News
Wensday, July, 13
Holland, Great Britain and USA grab the Gold
THIERRY SCHMITTER (THE NETHERLANDS) WORLD CHAMPION 2.4mR
An unbelievably exciting sailing day in Medemblik today with ‘fireworks’ in all classes. Fantastic weather, and at last, good wind varying from 20 – 30 knots. We love days like this. The best conditions you can wish for the last day of the Delta Lloyd IFDS Worlds 2010. In all classes all options were still open after 7 races since the lead pack sailors were so narrow in points.
Thierry Schmitter was at his best with this wind. He sailed two fabulous races today and crossed the finish line as first in both races. Heiko Kroger fought back like a tiger and after today’s first race was still one point ahead of Thierry. A rocket start of Thierry in the second race made an end to the German dream. Nothing could stop him anymore from winning and Thierry could prolong his second World title in succession.
Silver for Heiko Kroger (GER) , Bronze for Megan Pascoe (GBR) who also sailed an excellent Worlds by constantly sailing in the leading fleet. Canadian Paul Tingley was 4th overall and Damien Sequin (RA) 5th.
ALEXANDRA RICKHAM & NIKI BIRREL (GBR) WORLD CHAMPION SKUD 18
Team Rickham & Birrel proved today that they also can play the game with stronger wind, but they had to fight hard for it. The first race was a neck to neck race for New Zealand, the Aussies, USA and Great Britain. They all gave Rickham & Birrel a hard time and they finished 5 (their lowest score so far). In the second race Rickham & Birrel were heading for gold and finished 4, good for their World title. USA Scott Whitman and Julia Dorsett, who sailed an equally strong Worlds grabbed the Silver, Daniel Fitzgibbon and Rachael Cox (Australia) the Gold.
UDO HESSELS, MARCEL VAN DE VEEN AND MISCHA ROSSEN WORLD CHAMPIONS IN THE SONAR
Who would become the champ in the Sonar Class? On the basis of the preliminary results after 7 races everyone predicted a battle between Germany and the Netherlands. In race 8 both teams were not able to catch up with the fleet leaders. Team Jens Kroker sailed 6 and 11 today, Team Udo Hessels 8 and 3. Line honors today were twice for the French team Bruno Jourden, Eric Flageul and Nicolas Vimont Vicary who were in superb shape. A excellent double second place was for GBR team John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Steve Thomas placed them at the top of the league with equal points (31) as Germany and the Netherlands. A protest from the Dutch team against the USA team made everyone hold their breath when the jury deliberated. Cheers when it was decided in favor of the Dutch team! A magnificent performance for this team who got their first title in 2003 and now scooped their second Worlds title.
Congratulations to all winners. Both competitors, officials and the organizing committee can look back on a wonderful Delta Lloyd IFDS Worlds, with 9 fair races sailed despite daily thunder storm predictions.
Tuesday, July, 13
It’s Holland against Germany in the SONAR
Yesterday’s races having been cancelled because of bad weather with thunderstorms, today started off as a perfect sailing day. The Racing Committee initially planned for three races to be held, but had to cancel one race again, because of lack of wind.
So on the last day but one two races were sailed with winds SW to W, 6-10 kt., 2-3 Bft. and blue skies above.
In the first race of the 2.4mR class, the Dutch Thierry Schmitter (NED 12) was in the lead but had to give way to Damien Sequin (FRA 13) at the last mark rounding and became third (30 pts. over all). Damien won the race, followed by Bruce Millar (CAN 39), and Thierry ended third. Heiko Kröger and his team (GER 1), consolidated the first place over all with 22 pts., as did Megan Pascoe (GBR 92) with 24 pts. for the second place. Thierry Schmitter is third with 30 pts.
The gennakers of the SKUD 18 were again a colourful sight. The first race of Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrel (GBR 45) was good for a first position. The second race it became clear they are aiming for gold.. From a fourth position they rounded off the gate mark just before the finish as first through an excellent tactical maneuver.
In the second race Daniel Fitzgibbon and Rachael Cox (AUS 47) initially took off to early, but nevertheless they managed to become third in this race and also over all third with18 pts.
Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell (GBR 45) finished first and are now leading with 8 pts., followed by Scott Whitman and Julia Dorsett (USA 5) with 11 pts.
In the SONAR class the Germans are leading with the Dutch breathing down their neck. The Dutch SONAR team with Udo Hessels, Marcel van de Veen and Mischa Rossen (NED 688)
started off being fifth in the first race, but ended second in the next race, thus consolidating their second place over all, 21 pts., behind Jens Kroker and his crew in the GER 11 with 19 pts. Team Dror Cohen (ISR) prove consistent sailors with an overall third place.
