Last day with perfect conditions and rightful winners

The Dutch Youth Regatta had everything sailors, coaches, supporters and organization could wish for: Perfect wind conditions, tropical weather conditions and super exciting racing. For some of the sailors, there was a lot to race for, besides the event trophies: qualification for the youth worlds. Other sailors had their personal goals to race for. 

Chairman of the Dutch Youth Regatta, Mike Paardekooper: “We’ve had four days with perfect sailing conditions. It had everything in it, strong winds, big waves and lighter weather. And sunny conditions, always make sailing better. While kids were sailing, parents enjoyed themselves in and around the venue in Workum. The barbecue with all the sailors on Saturday was amazing, I saw groups of people everywhere around the venue.”

Close racing on last day in Optimist
In the Optimist class, we had very close racing on the last day. Thai Weka Bhanubandh starts the day in 12th place, he has a strong day and climbs up to the podium. “It was very close racing today. When I came ashore, I didn’t know which place I ended.” Finishing his last race second, he climbed up to a second place. “I really liked racing here, the big waves were ok as well. It was my first time here in Workum, next year I will probably come back.” First is the Australian Daniel Links. Josip Tafra from Croatia is third. 

Belgium Vic Rossel claims victory in the Optimist Benjamin class. “I had a hard time in the big waves this week. And my opponent from Hongkong was really good. Lucky for me he didn’t perform well in his last races today.” The Hongkong Peter Jessop finishes in second place, third is Damian Berther (SUI).

Dutch sailors strong in Laser classes
After a bad start of the event, Dutch Teun in der Maur comes back strong and wins the event in the Laser Radial class. “The beginning of the event I had some bad starts, I’m not really used to the strong winds we’ve had. But the other days I had steady races. Today I just had to stay in front and finish the event in first place.” Second is third Emma Savelon (NED), she’s also the strongest girl in the fleet. Third is Niek Kampherbeek (NED).

The Dutch Ties Wijbinga is super strong in the Laser 4.7, he finishes in first place with 22 points. With a difference of 14 points, Peer Noordanus (NED), finishes second: “Finishing second is great. Ties sailed a perfect event; he is the true winner at this Dutch Youth Regatta. I came here to race as good as possible, hoped for at least the top 5. Also came here to learn, and I managed to do both. The last two days were trickier with less wind, the sailors behind me came very close. But I managed to stay in front of them.” Third place is for Anja von Allmen (SUI), who didn’t come here for the results, but is very happy to go home with the bronze medal.

Winners RS Feva better in stronger winds
Second-placed Femke van den Berg and Laura van den Acker (NED) had hoped for the first place for a small second. Imme Rijk and Bente Zuidema (NED) won every race in the event until the lighter winds came in on Saturday. Rijk: “The others are better in light winds, they came pretty close in the overall results after Saturday.”
Van den Berg and Van den Acker had the goal to end in the top 3: “The first days were pretty hard, the strong winds don’t really suit us. But Saturday we managed to gain a lot of speed and for a little while, we saw opportunities for the first spot. But after the first day today we knew Femke and Laura were the right winners. We’re happy with our second place this event.” Eline van der Dussen and Estelle Schaap (NED) finish third. 

Belgium teams strong in Cadet
The Belgium teams are strong this week in the Cadet. Pol and Bloeme Klein are the best Dutch sailors in this class. “The Belgium teams were super strong. We’re very happy with the third place, that’s what we have been fighting for this week.” Belgium Thibaud Dirix and Thomas Winand are happy with their first place: “Our starts were good and we had a good speed. During the event we created a good gap with the others, so the pressure was off for us today.” Second in the Cadet is Isabelle Dompas with Casimir Muylle (BEL).

Australian team wins in Nacra 15
In the Nacra 15 racing is very close all weer. The Australian Georgia Payne en Nathan Bryant manage to win in this international fleet. “We didn’t expect anything when we came here. This event was mostly a training event, so started racing without any pressure. But during the weekend we climbed into the top 3, at that moment we did feel more pressure.” In second place we find German Silas Mühle and Levke Möller, a third place is for Jesse Lindstädt en Lisa Rauch (GER).

Dutch podium in Splash Blue
In the Splash Blue the World Champion shows what he has got, Mark Immenga wins the Dutch Youth Regatta. “My day today didn’t start very good, Zeger (Den Boestert, NED) took over my lead. In the last race, I only had one option left to win: match race with Zeger.” That’s what he did, and he won. Den Boestert ends in second place. Third, and best girl in the Splash, is Hanna Cromwijk. 

Strong fleet in 29er
It’s a strong fleet in the 29er, the winning team after four days of battling comes from Norway: Mathias Berthet and Alexander Franks Pety. In second place is the Australian Archie Cropley and Max Paul. This is Noah Chauvin from France.

Dutch Youth Regatta 2020
The Dutch Youth Regatta is planned for 21 to 24 May 2020. Paardekooper: “I’m looking forward to next year, hopefully, we can make the event even bigger! A big thanks to all our partners, crew and the sailors with their support team to make this event as great as it was.”