Please select your home edition
Edition
Vaikobi 2024 December

Texel Dutch Open at Texel, Holland - Overall

by Diana Bogaards 6 Jun 2008 19:56 BST 4-6 June 2008

Dercksen & Buckely win Texel Dutch Open 2008

On Friday June 6 2008, Herbert Dercksen (NED) and Mark Bulkely (GBR) won the 2008 Texel Dutch Open. Due to an instable and light offshore breeze, only one race could be completed. Coen de Koning and Jeroen van Leeuwen (NED), sailing a F18 Nacra Infusion, took the bullet and climbed to a second position on the leader board. They beat their fellow countrymen Mischa Heemskerk and Bastiaan Tentij, who won bronze. Although local Dirk Pool finished third in today’s only race, he managed to win the Open Class II. Tomorrow morning at 10:00 hours, a helicopter will give the starting signal for the massive fleet of beach catamarans. At the moment, 521 teams have entered for the 31st Zwitserleven Round Texel Race.

“I can’t believe we won on handicap”, said Herbert Dercksen back in the pit lane. While de-rigging his Extreme 20 he said: “Although this light weather certainly suits us, I did not expect us to beat all the F18’s on handicap. As soon as we can just get this boat going, we do make a big difference with the F18’s. And I have a great crew, which makes life a lot easier onboard.”

According to Dercksen, they had a good start: “We tacked twice and sailed straight to the mark. We leaded at the top mark and kept it. It was a short course that took us about 28 minutes. Mark was supposed to steer the second race, but they cancelled it.”

Trainee beats former master

Coen de Koning and Jeroen van Leeuwen sailed a strong series this week and took the last bullet. De Koning about their winning performance: “It was easy sailing with a simple wind pattern. In case there was a gust, it always came in from the right. The timing for the tack after the start was important. And then again for the long leg on starboard tack towards the top mark. That was the trick. On the run, you had to stick to the same strategy and use the shift to the right.” The Dutchmen beat the black Hobie Tiger of Heemskerk and Tentij on handicap, that had an off day with a seventeenth place. As a result, they dropped to a third position overall after the discard. De Koning started racing mulihulls on the Olympic Tornado, as helmsman of Heemskerk. De Koning: “Yes of course it feels good to finish ahead of him. Our goal was to climb one spot. We know we are able to do well in this weather, but you still have to do it.”

In the sunny and warm afternoon with a freshened wind from the north-east, twenty top teams lined up for the TNG Short Track Invitational Races. After the exciting knock out series, the final battle was between De Koning and Van Leeuwen and Team Boskalis Larsen/Dubbeldam. The new collection TNG watches went to De Koning and Van Leeuwen.

Old love

“I won the 1985 European title on the Prindle 15”, said local Dirk Pool. After having competed in the F18 class, he returned to his old love. “My son crewed for me in the last few years, but he is not so much interested in the sailing anymore. I turn 64 this year, so I did not want to spend that much money on a new F18.” Pool still knows how to sail the Prindle 15 and won this year’s Texel Dutch Open in the Open Class II. “It was a nice week”, said Pool with a smile.

Zwitserleven Round Texel Race 2008

The latest forecasts show a north-eastern breeze of 10-11 knots for tomorrow. That is definitely interesting for the battle between the 20-feet carbon cats, Olympic Tornado and the F18’s with a better rating. The stronger the wind, the better chances for F18’s to win on handicap. Dercksen about their expectations for the 31st Zwitserleven Round Texel Race: “Let’s see what the weather is going to be like. We need this breeze of 4-8 knots or a bit more. In case it will be a little stronger, the Tornado could be dangerous.” The Dutch Team Zwitserleven Booth/Nieuwenhuis will try its luck on the Olympic multihull, used by Booth and Dercksen in the 2004 Olympics. The winners of the line honours in 2007, Xander Pols and Tjiddo Veenstra, will meet tough competition.