For tomorrow race 8 and 9 are scheduled.
The leads are narrow. All and all Worlds 2010 races are exciting right to the end.
Sunday, July, 11
Girl power in IFDS
For today there was only one race scheduled. At the start there was a gentle breeze, 5-8 knts from the SW, decreasing during the race.
The 2.4mR class had some problems with the starting, caused by major windshifts and a general recall. When they are finally off, the wind started to decrease. First place was for Heiko Kroger (GER 1) who is now leading, followed by Megan Pascoe (GBR 92) in a second position. The third place overall is for Thierry Schmitter (NED 12). Bjornar Erikstad (NOR 1) is on a steady 4th place.
Girl power in the SKUD 18 class where Alexandra Rickman and Niki Birrell (GBR 45) are leading with 6 points. But they have Scott Whitman/Julia Dorsett (USA 5) with 7 points on their heels.
In the Sonar class, Christoforou Vasilis (GRE 1, 14 pts) has lost his first overall position to Jens Kroker (GER 1, 13 pts). The ranking of the dutch team of Udo Hessels, Marcel van de Veen and Mischa Rossen (NED 688, 14 pts) is still a 3rd overall at present. Team Israel is also very strong in a 4th and 5th position with respectively team Cohen (ISR 1) and with 7 points team Shimon Ben Yakov (ISR 13).
The numbers 1-4 in the Sonar class are all positioned very close to each other.
Saturday, July, 10th
All chances still open after 4 races
Another beautiful day for all competitors. A wind of 1-2 Bft (4-8 knts) from the SW-WSW, lots of sun and many spectator and camera boats made for quite some bustle on the water near Medemblik.
In the Sonar class, Christoforou Vasilis (GRE 1) and his team managed to lead the fleet in the last down wind leg of race 3, and even increased his gap on number 2 in the last upwind leg. In race 4, the victory went to Jens Kroker (GER 1) who now takes 3rd place over all, just behind the team of Dror Cohen (ISR 1). The numbers 1-5 in the Sonar class are all positioned very close to each other, so all chances are still open to all. The first Dutch team in the ranking is that of Udo Hessels, Marcel van de Veen and Mischa Rossen in 4th overall at present.
In the Skud 18 class the wind fully disappeared in the last race, which meant that some competitors could not finish within the time limit. Alexandra Rickham/Niki Birrell (GBR 45) are in first overall position. Scott Whithman/Julia Dorsett (USA 5) are in second place, but with an OCS (premature start) they already have their discard race to take into account.
The largest fleet of this Worlds, the 2.4mR, is headed up by Megan Pascoe (GBR 92), who increased her lead today by sailing a 4th and 2nd place. Today, the first places went to Heiko Kroger (GER 1) and the Canadian Paul Tingley (CAN 99). Particularly, the second race was nerve-racking. After the 2nd upwind leg the fleet positions were dramatically changed. “At the first mark, I only had two boats behind me, but I finished 8th!”, said Delta Lloyd sailor Barend Kol (NED 1). There was a general recall for the second race. In the following start Helena Lucas (GBR 75) went over the line too early, alternately finishing in 14th place which had set her back overall. She will have to do her best to recuperate this. Thierry Schmitter (NED 12) is in 3rd overall position currently. The 2-5 overall positions are all close together, so all sailors still have the chance to win.
The organising and racing committee look back on a good day. The planned two races could be sailed, despite little wind and the expected thunder.
Friday July 9
Don’t forget your sun tan and waterbottles!
D-Day: after a shared breakfast in Brasserie Med, at the Regatta Center the first official races were held in tropical conditions on Friday 9th. Two races for all classes over three courses. There are 132 sailors from 25 countries. In the 2.4m class are 49 participants, in the SKUD 18 class are 13 boats participating and in the SONAR class 19. The weather conditions were excellent, the winds were light and varying on the different courses. After two races, the first place in the 2.4m class is for Megan Pascoe (GBR 92), followed by the ruling world champion Thierry Schmitter (NED 12), also with seven points, and Helena Lucas (GBR 75), third. In the SKUD 18 class are Scott Whitman and Julia Dorsett (USA 5) leading, a second place for Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell (GBR 45) and a third for Al Mustakim Matrin and Northanisah Che Aziz (37).
Also in the SONAR class the competition was very close and after two races the ranking is as follows: 1st Dror Cohen (ISR 1) , 2nd Jens Kroker and 3rd Udo Hessels and their teams.
