(Grevelingen, The Netherlands)- From the 26th of June to the 5th of
July, the race organizers of the famous Delta-Lloyd Race Week host one
of the world’s largest regattas right off The Hague and the harbor in
Zierikzee. The larger boats race offshore while the smaller one-design
boats, like the J/22 class, race inshore. The J/22s enjoyed a cross-section of weather conditions over the three days of their regatta on the Zierikzee. With light to moderate conditions, the PRO managed to provide them seven races in total. The overall winner was Michiel van der Struijk from Loosdrecht with J’MIGDPEEMIG, winning by a large margin counting four 1st places in their scoreline. van der Struijk’s crew are training for the J/22 World Championships to be held in the second half of July in Travemünde, Germany.
In addition to the one-design sailing, the famous “Veronica Race” took place on July 4th and had a special race course this year. Right at the start at 08.00 am, there was a light east wind of more than 8 knots, which led to a start under spinnaker, not common, but in this case unavoidable. Gradually, the wind changed regularly in direction and strength during the race, sometimes completely calm and sometimes blowing up to 17 knots. Upon returning to the finish, the sailors could finish downwind under spinnakers coming back in the opposite direction from the start (which also started under spinnakers!). It was a strange sensation for the sailors to come home using the same sails they started with!
Making the most of the shifty conditions was the J/122 JUNIQUE sailed by C. Revelman and P. Bakker Klaaswaal, winning their ORC 1 Class overall. Sailing photo credit- Anuska Martens. For more Delta-Lloyd Race Week sailing information
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