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Download here a subsribtionform for the Aruba Heineken Regatta 2010 and send it to Discover bv (adress below).
Organisation/Information/Subscription
Discover bv, Edwin Lodder
Aluin 3
2719 TS Zoetermeer
The Netherlands
Tel/Fax +31 (0)79 3429868
Mobile : +31 (6)51134452
E-mail: info@arubaregatta.nl
www.arubaregatta.com
Register now and make your entry to participate the 20th Aruba Heineken Regatta form 12 - 20 November.
This year it will be again a week with a lot of sailing and fun, drinks and food.
Be sure to be there and register now. Please downlaod the entryform at the left side of the homepage.
Registration is possible until September 1st !
New in 2010 is personal coaching during the whole event. One of the best sailors will come to Aruba to coach the participants, tune the boats, will go on board to give you tips during sailing.
The beach on Aruba is empty. Alle boats are loaded in the containers and on their way to Europe. Also all participants left the island after an excellent week with good sailing and a lot of fun.
The 20th edition will be organised from 12 - 20 November 2010. Be sure to be ther to enjoy the event, the sailing, the island and fun.
On Friday November 27, the final race of the Dart 18 Worlds and Aruba Heineken Catamaran Regatta 2009 had to be cancelled. The 28 knots strong trade wind put an early end to the sailing competition and battle for bronze. The German Dart duo Matthias Huber and Dominik Volke could celebrate its third position. John Moret and Paul Smissaert (NED) remain in second position at the Aruba Heineken Catamaran Regatta, followed by Leo Ambtman and Maarten Kroon on the Tornado. The prize giving will be at Moomba's Beach during a dinner party with live music.
As soon as the tenth race was officially abandoned, the German sailors started celebrating their medal. "This is outstanding", jubilated Matthias Huber. "We were looking forward to the last fight with Thierry Wibaux, but of course we are also very happy with this result." It was the fourth event for Huber and Volke as a team. In 2008, they won the German Nationals and they finished eleventh at the Worlds in the Netherlands.
Dutch glory "We are absolutely pleased with our fourth place", said Bart Damen from the Netherlands. "To be honest, I am glad that we didn't go out sailing today. It would have been difficult to keep this position with a second discard. It was a great sailing week." Nicolette van Gorp and Ruud van Gisbergen (NED) also considered the abandoned race as their luck. Van Gisbergen: "We didn't come for snorkeling, but it would have been hard to keep the fifth spot. It is the first time that a female helmsman makes it to the top five at the Worlds."
Thierry Wibaux from France needed today's result in order to get rid off his second discard. That would bring him close to bronze, but it wasn't meant to be. Wibaux: "The pressure is gone now, so it is ok. This is part of the game."
Dart 18 News "Yesterday at the Annual General Meeting, we proudly announced the Aruban Dart 18 Class Association", says Nicolette van Gorp, Chairman of the International Dart Association (IDA). "Over the last few years, the Aruban Dart 18 fleet has grown from one to seven boats at the moment." And it was the first time ever that the Caribbean Island hosted a World Championship for catamarans. Van Gorp: "We are all pleased with this spot and it was very well organized. Unfortunately the crisis spoilt the number of entries. However, it was good to see a bigger Swiss and German attendance, which is good for the class. France was the only country that hesitated in 2007, when Aruba was chosen as location for the 2009 Worlds. And they came here with the biggest and enthusiatic group." Next year's Worlds will be in Weymouth / England.
Aruba Heineken Catamaran Regatta This morning, the F18 Capsize Kings John Moret and Paul Smissaert (NED) were relieved that they did not have to test the limits again. Moret: "This was my 18th Aruba Regatta and I have never experienced this before. It was great sailing with lots of swimming and a good rescue team." His crew Smissaert calls it a 'sensational week': "In fact it was too windy and I normally don't ever say that. It took al lot of energy, but it was also good fun. We are grateful for all the assistance on the water." Leo Ambtman and Maarten Kroon finished third overall with their Tornado. Ambtman: "It was a tough regatta. It started with rough conditions, which was a bit too much for us, so we didn't sail the first race. It is unfortunate that we couldn't do the last one in the big breeze. We could have beaten John, in case he would capsize. The Tornado is still a beautiful boat to sail here."
