Medemblik Regatta Nautical Festival - Overall
by Medemblik Regatta 25 May 2019 16:45 PDT
21-25 May 2019
The Medemblik Regatta closed with some exciting racing. There was some delay due to light and shifty wind, but the end of the day all races are sailed. In the RS:X Youth a complete French podium and two Dutch gold medallists in RS:X women and men, the sailors are looking back on some great racing.
A total of 250 sailors from 24 countries have been racing all week in Medemblik. The start of the week was very Dutch with grey skies and chilly weather. But during the week the sun came out and the temperature raised. Sailors were speaking of tricky, but fun, conditions on the water.
French podium for RS:X Youth
The French team in the RS:X Youth is very strong this week. Fabien Pianazza was determined to win the regatta, "I'm starting this race with 12 points ahead of number 2, really hope to win the gold medal!" And he does, the complete podium is filled with French guys. Pianazza: "It was really close racing in the medal race, but I think my win is good for the French team!" Second is Yun Pouliquen and third Mathis Ghio.
First gold in Medemblik for Lilian de Geus
In the RS:X Women it's Dutch Lilian de Geus who takes the win. She has never won the Medemblik Regatta before, now she finally did. Here strategy this week: "I already had a good week of racing here, it was a tricky offshore breeze. To keep the lead in the medal race, I just focused on my own thing and keep an eye on the other girls. Happy to have won this week." The Danish Laerke Buhl-Hansen pushed hard in the medal race, leading the fleet at first. She jumps from third place to second. Polish Zofia Noceti Klepacka didn't race her best race, finishing seventh she loses one place and ends up third.
For the RS:X Men it's a fight for the second and third place. Dutch Kiran Badloe is already secured of the gold medal before the medal race starts. He's still racing in front at the medal race, finishes in second place. "It was a hard week, had some tough conditions. We have a strong fleet with fast and fit guys, so I'm happy to come out on top." Israeli Yoav Cohen finishes the medal race in third place and rises to second place. Ivan Pastor (ESP) started the race in the fifth position, he climbs up to the third place.
Great showcase of Windfoil Surfing in Medemblik
The first windfoil surfing competition in the Netherlands is sailed in Medemblik. It really was a good week to showcase this future Olympic class. Aaron McIntosh, coach of Dutch RS:X surfers Dorian van Rijsselberghe and Kiran Badloe, works hard to convince the Olympic committee to skip the RS:X and add foiling. "It's new, fast and exciting to watch. The step to Windfoil surfing isn't as big as many people think. In fact, it's easier to learn how to windfoil then to surf the RS:X"
This whole week the foil surfers had a course race, today they closed the event with a slalom course due to light winds. That's the great thing about Windfoil Surfing, you don't need a lot of wind to gain speed. Kiran Badloe is really flying this week, first securing the gold in the RS:X, today he also takes the gold in the Windfoil Surfing. "It's great we're Windfoil Surfing here in Medemblik besides the RS:X racing. I really enjoy it!" The French Oël Pouliquen finishes second and Dutch Casper Bouman races a strong last day finishing third.
Close competition in Musto Performance Skiff
In the Musto Performance Skiff it's an exciting last day of racing. The Dutch Paul Dijkstra and British Rick Peacock start the day with equal points. With a third place and two firsts, Peacock is the strongest today. He wins the Medemblik Regatta in the Musto Skiff. "We had three days of racing at the Medemblik Regatta. The races were great, really shifty conditions and super close racing in the top 3. I've just started racing in this class in February, this summer we have the Worlds over here in Medemblik. Good to get to know the boat and the racing this week." Only two points behind is Dijkstra in second place. Third is Dutchie Pim van Vugt, normally racing the 49er for the Dutch team.
No big changes in top 3 other classes
Last day of racing in the 49erFX changes the top 3. Winners Femke van den Berg and Elise de Ruyter have raced a steady regatta. Merle Louwinger and Emma Siewers jump this last day from third to second place, leaving Florine Bramervaer and Julia van der Vaart with the bronze medal.
In the 49er the top 3 doesn't change on this last day of racing. The Korean team with Bongjin Chae and Dongwook Kim keep their leading position. The Dutch Pim Schep and Thomas Snoek have worked hard to stay in front of the other Koreans, Sungwook Kim and Jinuk Lee.
The Hansa 303 and Liberty classes, race in very light winds today. The top 2 with Finy Teitsma and Nick Kruizinga is very close. Kruizinga comes very close to winning the regatta, but with 0,5 points it's Teitsma who wins the regatta.
For the Liberty the winner was already decided on Friday, Dutchie Vera Voorbach wins the gold. David Durston (GBR) has a strong last race and finishes second overall, Paul Phillips (GBR) takes the bronze medal.
Medemblik Regatta Nautical Festival 2020
The 36th Medemblik Regatta will be sailed from Tuesday 26 to Saturday 30 May 2020. Joost Brouwer, spokesman of the Medemblik Regatta: "With the full international calendar this year, it was hard to set up a big regatta. But I think we've done everything we could to make the event as exciting as could be. With adding classes like Hansa, Musto Skiff and Windfoil Surfing, we could really test some new formats and show the world what a great regatta this is. We hope to welcome more classes again next year!"
Check the full results at medemblikregatta.org