It’s the last time, I will be second…..

In the previous edition we told you about the history of the Bonaire Regatta and the upcoming competition of the youth.  During the first week of October five youngsters had the spin-off of their own track to the World Championship Sunfish to be held in June 2011 at Curacao. Only three of them will be allowed to qualify for it. The youngsters choose to participate in the A-class in which the adults and very experienced sailors sailed too. The outcome was surprising….

Due to the fact that our Sailing School (donations are very welcome by the way) doesn’t have five good racing Sunfishes, a schedule was made who had which boat on which day. It was good to see that some kids took the sail of the boat for tomorrow home. At home they checked or improved the trim of the sail, replaced some rope or did whatever was necessary to feel comfortable for the next races. This went on the whole week!! 

The Bonaire Regatta started the first race on Monday the 4^th. The weather forecast promised very calm weather. Good for the lightweights. Although we have normally a North-East passat, the wind was South-West. We had downwind starts. No waiting on the starting line in a ready to go position, but sailing around a bit and trying to speed up in time to cross the starting line the second after the starting signal.

Juan Alvarez and his younger brother Santiago had a good start, as Sipke. Sipke has won the Regatta all the times he attended. Sailing to the first buoy Juan in leading position suddenly left the race. The mounting of his rudder broke. He couldn’t race any further and sailed the boat safely home. What a disappointment for him….he is so ambitious. The first race was won by Sipke, followed by good old George Soliano, a previous winner of the Regatta. Third one of the youngsters: Shahir.

Due to the weather the second race of the day was cancelled. Sails were taken home again, preparing for the next race to come.

Tuesday morning the gentle wind was still coming from the unusual South- West. Again had the Alvarez brothers a good start and rounded first the downwind bouy. But Sipke made some good tacks and was leading by the last bouy. Both the Alvarez brothers however managed to pass him just before the finish leaving Sipke astonished third. The afternoon race promised to be challenging. Could the Alvarez brothers surprise Sipke again. Sipke had the best start and kept it by sailing very concentrated.

Wednesday was a day without racing, but on Thursday everyone was eager to race. The wind, although coming from the normal direction, was very poor. The organization shortened the course enormous. It took us all nevertheless quite some time to reach the finish. But again managed Juan to pass Sipke just before the finish in the morning race. During the second race on Thursday Sipke read the wind shifts the best and ended up first, Juan and Santiago, second and third.

On Friday there was finally some wind, but the organization decided the evening before to sail the same short course. Ruben van Eldik, who had not sailed better than a fifth place so far, sailed a perfect last leg and passed me and Santiago on that. If the track would have been a bit longer he would have passed Juan as well. The last race of the Regatta was finally a normal one. Although the  wind slowed down again, it was coming from the normal direction and we had a normal course with good upwind legs. Positions changed many times, but halfway Ruben sailed to the first position. Whatever Sipke tried, Ruben sailed well and ended up first.

This was the third race of this Regatta Sipke did not won.

 Friday evening the award ceremony was held by Kas di Regatta. Sipke did won overall. The Alvarez brothers became second and third. Because of his good sailing during the last day Ruben van Eldik ended fourth. Flashlights of the photographers lightened the awarded on the podium. While shaking the hands of Sipke, Juan said to him: “this is the last time I will be second”.

 
Ton Nuijten

Bonaire Sailing School Association