Out of 521 pre-entries, 451 cats are already present on the Texel beach. The total fleet represents fourteen countries from all over the world. Teams that hired a tracking device can be followed live on internet www.roundtexel.com

Open Class I: (top 3)

1st NED Dercksen/Bulkey – Extreme 20, 5pts
2nd NED Heemskerk/Tentij – F18 Hobie Tiger, 11pts
3rd NED De Koning/Van Leeuwen – F18 Nacra Infusion, 16pts

Open Class II: (top 3)

1st NED Dirk Pool – Prindle 15, 6pts
2nd NED Hans Primowees, Prindle 15, 8pts
3rd NED David van Aard, Hobie FxOne spi, 8pts

Besides from Zwitserleven, the Round Texel Race is also sponsored by TNG Swiss Watches, Repeat Sales Promotions, W&H/Liebherr, Yamaha Nederland, Nissan, Bizzmark, Teso, VVV Texel, de Mondriaan Onderwijsgroep, Rabobank, de Meeuw, Zeilen, Texeler, Stiehl Entertainment and Paal-17 Events.

Related Articles

Triple amputee crosses Pacific solo & unsupported
33-year-old former Army rifleman from Doncaster, Craig Wood, has today made history 33-year-old former Army rifleman from Doncaster, Craig Wood, has today made history by becoming the world's first triple amputee to sail solo, non-stop and unsupported across the Pacific. Posted on 24 Jun
Video Review: The Amazing Cure 55
Composite Construction meets Cruising Convenience It was two years ago at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show that I talked to Dave Biggar about his ideas and plans for the Cure 55. At the 2025 show I got to step on board the yacht and see how his ideas became reality. Posted on 17 Jun
Bulwarks and Bulldust – watch Episode Six
Episode Six is now live - Are boat shows still relevant? Episode Six - asks the question, 'Are boat shows still Relevant?' We also offer some thoughts on changes and updates. The final episode of Series One is now live Posted on 13 Jun
Fountaine Pajot's ODSea+ hybrid electric cats
An environmentally responsible cruising experience without compromising comfort, autonomy or safety Fountaine Pajot has redefined sustainable cruising with the launch of its innovative ODSea+ hybrid electric system across its sailing catamaran range. Posted on 12 Jun
Windies Multihull Trophy winners announced
Thirty multihulls competed across eighteen events from Barbados to the British Virgin Islands. With the conclusion of the 2025 season, the Caribbean Sailing Association's Budget Marine Windies Multihull Trophy results are in! Posted on 6 Jun
Fountaine Pajot New 41 coming to Australia soon
It's already turning heads, recently nominated for 2025 Multihull of the Year We're thrilled to announce that the Fountaine Pajot New 41 will arrive in Australia this August – and it's already turning heads, recently nominated for 2025 Multihull of the Year. Posted on 6 Jun
Bulwarks and Bulldust – watch Episode Five
Episode Five - Shane Subichin, The Boat Works - is now up and running Watch along as we speak with Shane Subichin, GM at The Boat Works about his life from tinnies on Sydney Harbour to leading the team at the premier refit and maintenance yard on the Gold Coast. Posted on 6 Jun
Video Interview: Onboard the Excess 14
At the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show 2025 Excess have moved forward their designs with the Excess 13 and 14 cruising catamarans, so seeing the Excess 14 was high on the priority list, as well as talking to some exceptional high performance sailors on board to learn their thoughts. Posted on 3 Jun
Bulwarks and Bulldust – watch Episode Four
Episode Four - Mark Elkington, The Yacht Sales Co. - is now up and running Watch along as we speak with Mark Elkington from The Yacht Sales Co. about his transition from a West Australian crayfisherman to a global sales and support organisation par excellence. Posted on 30 May
Excess Asia Pacific Monthly Update
Australia's first Excess 14 had a grand premiere at this year's Sanctuary Cove International Boat Sh Australia's first Excess 14 had a grand premiere at this year's Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. Our dealers in Australia 38 South Yacht Sales and Flagstaff Marine teamed up and represented Excess at the show. Posted on 29 May