RS500 World Championships at Aquavitesse - Day 4
by RS Sailing 9 Aug 2024 16:19 BST
5-9 August 2024
It was a long day on the water for competitors during Day 4 at the RS500 World Championship in Bruinisse, Netherlands. The 58-strong fleets departed from the beach at 10am and enjoyed three solid races in quick succession in the morning. There was then a big shift in the wind direction; which saw the fourth race in the Gold Fleet abandoned.
Hoping for the wind direction to change back again, the race committee asked the fleets to stay out on the water. Sailors relaxed in the sunshine (or shade thanks to their well-angled sails!) and enjoyed the views.
Watched over by the majestic towers of the Bruinisse wind turbines, the fleets were finally treated to one last race before they headed in for the day around 5.30pm.
Day 4 ends with GBR's Tim and Heather Wilkins of Gurnard Sailing Club maintaining their top spot from Day 2 and Day 3. NED's Pim and Lisa van Vugt, of Vugt Sail, follow closely behind in second but there's been a change in third position.
Defending champions CZE's Jakub and Tereza Dobry of TJ Lokomotiva Plzenknown have been overtaken by the GBR boys in bright yellow; Paul Cullen (Weir Wood Sailing Club) and Fresh Abendstern (RDNBYC), sponsored by FM Sailing.
Heather Wilkins, current leader of the Gold Fleet, has been part of the class since its inception and has four RS500 World Champion titles to her name.
By comparison, in the Silver Fleet, the newest members of the class are giving the veterans a run for their money. NED's Gijs Regoort & Bjorn Tollenaar (aged 14) of Watersportvereniging Wolphaartsdijk sailed in the RS Feva World Championships in the previous week at the same venue.
"They were so excited about the back-to-back events that they bought an RS500 boat the day after the RS Feva Worlds in order to join the RS500 Worlds," explains fellow competitor, and RS Sailing's Commercial Director, Michiel Geerling. "And, actually, they are doing really well! They are leading the Silver Fleet followed by a very experienced British team. It's great to see."
Day 4 concluded with the RS500 International Class Association's infamous Dutch Party. Teams donned their best orange accessories, ranging from bucket hats to sequin tops, and partied the night away in the old fishing pub, the Sailor's Inn.
Full results are available
The RS500 International Class would like to thank all their event sponsors; Provincie Zeeland, Rooster, Kuiper Verzekeringen, Gemeente Schouwen-Duiveland, Carbonmasts.com, Aquavitesse, Jachthaven Bruinisse and RS Sailing.