STRONG WIND KEEPS SAILORS ASHORE

Today’s races and record attempts cancelled

Den Burg, June 20th 2003 – A strong southwest wind kept the sailors ashore on the third racing day of the Zwitserleven Texel Dutch Open. Friday morning June 20th, the race committee had to cancel all scheduled races. The planned attempts on the Round Texel record could not be sailed as well. Tomorrow the wind will decrease, so the race committee assumes that the 570 pre-subscribed teams will sail the Zwitserleven Round Texel.

Due to high waves and an onshore wind, it was not justified to send the sailors out. “Too bad”, the race committee agreed, “but if we let them sail a race, we ask for problems”. After the cancellation of today’s races, Darren Bundock and Will Howden are still in the lead of the Texel Dutch Open. The results of the Round Texel will also count for the overall result of the championship.

Sven Karsenbarg and Mischa Heemskerk from the Netherlands, winners of Round Texel 2002, mentioned during the press conference that they like these heavy conditions. Last year, they built up their lead very quick with a strong southwest wind. Mitch Booth and Herbert from the Netherlands go for a new chance. They capsized last year and had to give up, so they are very eager to win the overall title tomorrow. Their trainer Will Howden will sail the race with World Champion Tornado, Darren Bundock, on a Hobie Tiger. Darren: “It is goinig to be a tough race, but off course we want to finish ahead of Mitch and Herbert”. The Australian team Cavin Colby and Cori Camenish, winners of the 2001 Round Texel, are ready for the challenge as well.

During the Round Texel, sixty favorites can be followed live on www.roundtexel.com . Their catamarans are equipped with a GPS/GSM that reports their position during the race.

The other sponsors of the Zwitserleven Round Texel are: Amstel, Holkema Group, Komatsu, de Kolonist, MagicMinds Media, Nissan, TNG Swiss Watches, Teso, VVV Texel and the Mondriaan Onderwijsgroep.

Round Texel Official Site