The first day of the 17th Aruba Heineken Catamaran Regatta showed tough racing. Not only in terms of sailing conditions, but the competition was also full on. The shifty and gusty wind challenged the 45 competing teams, representing five countries. The Dutchmen Wouter Samama and Sam Frank, sailing a F18 Hobie Tiger, lead the fleet. They are tied on points with their fellow countrymen Eduard Zanen and Mischa Heemskerk on a F18 Nacra Infusion. Gunnar Larsen and Bastiaan Tentij are in third position, also tied on points with James and Gillian Power (GBR).

This morning, the sailors were welcomed by a strong trade wind force five. That was exactly what most competitors were hoping for. They enjoyed the tropical conditions and participated in the practise race. Others decided to save their equipment and body. They stayed ashore, which was maybe not a bad idea, as the first damages were a fact. After a lunch break, the official regatta started off with the first race. Meanwhile, the unstable wind had dropped to force three/four.

ArubaColgate Race 1 – Zanen/Heemskerk take first bullet
Although Richard Allen (GBR) has not sailed a catamaran since last year’s Aruba Heineken Catamaran Regatta, he and his crew Ellen Foreshaw smoked off the starting line. They were in the lead most of the race. Foreshaw: “We tried to cover, but people went both sides.” Their F18 Capricorn was chased by Eduard Zanen and Mischa Heemskerk (NED). Allen: “In the last beat Mischa went hard left and we stayed in the middle to cover. At the windward mark, we were neck and neck, but they are quicker on the downwind run.” Allen and Foreshaw finished third. “We are really pleased with that result”, said Allen satisfied. Mischa Heemskerk, current F18 European Champion, climbed from the third to the leading position: “We played the shifts and gusts very well. You must keep your eyes open constantly, in order to stay in the wind paths.” Zanen and Heemskerk took this year’s first bullet, followed by Xander Pols and Tjiddo Veenstra, sailing a F18 Nacra Infusion.

Absolute Real Estate Race 2 – Samama/Frank win in shifty conditions
The second race showed a new leader for a while. 2001 winner Williams Sunnucks and his crew Simon Farren pushed their Nacra Infusion hard. A knot holding the trapeze hook stopped them, as Farren fell off the boat in the second beat. That made them dropping back to a fifth position. Sunnucks: “We had bad luck, but our speed is good.” It was hard to get the tactics right, as the wind was so unstable. The gains and losses were big and the teams struggled to find the right side of the course. Mischa Heemskerk: “We had a difficult start and tacked away. Then we had a brilliant shift to the left, so we sailed straight to the mark, but unfortunately the wind dropped. The group left from us kept the pressure and we were eighth at the windward mark. In the last beat we should have sailed 40 meters further, which Wouter Samama did. He stayed in the pressure, whereas we had to battle with others around us. I think we finished fourth.”

Wouter Samama and Sam Frank took the lead and the bullet. The last two years, Frank crewed for Rob Sprij on the Hobie 16 with spinnaker. They became fifth at the ISAF Youth Worlds 2007, but they split up after the season. Frank decided to team with Samama. Frank about today’s racing: “The amount of shifts was just crazy. We battled with Gunnar Larsen, but we got him on the last beat. Although I must make more hours on this cat, I really enjoy it. Especially in this sailors' heaven.” The Dutchmen Larsen/Tentij finished second, followed by the British Power/Power.

In the fleet with a handicap higher than 105 (8 entries), Manfred Thomasch (AUT) won both races.

Top five fast catamarans after 2 races:

1. NED - Samama/Frank, F18 Hobie Tiger, 5 points
2. NED – Zanen/Heemskerk, F18 Nacra Infusion, 5 points
3. NED – Larsen/Tentij, F18 Nacra Infusion, 8 points
4. GBR – Power/Power, F18 Capricorn, 8 points
5. GBR – Allen/Foreshaw, F18 Capricorn, 9 points

Top three small cats after 2 races:

1. AUT – Thomasch, Dart 18, 2 points
2. NED – Van Zandvoort/Van Zandvoort, Topcat 18 K1, 6 points
3. NED – Van Baaren/Grijpma, Dart 18, 7 points

In addition to main sponsors Heineken and the Aruba Tourism Authority, the 17th Aruba Heineken Catamaran Regatta is also sponsored by Hapag Lloyd, TNG Swiss Watches, KLM, Holiday Inn, Does & Cadushi, Yamaha, Patria, Young Improvement, Magic Marine, Coca Cola, AWA, Anthony Veder & Co, Aruba Watersports Center, Colgate, Palm Tours, Pelican Watersports, Seaworld Explorer, Aruba Real Estate and Aruba Aloe.