(Scheveningen, The Netherlands)- Hosted by the Jachtclub Scheveningen,
the North Sea Regatta is the largest event hosted in the Netherlands
each year for a host of one-design classes (dinghies, cats, and
keelboats like J/22s and J/80s) and offshore ORC/IRC classes. The event kicks off on May 8th with the Vuurschepen Race, a North Sea Regatta Feeder Race that goes from the starting line off The Hague (Scheveningen) and takes a 3 mark course of 130nm across the North Sea to Harwich in the United Kingdom.
After a two-day layover, on the 11th of May, the RORC North Sea Race takes place along a similar route, but with more northerly buoys to pass to make for a 210nm race to Scheveningen.
Thereafter, the ORC/ IRC offshore classes enjoy a series of inshore races from May 18th to 20th. That is when the regatta also kicks off for the J/22 and J/80 classes.
With
seven strong J/crews in sixteen-boat field, it is likely the ORC
Two-Handed Class will see the possibility of a sweep of the top honors.
Last year, most major races were won by J/Boat duos. Leading the
charge will be two J/122s, the famous team of John van der Starre and
Robin Verhoef on AJETO (2017 Dutch National Double Champion) and Chris
Revelman & Pascal Bakker’s JUNIQUE. Chasing them hard are four
J/109s, such as Wim van Slooten & Jochem Hamstra’s FIRESTORM, Paul
van der Pol & Adrian Schaml’s YETI, Kees & Camille Mijs’
ARETHUSA, and Abel Blaauw & Sarah Moss’ JIBE. Hoping to stay in the
hunt will be the only all women’s double team- Edith Voskamp &
Yvonne Beusker’s familiar black panther painted J/105 called PANTHER!
In
the thirty-two boat ORC/ IRC 2 class are four fast J/109s; including
Arnout Jorritsma’s MAJIC, Nick Zondervan’s TEAM HEINER 4, Alain Bornet’s
JAI ALAI, and Arjen van Leeuwen’s JOULE.Two J/92s will be battling for class honors in the eight-boat ORC 3 class; Luc Oomen’s JINX and Uco Sonnenberg’s JUNO.
The J/80 class will have a round dozen boats on the starting line for their weekend event. All the top Dutch boats are present, such as Nick Elsink’s J’ZUSTER, Bernar Holsboer’s JUUL, Otte Jan Golverdingen’s LED2LEASE and Roel Wever’s JOYRIDE.
With the J/22 Europeans conflicting in France, the J/22’s will be seeing an all-Dutch class of seven boats. Leading crews include Dirk Jan Verdoorn’s JUT EN JUL, Jesper Overbeeke’s TU DELFT BROACH SJOEFF, Max Groen’s DJINN and Rutger van de Leur’s JUNIOR. Follow the North Sea Regatta on Facebook here
For more North Sea Regatta sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.
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