Vuurschepenrace at Scheveningen, Netherlands - Finish

Daikin Airco wins IRC1 in the Vuurschepenrace, the first race in the North Sea Regatta © Diana Bogaards / Delta Lloyd NSR

A calm crossing

The Vuurschepenrace 2009, part of the Delta Lloyd North Sea Regatta, became a calm crossing. Despite an inadequate start, the Daikin Airco from Frans van der Heijden (NED) won in the IRC 1 class. It finished about 45 minutes in advance of its rival, the ROARK, which took the second place. The fastest boat, the Sjambok, needed almost 6,5 hours more than the record of ten hours and 29 minutes that was established last year by the VO60 Pleomax. In the IRC 2, local John van der Starre obtained the first place again with his J109 FRD-Xperience. The race started and ended calmly and was mostly close-hauled. In the middle of the night, some boats measured up to 25 knots.

In the IRC 1 class, the Daikin Airco Ker 11.3, the Roark Grand Soleil 43 and the Mat 12 Trust Alliance were the favourites. The ROARK departed well at the start, as opposed to the Daikin Airco. Tactician Maurice van der Heijden (NED): "We didn't have enough speed. As a result we were lagging behind at the first buoy." In the middle of the night, the Daikin Airco managed to make up for this. Van der Heijden says: "During the crossing you could opt for the north or the south. We were the southernmost boat all the time. This allowed us to gain a lot, when the wind shifted to the left." At that moment, the ROARK had to give up its leading position. Skipper Kees Kaan (NED): "There was a shift we hadn't foreseen. If all boats sail at maximum speed, such a tactical decision can make the difference.

Surprise in the ORC 2 class

Skipper Cees van Nes (NED) from the Ellinor is flabbergasted about his victory in the ORC 2 class. Van Nes: "We are extremely pleasantly surprised that we're capable of this! We are actually green in the world of big yachts." He attributes their performance to the qualities of his classic Swan 55, which he restored himself. "This ship is fast, friendly and strong." Van Nes, a cat sailor of origin, explains that they went for speed at the close-hauled crossing: "That suits this yacht very well. It just keeps on going. We became the most leeward boat of the fleet, but that turned out fine in the end."

Hiking, hiking, hiking

Although Cees van Nes and his crew had a very relaxed crossing, it was exhausted for other teams. Van der Heijden: "No one got to sleep. We haven't changed any sails, and all legs were sailed over starboard. This means many people had to hike for hours." Kees Kaan keeps his crew focused by constantly comparing their position compared to their rivals'. For the Daikin Airco, on the other hand, their lead came as a surprise in the morning. Van der Heijden: "Then the spirit goes up. It gets a little warmer, the sun starts to shine." And they needed that spirit, because the last part of the race was a slow upwind leg, against the current, with little wind.

About the Delta Lloyd North Sea Regatta

De 110-mile Vuurschepenrace from Scheveningen to Harwich is the first race of the Delta Lloyd North Sea Regatta. After a lay day in Harwich, the IRC and ORC classes sail the R.O.R.C. North Sea Race back to Scheveningen on Friday 22 May. During the Whitsun weekend, from 29 May until 1 June, more than 26 classes compete in the races before the Coast of Scheveningen. Several disciplines participate: big yachts, Olympic classes, catamarans, open boats and surfers. From this year, the event is sponsored by Delta Lloyd.

Vuurschepenrace Results: (provisional top 3)

IRC 1
1. Daikin Airco, Frans van der Heijden
2. Roark/Claus & Kaan Architecten, Kees Kaan
3. Trust Alliance, Sander Vos

IRC 2
1. FRD-Xperience, John van der Starre
2. S34, Erik van Vuuren
3. Yeti, Paul van der Pol/Suzanne Hen

ORC 2
1. Ellinor, A.C. van Nes
2. Redan, Hein van Schaik
3. Lenco, Nico Brabers

ORC 3/4/5
1. Gouden Ruiter, Willem N. R. Kats
2. Gambiet, Wijnand Vink
3. Lancer of Hamble, Bert Visser

More information at www.nsr.nl