Mean Machine leads the fleet

Diana Bogaards reports on the start of the Vuurschepenrace to Harwich

On Tuesday evening, the annual Vuurschepenrace started with calm conditions. With a moderate westerly and cloudy weather, 56 competing yachts crossed the line off the Dutch coast. This offshore of 110 nautical miles goes from Scheveningen to Harwich, where all participants will be welcomed by the Royal Harwich Yacht Club in Woolverstone. It is the traditional start to the ABN AMRO North Sea Regatta.

As expected, the VO 70 Mean Machine of Dutchman Peter de Ridder took the lead over her direct competitors pretty soon. She is expected to arrive in Harwich by Wednesday morning.

The 70-footer was a striking appearance in a fleet of yachts, mostly half of the size. Despite its racing debut for Team Mean Machine onboard the VO 70, this offshore is a home match. Team Captain Dirk de Ridder, who completed the Volvo Ocean Race onboard the Pirates of the Caribbean: “Most of us used to sail here often and Peter is still member of the Scheveningen Yacht Club.”

While heading towards de first mark, two other local sailors hiked and oversaw their home water. Simeon Tienpont, was one of the high potentials of ABN AMRO Two, and Gert van der Heijden, former skipper of Team Delft Challenge in the last three editions of the Tour de France à la Voile, are the youngsters of today’s Mean Machine. Half an hour after the starting gun, the Eclectic of skipper Koen Lockefeer, Holmatro of Sander Speet and Daikin Airco of Frans van der Heijden were beating close together. It is the first time that the Dutch IRC-fleet competes in an offshore, so it is going to be an interesting night out on the North Sea
.
On Friday, after a lay-day, the starting gun will be fired again for the North Sea Race, organized by the Royal Ocean Racing Club. This is an offshore of 180 nautical miles back to Scheveningen. The inshore races will be sailed from Friday May 25 until Whit Monday May 28 off the Scheveningen coast. The fleet consists of dinghies, beach catamarans, olympic- and one-design classes, modern and classic yachts. During those days, the yacht ABN AMRO One will be moored in the Scheveningen harbour.