Dutch sailors excited for competition at Medemblik Regatta
by Medemblik Regatta 30 Mar 2018 05:50 PDT
22-26 May 2018
Marit Bouwmeester at Medemblik Regatta 2017 © Klaas Wiersma
It's the only event on their home waters, an event they all love and cherish. For the Dutch sailing team the Medemblik Regatta is the place to show their sport to their country. The team exists of Olympic Champions, World Champions and European Champions. The team is closely followed by the talents who are all potential olympic medallists.
The Dutch sailors are well known for their skills, and when sailing on home waters they're even harder to beat. The Dutch team uses this regatta to prepare for the World Championship in Aarhus later this summer. It's the perfect event to train for the World Championship since the racing water in Medemblik is similar to Aarhus. The Dutch sailors are preparing for this World Championship since it's the most important event of the season. It's also the event were the first Olympic tickets might be divided.
Exciting battle in RS:X
In the Dutch national selection it's going to be an exciting battle between RS:X surfers Dorian van Rijsselberghe and Kiran Badloe. They are best friends, training partners and concurrents. "For us the Medemblik Regatta is a good start up for the season", tells Badloe. "It's the moment we see the progress we've made during this winter training. It's also good to see where we are standing towards the World Championship compared to the rest of the competition. The races in Medemblik are similar to the races at the Worlds, so it's a good preparation for everyone to come and compete here." Badloe and van Rijsselberghe just finished a training period in New-Zealand as a preparation for this season.
Remembering first Medemblik Regatta
In the Dutch Laser Radial team it's Marit Bouwmeester with the most potential to get that Olympic ticket again. But there are more potentials in the team. Maxime Jonker and Daphne van der Vaart are both working hard to get to Bouwmeesters' level. Jonker: "Four years ago I've competed at the Medemblik Regatta for the first time, it was my first big senior event. The regatta always has a big fleet for the Laser Radial sailors, so it's the perfect moment to measure yourself against all those world class sailors. For me it's a very good preparation for the Worlds in Aarhus."
Bouwmeester has a lot more experience at the Medemblik Regatta, she remembers one of her first times competing in the Laser Radial: "I just came out of the Optimist, and with a good breeze it was hard for me to keep up with the other girls in the Laser Radial. So I was sailing at the back of the fleet and the race comite was following me to clean up the marks out of the water at the end of the racing day. That was was a bit embarrassing for me." We all know she's not sailing at the back of the fleet anymore!
At the Medemblik Regatta we'll also see Finn sailor Nicholas Heiner, who just finished in second place at the Finn European Championship. He was leading all week, but capsized in the medal race twice. That's where he lost the title to Edward Wright. Another well known Dutchie at the Regatta is Lilian de Geus in the RS:X Women, she is looking forward to compete in Medemblik again. "It's always nice to have an Olympic Regatta in your own country, friends and family are able to come and watch me race. It's also a well organized event every year again, so I'm really looking forward to this event which I use to prepare for the World Championship in Aarhus."