According to event organizer Edwin Lodder (NED) the twentieth edition of the Aruba Heineken Catamaran Regatta is going to be a true jubilee: "In 2010, we will try to bring as many former and new competitors together in another great sailing week on Aruba. Hopefully the exposure to the ten countries that were represented this year, will bring new sailors to the Caribbean." Dart 18 Worlds 2009 - Final top five after 9 races and one discard: FRA - Emmanuel Dodé & Fred Moreau, 9 points GBR - David Lloyd & Joanna Jones-Pierce, 20 points GER - Matthias Huber & Dominik Volke, 30 points NED - Ruud Goudriaan & Bart Damen, 37 points NED - Nicolette van Gorp & Ruud van Gisbergen, 45 points Final top three Aruba Heineken Catamaran Regatta after nine races and one discard: NED - F18 - Xander & Mark Pols, 7 points NED - F18 - John Moret & Paul Smissaert, 18 points NED - Tornado - Leo Ambtman & Maarten Kroon, 23,5 points In addition to the title sponsors Aruba Tourism Authority and Heineken Aruba NV, this year's Aruba Heineken Catamaran Regatta and Dart18 World Championships are also supported by Martinair, GILS Worldwide, Setar, Holiday Inn, Does & Cadushi, Tropical Bottling Company, Coca Cola, AWA, Aruba Aloë, VR Shipping, Aruba Watersports Center, Palm Tours, Pelican Watersports, Seaworld Explorer, Moomba, Zwitserleven, TNG, Patria and AMI Kappers. /// End
The winners are already known, but John Moret and Paul Smissaert still need to push in order to hold on to their second position. The Tornado duo Leo Ambtman and Maarten Kroon are only 5,5 points behind.
The Pols brothers won’t sail, as Xander Pols bruised his finger yesterday. They start packing their boat.
The offshore trade wind is still blowing. One more race to go!
At 10.50 the warningsignal was given for the Open Class. Good windconditions round 18 - 20 Knots during the first race.
"I have never ever started with 40 knots breeze", said Xander Pols on the beach. Just before the first race in the afternoon, a squall with gale force winds came over. John Moret and Paul Smissaert tried to bear away for the line, but pitch poled merciless. That was already the second unfortunate moment for the Dutch F18 sailors on this fourth day. Their mainsail came undone in the morning, so they missed the first gun and fought back to a sixth position. But the second time of bad luck put an end to today's racing, as they fell through the mainsail and they struggled to get the boat upright again. Leo Ambtman and Maarten Kroon (NED) sailed their Tornado well and overtook the second position overall.
Although the Pols brothers won every race, there were also some surprises on the course. The Dutch F18 sailors Willie van der Heijden and Arthur Moerman finished second and third in the afternoon. And the mixed Aruban/Dutch team of Friso Bakker and Henk Hankarth was first over the line in the morning. Bakker with a smile: "We finished ahead of Xander, which is a legendary moment." They are sailing a Dart 18 and have to do one lap less. Bakker: "We were too late with entering the Worlds. That is why we are participating at the Aruba Regatta, but we are enjoying it very much."
That is the question... At the breakfast table, John Moret showed great confidence in his chances. John with a big smile on his face and a bruised hand from all his capsizing this week: "Xander, we will get you today."
If not, there might be another interesting battle between the two rivals on Friday. To be announced soon!
Hopefully Jan and Arnoud Schrama won't let their Tornado go for a solo trip on the Caribbean Sea anymore. After their capsize yesterday, they received help from the rescue boat. The cat was up righted with the crew still in the water. The sails filled up and the Tornado went off pretty quickly, so father and son were lifted onboard of the RIB in order to chase their multihull.
The German duo Klaus Rocholl and Christian Goecke had its own problems. Their Tornado turned completely upside down after an unfortunate capsize in the gate, while fighting for the leading position with the Pols brothers. Even with an extra person onboard it was impossible to right it, so the RIB was needed to turn the boat over.
And meanwhile, the good old Hobie 18 of the Kemp family sailed slowly her laps.
Another day with new chances in still windy conditions.
The teams are getting ready for two back to back races. The breeze is still strong, so the action will be full on. It has been blowing all night, but it has calmed down a little bit. Hopefully, the wind doesn't pick up any further today. The first gun will be at 9:50 am.
The first race of this year's Aruba Heineken Catamaran Regatta was sailed in wild conditions. The breeze picked up to 25-30 knots. The fleet had to take the outer loup, which resulted in a lot of reaching. Only three F18's out of fifteen cats finished the race.
Many boats on the course capsized, some of them multiple times. Like John Moret and Paul Smissaert, who pitchpoled twice and still crossed the finish line in second position. The Pols brothers stayed upright and won by miles. The Germans Dieter Maurer and Gunther Mortl took a third place.
The race committee just gave green light for the first start of the series. The offshore breeze is strong, but sailable. the first gun will be fired at 11 am local time. Stay tuned! Monday November 23rd 2009
The trade wind shows no mercy on the first day of the 19th Aruba Heineken Catamaran Regatta. The offshore breeze is gusting up to 37 knots, which keeps the sailors ashore. In order to give them some action, the race committee is organizing a swim contest at the moment, with beautiful TNG Watches and Zwitserleven jackets to win.
New this year! The Aruba Heineken Catamaran Regatta 2009 can be followed by Twitter. Stay tuned and read about the latest news from the Aruban beach.
Palm Beach, November 14th
The weather conditions on Aruba are very good; lot of sun and good wind.
Monday morning the containers will be transported to the beach and the customs will check them in the afternoon.
All 4 containers arrived on Aruba. Monday November 16th the containers will be transported to the beach. During the week of the 1th the participants will arrive on Aruba and on Friday November 20th the most sailors will arrive.
The races will start on Sunday November 22nd with about 55 boats, a new record on Aruba!!
You may follow the event via the website with daily reports, photoos and video.
