whole Netherlands today! On the Koninginnedag, the birthday of the Queen of the Netherlands is celebrated nationwide. Although the real birthday of Queen Beatrix is on the 31th January, the Queensday feastings are officially today, which is originally the birthday of Queen Juliana, the mother of Queen Beatrix. But in winter, you naturally can not celebrate like in springtime and the Dutch love to celebrate their lovely Queen the most appropiate way! That’s why this day of national unity and togetherness (Dutch: saamhorigheid) bears officially the date of the 30th of April. Starting with the Queen’s Night (Dutch: Koninginnenacht) especially in The Hague, the night before Koniginnedag is celebrated in most cities as well accompanied by the Queen’s Dance (Dutch: Koninginnedans) in Rotterdam. Gaastra that was founded in 1897 by the famous Douwe Gaastra who originally started as a sailmaker in the city Sneek, has a long tradition and a deep bond to its Dutch heritage and roots.

Therefore we celebrate this special day with you as well with a special Gaastra Voucher of 10 EUR, which is valid ONLY TODAY the 30th of April 2011 latest until midnight: The Gaastra Code is exclusively valid for the whole Gaastra range in the Official Gaastra Online Shop. Need more orange this summer? More Gaastra shirts or Gaastra blouses? More Gaastra jackets and Gaastra fashion of the Spring/Summer Collection 2011? Choose your favourites with a minimum order value of 30 € and then just use your Gaastra Voucher Code „queensday“ during payment transaction and save your Special Queensday Discount! Naturally the Gaastra code is usable only one time on each order and not to be combined with other vouchers. Happy Shopping and Happy Birthday Queen Beatrix!

Gaastra Women Poloshirt Queensday

Gaastra Men Poloshirt Queensday

Gaastra Pro Sailing Gear, Sailing Jacket Atlantic

New sailing season, new Gaastra Pro Sailing Gear: Go on board with professional sailing jackets like the ocean sailing jacket Cape Horn, the technical bomber jacket Atlantic or softshell jacket Brighton from Gaastra. Gaastra Pro is the ultimate professional line, which uses cutting-edge technology like strong breathable Toray, Kevlar, BEMIS and high-quality materials like Riri zippers to provide you the best comfort and protection under all possible weather conditions. As the founder Douwe Gaastra already said in 1897: „You don’t ask the sea any questions, you just dress for the occasion“. Gaastra Pro is tested by professional crew under extreme racing conditions and by a water column of 10.000 — 20.000 mm as well. This innovative sailing wear guarantees optimal protection and comfort for all types of sailing: The Pro Collection consists of the GX-01 series for ocean/offshore sailing, GX-02 for coastal sailing and Gaastra GX-03 for inshore sailing. Choose your Gaastra Pro favourites from the wide range of sportive and functional sailing wear including new arrivals in the Official Gaastra Online Shop for men and women. Where will your sailing routes lead you this year?

Gaastra Sailing Jacket Cape Horn

Gaastra Sailing Jacket Cowes Women

Gaastra Longsleeve Carnac

Gaastra T-Shirt Hyeres Sport

Gaastra Queensday Clothing 2011

Orange craze! Only eight days left and the whole Netherlands will turn into Oranje: On April 30th, everybody will celebrate the Queensday (Koninginnedag), the birthday of the Queen of the Netherlands. Gaastra with its Dutch heritage, created a Gaastra Queensday Poloshirt 2011 exclusively for its online shop. This special Queensday Wear for women and men has a special design at front and offers you the perfect Queensday clothing in high-quality Gaastra materials and processing. You know that normally we offer you a wide range of colours, but for this limited Koninginnendag Poloshirt Collection, there is naturally only one to choose: Orange! Save your Gaastra Queensday Poloshirt of this strictly limited edition the fastest way at our Official Gaastra Online Shop and benefit of the quick delivery. Oranje boven!

Gaastra Women Polo Fun Tee with special finish in navy and orange and in size XS — XXL, € 49.95

Nowadays the most innovative and famous brand for nautical professional sportswear and maritime high-fashion, in 1897 the founder Douwe Gaastra started Gaastra originally as a sailmaking company in the little Dutch city Sneek.

He knew what dealing with the sea is all about when saying „You don’t ask the sea any questions, you just dress for the occasion“. All his expertise made Gaastra the renowned brand it is today and especially the professional Gaastra Pro Performance Wear supports all lovers of nautical adventures. For all those, whose heart belongs to the sea forever like Douwe Gaastras did, we made a very Special Poloshirt that’s dedicated to the father of the sea, Douwe Gaastra.

Gaastra_SAIL_Amsterdam

After 5 years the biggest public event of the Netherlands is back! From the 19th to the 23rd of august visitors will see impressive fleet of tall ships from all over the world. More than 500 sailing heritage ships and special replica‘s will display nautical history on the spectacular Sail-In Parade! Gaastra E-Store is proud to present this year´s  SAIL AMSTERDAM Collection 2010. But there is more to look forward …

Win an overnight stay in Amsterdam

for the SAIL 2010!

If you would like to feel the nautical impact of this adventurous event by yourself its best to go there! With Gaastra E-Store and Shortstay Amsterdam you can win 1 of 3 exclusive overnight stays for the SAIL AMSTERDAM 2010!

Just click and answer the following question…

Good luck!

Your Gaastra E-Store Team