Sunnucks/Farren to the fore

Brit duo on their extra wide M20 take the lead at the Texel Dutch Open

On day three of the Zwitserleven Sailing week, the British M20-duo Sunnucks/Farren moved into the lead of the Texel Dutch Open (Zwitserleven Open Dutch Championship). Yesterday's winners, Coen de Koning and Thijs Visser, dropped to a third place. After a postponement, the catamarans were launched at around midday. With a breeze that increased from F3 to F4, they completed three races, which are part of the official Dutch Catamaran Sailing Nationals. By the end of the afternoon, the TNG Short Track Races started with Team Boskalis De Koning/Visser and Team Zwitserleven Booth/Nieuwenhuis respectively winning the first and second race. At around 1700, the surfers had a glimmer of hope that they could start another elimination round, but unfortunately the wind quickly diminished to below the required 11 knots.
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Due to the strong current, some catamarans were pushed over the starting line early. Every race the black flag was hoisted after a general recall. Styles and Van West sailing a F18 Nacra Infusion, won the first race thanks to a fine start. Styles said: "It seemed everyone wanted to be on the right side, it was very crowded there. And I think some boats got caught up with the buoy on the left." He and his crew Ferdinand van West started in the middle and got away easily. Styles continued: "After about 300m we tacked to starboard and got a shift to the left. At the upwind mark we were right behind the M20's."

A good start is extremely important in this competitive F18 fleet as Styles says: "The last two races were a bit messy. Darren Bundock got away quickly and made the right decisions." That's how the Australian was the first F18 to finish the second race.

New to the F18 fleet on Texel is Olympic Tornado sailor Carolijn Brouwer. Together with Daan Koene she steered her Hobie Wild Cat through the waves. She said: "It's very exciting to keep track of everything in such a big fleet. Usually I sail on the Extreme40, but this is a nice addition to stay sharp."

M20s - Special daggerboards as a secret weapon

Title holders Herbert Dercksen and Mark Bulkeley were forced to return to the beach during the first start procedure. The mast of their Extreme 20 was damaged. Dercksen explained: "I think it's a construction failure at the mast foot. It has been repaired in the pit lane, so we'll be back tomorrow. Our main priority is to aim for the line honours on Saturday." Dutchmen Xander Pols en Tjiddo Veenstra, who rounded the island the fastest in 2007 and 2008, had a hard time today. Team Sunnucks/Farren fired away in their extra wide M20, with a beam of 3,50m. Pols said: "I'm competing in the Round for the 25th time, so I have plenty of experience, which is very important for winning the race. And tomorrow we'll put our secret weapon into action; specially shaped daggerboards." Pols is hoping for light conditions on Saturday: "That's the only way we can beat the Brits."

Battle of the Prindles

In the smaller cats, two Prindle 15s battled for the win. Locat Dirk Pool won the overall ranking of the Zwitserleven Ronde om Texel in 1990. Hans Primowees came very near to victory in 2006; he was runner-up by a few seconds. Pool won three out of five races this week. "So it's still quite challenging!" he states. The 64-year-old sailor regrets the late start this morning. He says: "We're not made of cottonwool." He defends his leading position by experience. For example by starting on starboard tack and passing in front of all boats on port. From then, he only had to defend his position: "Just stay focused and watch out!" If he and his rival Primowees are to have any success on Saturday, it will largely depend on the wind direction, says Pool: "If there's a northerly wind, for example, we don't stand a chance. Then we'd have too many upwind legs."

TNG Short Track races

At around 16:30, the first TNG Shorttrack race started. These fast, challenging races are sailed right off the coast and accompanied by expert commentary. The 24 selected teams sailed in two fleets of 12 boats today. The best eight of each fleet qualify for the finals tomorrow. In the end, only the best sailors remain. Three Boskalis teams dominated the first race, with Coen de Koning and Thijs Visser finishing first. The second and last game was won by team Booth/Nieuwenhuis.

Slalom Windsurfing Worlds - Waiting for wind

The windsurfers completed three elimination rounds on Tuesday, but after that, their patience was tested. Even though they are very eager to continue sailing, the competitors resign to their fate. Dutchman Dirk Doppenberg says: "It's absolutely to go on to the sea right now. There's not enough wind, and besides there's a strong current in the wrong direction. We're used to waiting." At 16:30, the committee prepared the course after all, but unfortunately the breeze diminished to under the required 11 knots. According to the International Funboard Class Association (IFCA) rules, this is the minimum to sail a valid race. For now, Bernd Flessner (GER) is still in the lead of the ranking.

On the beach

More than 320 boats have arrived at Paal 17 for the Zwitserleven Round Texel. About 200 more catamarans are expected to join them before Saturday. Today, over 90 multihulls participated in the Horstocht. This is a recreational trip to the southernmost beach of Texel, where the sailors can enjoy some freshly fried fish. The leisurely ride allows the sailors to explore this part of island. At the same time, the organisation can test the safety procedures.

Preliminary overall results, after five races:

Open Fleet I
1. Sunnucks/Farren (22 points) 10,3,2,6,1
2. Styles/van West (26 points) 5,1,1,12,7
3. de Koning/Visser (39 points) 2,4,15,10,8
4. Krizek/Hajek (47 points) 13,10,11,1,12
5. Wilson/Lynch (48 points) 18,14,3,3,10
Open Fleet II
1. Pool (6 points) 1,1,1,1,2
2. De Jong (14 points) 2,2,3,3,4
3. Pauli (19 points) 4,3,5,4,3

In addition to Zwitserleven, the following sponsors support the Zwitserleven Sailing Week as well: VVV Texel, TNG, Treffers & Kappa, Nissan, Paal 17 events, ROC Mondriaan, TESO and Liebherr het evenement.