Texel Dutch Open in Zwitserleven Sailing Week - day 3

After a sunny, windy fourth day, team Sunnucks/Farren (GBR) is still in the lead of the Zwitserleven Open Dutch Catamaransailing Championship. Runner-up team Styles (GBR)/Van West (NED) is four points behind. The beach was the centre of spectacular water sports activities today. The catamaran fleets completed two competitive races.

Meanwhile Herbert Dercksen (NED) and Mark Bulkeley (GBR) set a new Round Texel record. The TNG Short Track Races came to an exhilarating end and the windsurfers got a fair deal of racing as well, completing two elimination rounds. Meanwhile, about 550 cats have gathered for tomorrow's Zwitserleven Round Texel.

"The conditions were awesome", says the leader of the F18 fleet, Hugh Styles. At around 10:30 the catamarans departed with a wind force four from the North-West. It was difficult for them to get through the surf, but their efforts were enormously rewarded. Styles: "We were leaping off the waves downwind."

He and his crew performed excellently. Styles: "We kept clean of the start line, away from the busy parts." With their risk-reducing tactics, they weren't first at the upwind mark, but thanks to their high boat speed, they managed to get into the lead during both races.

Mischa Heemskerk and Bastiaan Tentij (NED) dropped to a fourth place in the first race, because one of their dagger boards broke during a buoy rounding. Tentij: "There's so much pressure on it!"

Quickly they returned to the beach to get a new dagger board and to arrive in time for the second start. According to the committee, they were a little too early to cross the line. They finished right before Styles/Van West, but it was in vain, because they were disqualified. Zwitserleven team Booth/Nieuwenhuis managed to get into the lead group as well. They became second and third. Booth: "It was more fun today. We need that little bit of extra wind, otherwise the light guys kill us."

William Sunnucks' extra wide M20 Vampire usually finishes with a head start. Today they obtained a second and a ninth position, which means they lead by four points. So tomorrow, anything can happen. Even though Hugh Styles has sailed the Zwitserleven Round Texel only three times before, he is very confident: "It's quite straightforward. Just pay attention to the other boats and keep sailing fast."

Team Dercksen/Bulkeley breaks Round record

At around 13:00, Zwitserleven team Herbert Dercksen and Mark Bulkeley was welcomed with applause and champagne at the Texel beach; they improved the Round Texel record by more than four minutes. Since 2005, Wouter Samama and Jeroen van Leeuwen have been the record holders, with a time of 2 hours, 11 minutes and 11 seconds. The former Olympic team Dercksen/Bulkeley rounded the island in 2 hours, 7 minutes and 2 seconds.

Slalom Suring worlds: fighting the waves

Due to the onshore wind and big surf, the windsurfers had to work hard today. They completed two elimination rounds, the third had to be suspended because of the diminishing wind. Right before the start, the number one, Bernd Flessner (GER) broke his mast. He had to return to the beach and got a maximum score. He recovered well and won all his other heats today.

Exhilarating finals TNG Short Track Races

Mischa Heemskerk and Bastiaan Tentij won the TNG Short Track races, after an extremely spectacular match race. After a few rounds, only team Heemskerk/Tentij and Zwitserleven team Booth/Nieuwenhuizen, both in the new Hobie Wild Cat, were selected for the final race. It seemed like the old Olympic duo Booth/Nieuwenhuizen was about to win, but during the downwind leg, Heemskerk chose not to follow Booth and everything changed.

Tentij: "We had both puff and waves, and we used them well." Both teams approached the finish line at great speed. It was a close call, but Heemskerk and Tentij had the edge over the Zwitserleven team. Five minutes later, Bastiaan Tentij arrived at the beach with a beaming smile: "This is the greatest form of racing. I'm still shaking."

Zwitserleven Round Texel: battle for the line honours

Tomorrow morning at around 10, about 550 boats will depart from the Texel beach. For some participants it's quite something only to complete the Round, but several top teams will go for the line honours. It promises to be a competitive battle, because quite some favourites have signed up who have won the Round before. The Swedish M20 builder Göran Marström and his crew Thomas Persson arrived this morning. They were the first to cross the line in 2006.

Both the Swedes and the winners of 2007 and 2008, Pols/Veenstra (NED), will use their specially bent swords tomorrow. Xander Pols thinks TNG team Moret/Radelaar (NED) might stand a serious chance, especially because the wind conditions are expected to be light. Moret himself: "I've only missed the Round once, so I'm competing for the 32nd time. We're at our best in light winds, so tomorrow it should finally happen." The best result of the veteran so far is fourth. Team Dercksen/Bulkeley proved it's top shape today by breaking the Round Record.

Naturally, many eyes are focused on the Brits Sunnucks/Farren. They won the line honours of the Raid d'Houat (part of Eurocat) and of the Isle of White Race. The question is, whether their heavier boat will perform well under tomorrow's light conditions as well. According to the forecast, the day will start with a breeze of 2 to 3 Beaufort, which will diminish during the day.