During the ABN North Sea Regatta(10-12 may 2008) at Scheveningen we had our first Dutch racing tourstop(out of 4 weekends). This venue is really nice for competition because there's more then enough space to go sail and there are a lot of people sun bathing on the beach. The forecast for this weekend wasn't looking very promising, but still arround 35 people registered for competition.

Saturday 10 may (1st day + arrival day)
Today we(Femke and I) woke up really early to go to the beach. We had to be early because we had to put our trailer on the beach, and there were a lot of trailers to be pulled on the beach since there were also a lot of catamaran people. Also the forecast of the day looked really hot so that means that there would be lots of people chilling out sitting on their bud in the sun. Anyway, we were in time and we got a nice place on the beach. The organisation reserved a place at the beach specially for the competitors so there was plenty of room for all of us.

After being to the skippers meeting, we've been waiting for the wind but beacuse the wind was off shore there wasn't enough to get out on the water and finish an official race. Still in went out to test a light wind setup but it was hard testing since the wind was very unstable.

Sunday 11 may (2nd day)
The forcast of today looked quite the same as the day before, but we tried to start 2 races. After 5 minutes these races were cancelled because the wind was shifting and gusting a lot. They measured 5 - 19 knots with 90 degree shifts! So that was quite impossible. The beach was packed again with lots of people. After the racing was finished for the day we went to see a performance of a famous dutch singer(Alain Clark) that was arranged by the organisers. I didn't expect it, but it was really cool!

Monday 12 may (3rd day)
Finally the forecast looked better. When we arrived at the race area the wind looked already much stronger then the days before. Arround 11 o'clock we were on the water for the first start. The course was a simple 2 rounds upwind - downwind and then finish underneath the starting boat. A back to back race was scheduled.

Race 1
I was out with my 12, and in some gusts I had my hands full on it. I didn't thought that it would be so strong so I didn't downhaul the sail enough. The first 3 starts were general recalls. The current was quite strong so people were pushed over the line to early. The 4th try was good, only this time I was like 5 seconds over early. I started on port tack and i could see the inividual over early flag hanging and i knew that this one was for me. So i went to the starting boat and rounded it, and then started again. I was really curious how my gear was performing so I wanted to finish the race anyway. Everyone was already far away but I was really hungry to catch up people. At the first mark I passed already a couple of guys and in the downwind I saw the front group. Adri Keet(NED34), Pieter Aliens(NED538) and Adriaan van Rijselberghe(NED2) were fighting for the top spots. When I rounded the upwind mark again I overtook Adriaan and in the downwind Pieter gibed to early. So now i was already in 2nd place after the worst start ever! Adri was to far away to catch so he took the very first bullet with me in second and Adriaan in third. Ofcourse I was really happy with this result because I never thought about getting back into the top 3!

Race 2
This time I decided to take it easy during the start. Again there was a group starting from port tack but also starboard tack so that was quite exciting. I started at the middle of the line on porttack after avoiding some guys from starboard. The first 50 meters I choosed for speed instead of making a good angle because I wanted to get away from the pack. The sail/board/fin combo were working fantastic and that gave me the first position at the upwind mark, and didn't give this away to the finish. Results race 2: I'm 1st, 2nd Adriaan, 3rd Adri. After this race we went back to the beach and then the wind died a bit. Till 4 o'clock...

Race 3 & Race 4
The wind changed direction arround 4 o'clock, and we got a nice consistant sea breeze. I took the 12 again for these back to back races. This time also the chops were a bit bigger so it got a bit more technical then the races in the morning. After the course was changed for this new direction we were ready to start again. During the start, most of the competitors were starting from starboard tack. I was started at the pin end to be free from the pack again. It was a clear start this time. When I tacked after 500-600 meters to go to the upwind mark I had to duck underneath some guys who started higher on the start line. At the upwind mark only Adri was close. At the downwind mark Adri even overtook me and started the second upwind in first followed by me on his tail. Adri had to jibe arround the downwind mark so he didn't had a lot of speed yet. I had speed because I rounded the mark from port tack and this made it possible to climb on top of Adri and pass him. At the upwind mark the gab became safe and now I finished the race in first followed by Adri(2nd) and Adriaan(3rd).

The 4th race was about the same. Adri was giving good competition again finishing 2nd and this time Marc de Jong(NED103) showed his good performance to finish in 3rd.

After all we had a great competition at Scheveningen with nice conditions on monday. The next tourstop is planned on 28-29 Juni at the Grevelingendam(my home spot). Hopefully we have good conditions there again, and maybe even for a slalom elemination. Thanks to all the people who made the event possible at Scheveningen!

Dennis Littel - NED13
MauiSails, F2, ION, Oxbow, Van der Valk Hotels