Everyday at 5.30 pm it’s time to relax with drinks, snacks & entertainment for all competitors and the organising team in the tent. Friday gave typical Dutch street organ music aubade, cool drinks and fresh herring. The temperature was tropical, the Dutch are not used to this but many of the competitors from southern coutries are.
Thursday July 8
And we’re off!
At about 5 o’clock the 300 competitors, coaches, volunteers, officials and others involved in the Worlds in their Gaastra sponsored shirts gathered at the Regatta Center, where four busses, two shuttle busses and own cars took them to the centre of Medemblik for the official opening ceremony of Delta Lloyd IFDS Worlds 2010.
It was a superb and colourful sight to see one person per class per country carrying their national flag in a Parade through mainstreet up to the Town Hall. There the IFDS flag was presented to the mayor and hoisted by a him and a pretty competitor from Singapore. Followed the official opening in the Bonifacius Church with speeches from the Major Th. Van Eijk, Linda Merkle, IFDS President, Jacques Kellerman, Chairman Organising Committee, and the Deputee of the Province Noord Holland Robert Meerhof. The ceremony ended with champagne and lots of cool drinks and plenty of time to meet new people and make new friends.
July 7, 2010
Top sailors have arrived at Delta Lloyd IFDS Worlds 2010
The worlds top disabled sailors of Delta Lloyd IFDS Worlds 2010 have by now arrived at the Regatta Center in Medemblik. Boats are being measured, competitors qualified and some teams are already practising the races. Competitors, the organizing team and 120 volunteers are working their guts out to get everything ready for Friday, the first day of racing. Ten races are scheduled in each class, with a separate course for each class. .
In the 2.4.mR class Dutchman Thierry Schmitter, reigning World Champion in the 2.4mR and André Rademaker are ofcourse the favourites for Holland. Other potential winners in this class are Heiko Kröger from Germany, Helena Lucas from Great Britain, Bjønar Erikstad of Norway, Megan Pascoe of Great Britain and Jens Als Andersen of Denmark.
The German team of Jens Kroker, Robert Prem, Siegmund Mainka were last year’s World Champions in the Sonar class, while the Isreali team (Dror Cohen, Arnon Efrati, Benny Vexler) and the Greek team (Christoforou Vasalis, Alexas Thodoris and Notaroglou Argiris) are the runners up of last year’s IFDS Worlds 2009. But also the Dutch team (Udo Hessels, Marcel van de Veen and Mischa Rossen), second place at the Sofia Cup in Palma de Mallorca in April, can be ranked among the potential winners.
Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birell from Great Britain will defend their IFDS Worlds 2009 title in the Skud 18 class, competing with Scott Whitman and Julia Dorsett , USA, John McRoberts , Brenda Hopkin, Canada, Michael Cogswell and Lucy Hodges from Great Britain, amongst others.
All in all great names in the sailing world are almost ready for take off.
Together with the perfect weather conditions Delta Lloyd IFDS Worlds 2010 will no doubt be a spectacular sailing event.
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Tuesday July 6
Worlds 2010’s head is off
At 9.00 a.m. temperatures inside the Regatta Center in Medemblik are rising just as quickly as outside among organization as well as participants of the Delta Lloyd IFDS World 2010 now that the registration has officially started.
Stagnating printers, questions like “Where has that fellow gone? What fellow? The one in the wheelchair….A boat being delivered, who for? I don’t know…..Anybody willing to fix a cup of coffee for the mayor? Do we have typex? Typex? Yes, the stuff we used before the war…..”
Everybody is sweating their guts out to turn Worlds 2010 into a great success, solving problems like missing sails for a Sonar for the Koreans, that was transported overnight all the way from Scotland or rebuilding a foot steered boat that was ordered for a crew unable to use their legs at all….. to mention just a few things that need attending to..
Meanwhile great actions have been achieved, what with 170 metres of jetty, especially built for this sailing event, a harbour with a spectacular amount of ribs for press and rescue teams, lineboats, spectator boats and so on. People, wheelchairs, trailers and cranes all over the place, boats being measured and meanwhile teams have already been practising for days in perfect weather conditions.
Summer temperatures and wind of about fifteen knots, that according to weather forecasts promise to stay like this for the next fourteen days, are a big asset to this World Championship.
Before the actual racing starts actions are focussed on activities ashore: measurements are carried out, competitors classified, flags are being sorted out and some one is frantically trying to get the daily weather forecast on screens, that still have to be installed.
The screens are ofcourse priority number one today, because of the other World Championship in South Africa, the semi finals for the Dutch football team against Urugay, almost of equal importance! Since there are no Urugayan competitors in the sailing event everybody in the Regatta Center will be one in watching this game.
Anyway, Worlds 2010’s head is off , we’ll keep you informed.
