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Articles: Extreme 40 Catamaran Sailor Uses F18 Catamaran For Training

Added by damonAdmin on Mar 04, 2009 - 09:53 AM

F18 Catamaran SailingIn 2009, Team Holmatro (NED) lines up for the iShares Cup as well as for the F18 circuit. This combination should provide skipper Carolijn Brouwer (BEL) with the necessary sharpness and skills to keep up with world's best Extreme 40 sailors in the iShares Cup. Brouwer made her début as Holmatro skipper in 2007. In the Olympic year of 2008, she focused completely on her Tornado campaign. She will now return to the Extreme 40 class with Holmatro as true partner. The F18 replaces the Tornado for her valuable 'dinghy experience'.

It is from the very first day of the Extreme 40 (2005) that the Dutch company Holmatro got involved in this spectacular, high-tech class. CEO Jaap Meijer (NED) about the long term partnership: "The boat and teamwork of the crew symbolize our key values, they represent 'Mastering Power'. The professional and high level skills of the team fit our business ambition of achieving the best. In addition, our hydraulic cylinders and winches onboard show how sailors can manage the forces by using our products. We are constantly trying to collect more knowledge about our products and more feedback from the users on that top level. That enables us to grow."

Brouwer takes over the helm from Andreas Hagara (AUT), who did the honours deservingly well in 2008. Brouwer will continue with Gerd Habermüller (AUT), Mark van Gelderen (NED) and Dutch Tornado sailor Pim Nieuwenhuis. This season, the third consecutive iShares Cup will go to Venice/Italy, France, the UK, Germany and the Netherlands. A sixth event in Spain might follow in October.

According to Brouwer, the level of competition rises again. French multihull top sailors as Franck Gammas (skipper of Groupama 3), Tornado helmsman Yann Guichard and F18 legend Christophe Mourniac will join the fleet. BMW Oracle of skipper James Spithill (AUS), helmsman of the 90-foot catamaran, signed up. Team Oman enters two boats, of which one will be skippered by successful 49er sailor Chris Draper (GBR). "They have been training all winter in Oman, so they are probably the best prepared crew", said Brouwer. BT returns with skipper Nick Moloney (AUS) and six fold Tornado World Champion and silver medalist from Beijing Darren Bundock (AUS) on the helm. Brouwer continues: "The quality is high among the fleet, so we will spend a lot of time on training. The first session will be in Hyeres in the spring." According to Brouwer, an overall podium finish is what they are aiming for: "That would be a very good result."

F18 as training

In order to maintain the feeling of dinghy sailing, Brouwer had to look for a new class in addition to the Extreme 40: "Since the multihull as Olympic event is still undecided, I have to stay sharp in a different way. Normally I could use the Tornado for that purpose, but that is one big question mark at the moment. That is why I am going to sail the Formula 18 instead." She will team up with crew Daan Koene (NED) from TornadoSport. This duo will start racing together at Eurocat in Carnac/France, followed by the Zwitserleven Round Texel Race and the F18 Worlds in Belgium.

About Holmatro

As one of the world's leading manufacturers of hydraulic tools for rescue and industry, Holmatro also produces high-quality marine equipment for sailing yachts, with resounding success. The product line of Holmatro Marine Equipment BV comprises hydraulic rigging equipment, (classic) winches and rigging cutters for emergency situations.

 
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