RS500 Euro Grand Prix in Bruinisse

by Heather Martin on 17 May 2012 RS500 Euro Grand Prix 2012 was held in Bruinisse in the Netherlands over the weekend of 12th and 13th May. Sailors travelled to Bruinisse from four different countries, bringing 19 boats and a lot of adrenaline to a windy start line on day one of racing. A strong breeze built throughout the day to create near-perfect sailing conditions for the RS500.

It wasn’t a surprise when Dutch team Barend Hiltermann and Max Blom – also known as the ‘bad boys’ – kicked off the racing with three bullets in the first three races of the day. Last season they were virtually untouchable in high winds and this year they proved they haven’t lost their skills! However, they had to work hard for the wins with some strong competition from Olympic 470 sailor Carrie Howe and F18 World Champion Mischa Heemskerk, who delivered an impressive weekend of sailing at their first RS500 event. Strong performers in the high winds, they took a well-deserved bullet home in the fourth and last race of the day. In amongst the action were former 2010 World Champions Tim Wilkins and Heather Martin from the UK, but they were unable to take home a race win on the day.

Swedish team Johan Rook and Malin Broberg also battled it out at the top end of the fleet, placing third in two of the races on day one.
International Chairman Michiel Geerling and crew Hilde van Susante were also placed consistently in the top six boats alongside family rivals Willemijn van Susante and Nick van Alphen.

Sailing in these heavy wind conditions was a big ask, and it was a credit to the fleet that they were able to complete four gruelling races on day one of the competition. Sisters Stephanie and Chantalle Grootscholten were the only all girls team, but that didn’t matter – they were on top form as they flew around the course! Martin and Axel Johansson from Sweden showed great determination to complete all the races despite their main ratchet block going astray in race one.

Day two of the racing brought very different sailing conditions with a maximum of just six knots of wind on the water. After sunbathing on the shore for the morning, the class eventually took to the water to squeeze in one more race before Race Officer Arky called it a day due to lack of wind. It was worth the outing for the top two Dutch teams who proved they could perform well at both ends of the wind spectrum, placing first and second. Johan and Malin sailed another excellent race and secured third position in the tricky conditions. The three Italian teams also had a chance to shine in the light wind conditions, placing their best positions of the weekend and making their coaches (who were spectating on the water) very happy!

It was fantastic to welcome yet more new faces to the fleet and, as always with the RS500s, there was a chance for some liquid networking in the evening, with a well-stocked fridge of beer, a lot of Chinese food and a marquee with live music in the marina to head to later on. Thanks to RS500 sailors Richard Rot and Marieke Gijzel from Aquavitesse, who welcomed all the competitors (and their families) to this friendly, fun event.

The RS500 class is hugely grateful to everyone who makes the trip to these international sailing events; this weekend we were especially pleased to see the Swedish and Italian teams who made long journeys to southern Holland. Sailors left Bruinisse at the end of a fantastic weekend meeting friends new and old. Everyone was talking about the next major event – the World Championships due to be held at Lake Garda in July 2012. We can’t wait to get everyone together again for fun on (and off) the water!

Since 2010 the RS500 class has been grateful to receive active and generous support from sponsors Magic Marine.

Results
RS Class Association website

	Sail No	Helm Name	Crew Name	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	Total	Nett
1st	899	Barend Hiltermann	Max Blom	1.0	1.0	1.0	(3.0)	2.0	8.0	5.0
2nd	926	Carrie Howe	Mischa Heemskerk	3.0	(4.0)	2.0	1.0	1.0	11.0	7.0
3rd	625	Tim Wilkins	Heather Martin	2.0	2.0	(5.0)	2.0	4.0	15.0	10.0
4th	890	Johan Rook	Malin Broberg	(6.0)	3.0	3.0	5.0	3.0	20.0	14.0
5th	37	Michiel Geerling	Hilde van Susante	4.0	5.0	6.0	4.0	(11.0)	30.0	19.0
6th	965	Willemijn van Susante	Nick van Alphen	5.0	6.0	4.0	6.0	(14.0)	35.0	21.0
7th	911	Richard Rot	Marieke Gijzel	(14.5)	7.0	10.0	7.0	7.0	45.5	31.0
8th	007	Luca Carlini	Rodolfo Rubino	10.0	8.0	8.0	(22.0 DNF)	8.0	56.0	34.0
9th	818	Richard Morley	Sue Morley	9.0	9.0	9.0	(10.0)	9.0	46.0	36.0
10th	949	Andrea Alinovi	Tommaso Gommellini	13.0	11.0	(16.0)	13.0	5.0	58.0	42.0
11th	737	Stephanie Grootscholten	Chantalle Grootscholten	14.5	(15.0)	7.0	9.0	12.0	57.5	42.5
12th	654	Lennart van den dool	Frank van Leeuwen	7.0	12.0	(22.0 DNF)	8.0	17.0	66.0	44.0
13th	777	Marleen Blomsma	Jody de Jager	8.0	(13.0)	11.0	12.0	13.0	57.0	44.0
14th	837	Mark den Heijer	Lorenz Jahn	12.0	10.0	12.0	14.0	(19.0)	67.0	48.0
15th	943	Filippo Bucciarelli	Gabriele Tropiano	11.0	(22.0 DNF)	14.0	22.0 DNF	6.0	75.0	53.0
16th	670	Martin Johansson	Axel Johansson	(18.0)	17.0	13.0	15.0	10.0	73.0	55.0
17th	928	Rupert Knowlden	Matthew Harbour	(16.0)	14.0	15.0	11.0	16.0	72.0	56.0
18th	961	Giel Blokker	Corinne van Dalen	17.0	16.0	(22.0 DNF)	22.0 DNC	15.0	92.0	70.0
19th	763	Gijs van Lieshout	Karlijn van den Boogaard	(22.0 DNC)	22.0 DNC	22.0 DNC	22.0 DNC	18.0	106.0	84.0
20th	940	Nicholas Honor	Olivia	(22.0 DNC)	22.0 DNC	22.0 DNC	22.0 DNC	22.0 DNC	110.0	88.0
20th	919	Rainer Mitter	Elisabeth Birkner	(22.0 DNC)	22.0 DNC	22.0 DNC	22.0 DNC	22.0 DNC	110.0	88.0