Saturday 16th August the ‘Eneco Luchterduinen Race’ started in Zandvoort (The Netherlands). This event is open for all catamarans, but is also an official class event for Formule 16, Formule-18 and Carbon 20. All races on Sunday 17th August were cancelled because of 7-8 bft of wind.
Saturday there was a lot of breeze and big waves (maybe the last influence of tropical storm Bertha lwho hit the western part of Europe). 35 of the total of 65 boats have started the long distance race of around 51 km. Only 7 boats made till Noordwijk where the fleet had to turn around and go downwind towards the finish in Zandvoort. Only 4 boats made it to the finish line. Some boats were crashed in the surf on their way in or out and lost their main sail. Others broke their mast when they tipped over during the race or broke some boards. One boat was very unfortune, their hull delaminated/was sliced during the race.
Jorden Veenman and Frank de Waard showed their skills on their Nacra Infusion in these heavy conditions and were unbeatable. From the start till the finish they were leading the fleet and never gave it away. For a long time Rik Duinmeijer/Corstiaan Alessie were in 2nd position, but a broken spinakerpole ended their race. Father and daughter Den Houting (yellow Hobie Wild Cat) took over 2nd position and managed to keep last standing boats behind them till the finishline. Especially when you keep in mind that Babette den Houting is pretty light and these conditions were heavy for even the most experienced catsailors. But she and her father had a good ‘training’ at the F18 Worlds last month in Ireland.
Results:
1. Jorden Veenman/Frank de Waard
2. Jacob den Houting/Babette den Houting
3. Marthijn Elshorst/Peter Schouten
4. Gerard Loos/Pieter Ruitenburg
5 – 65: DNF
Photo: Ronald Brakel – www.brakelfotografie.nl
Facebook of the event: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006451513892
Official website of the Eneco Luchterduinen Race: http://wvzandvoort.nl/activiteiten/eneco-luchterduinen-race/