Texel Dutch Open - New Olympic Team Heemskerk/Van Ruitenburg Is Leading

Paal 17, June 2nd 2004 – New Dutch olympic sailing team Heemskerk/Van Ruitenburg is leading the fleet of big catamarans after the first day of the Texel Dutch Open. Dirk Pool from Texel is in the lead of the smaller boats. This afternoon, 74 teams lined up for the start of the official Dutch Catamaran Championships. The two planned races were sailed under good conditions with north wind force 4.

“I was snoring”, told Mischa Heemskerk after the finish of the second race. The winner of the Zwitserleven Round Texel 2002 rounded the wrong mark in the gate and ended up at the left side of the course. “We shouldn’t have been there. Finally we were only five second in short of the winners, Figueroa/Hernandez from Puerto Rico. That was not too bad.” Heemskerk and Van Ruitenburg did win the first race: “We rounded the upwind mark just behind a Israeli Nacra 6.0. It was funny to see again such an old boot in the front.” Heemskerk missed the olympic qualification for Athens, but now he and Van Ruitenburg are aiming at participation in the Olympic Games of 2008 in Beijing. “After Texel we will set up a foundation, we will look for sponsors and we will sail a lot”.

Special participants

Today, sixteen year old Taylor Booth, son of olympic Tornado-zeiler Mitch Booth, made his début as F18-helmsman. Occasional crew Daan Koene: “We did well, but I think I shouted too much”. Taylor: “I have a deal with my father. If I beat him on Saturday, he will buy me a brand new F18.” But the sailors did not reach the starting line in time and missed the first race. They finished 9th in the second race and are now in 24th position of the 45 participating boats in their class. Ten teams had ISR in their main sails. At the initiative of Boaz Adar, Chairman of the Israeli Catamaran Sailing Association, the project was effected. After months of preparations, the team arrived on Saturday May 29th in the Netherlands.

Texel week

As off Thursday, the promo area will be the ‘place to be’ for all catamaran enthusiasts. Today, people have worked hard to finish their booths. At the moment music is coming out of the party tent on the beach. De opening party with DJ’s, Wolter Kroes and the Binnenband will continue until 01:00 hours. Thursday evening Dutch radio TROS Live will broadcast live with Di-Rect, Xander de Buisonje and the Amstel Live Coverband. In daytime, two races will be sailed for the Texel Dutch Open and in the afternoon the tradional Horstocht.

Results

Big cats (<140 Fleet)- Sailed: 2 Discards: 0 Ratings: Texel
1st F18 NED 007 Heemskerk, Mischa Ruitenburg, Peter van 3.0: 1 - 2
2nd Cirrus F18 TX 8 Plas jr., Arie vd Pool, Eddy 5.0: 2 - 3
3rd F20 NED 18 Boers, Eelco Boers, Tjidde 9.0: 3 - 6
4th F18 GBR 365 Styles, Hugh Lynch, Marcus 10.0: 6 - 4
5th Nacra Inter 20 NED 2 Hollander, Leen den Mulder, Sander 12.0: 5 - 7
6th F18 NED 30 Gussinkloo, Janwillem te Simoons, Roel 15.0: 4 - 11

Small cats (> 104 Fleet) - Sailed: 2 Discards: 0 Ratings: Texel
1st Hobie Fx One TX 390 Pool, Dirk 3.0: 2 - 1
2nd Hobie 16 NED 107008 Huntelman, Vincent Maghielse, Martijn 5.0: 1 - 4
3rd Nacra Inter 17 NED 206 Brouwer, Ron 6.0: 4 - 2
4th Prindle 15 NED 80 Primowees, Hans 6.0: 3 - 3
5th Nacra Inter 17 NED 97 Wolters, Henk 10.0: 5 - 5

Besides Zwitersleven the event will be sponsored by Repeat Sales Promotions B.V., TNG Swiss watches, Komatsu, Holkema Group, Tros, Mondriaan Onderwijsgroep, SportLive.nl, Nissan, Teso