Booth/Nieuwenhuizen now lead the big cats in Aruba

by Diana Bogaards on 16 Nov 2006
Shifty conditions on the third racing day of the Aruba Heineken Catamaran Regatta caused a close competition in both fleets. Especially the top ten of the big multihulls faught for positions. Olympic medallist Mitch Booth and Pim Nieuwenhuis, sailing a F18 Hobie Tiger, finally managed to take over the lead by one point.

Last year’s winner Gummer and Burke (GBR, F18 Capricorn) are now in second position. Although the small cats showed more resistance, Rijks and Liefhebber from the Netherlands scored again two bullets. Today’s third race was intended for VIP’s, who teamed up with participants of the Aruba Regatta.

Patria Race: Winning and losing

Winning and losing characterized the morning race. Stuart Gummer and Hannah Burke won in the second beat by going further to the left side of the course. Gummer: 'We overtook the mark a little bit, but it paid. There was loads more breeze in that corner.' And also a shift, according to his crew Burke. They overtook four boats and finished second behind Richard Allen and Simon Farren on the Tornado, which was good enough for the victory on handicap.

John Moret and Paul Smissaert started off very well, but lost during the race. They dropped from first to seventh position overall. Moret: 'We destroyed it at the first bottom mark, as we had to alter our course for Mitch. We were approaching downwind mark on starboard tack and Mitch came in on port tack. He was in the two boat length zone and asked for water. We had to bear away for him and nearly gibed, but there was a Dart underneath us, so we steered up again. That is when our tiller extension broke between our and Mitch’s hull.'

James and Gillian Power had bad luck again and lost control over their Capricorn. They capsized in the last downwind. A fifteenth place was the result, but they don’t give up on a podium finish. Gillian Power: 'We will sail as hard as we can. We just keep going. You never know what happens to the others.'

There was a new boat up front of the small catamarans. Ronald Paul and Marjolein Gase (NED) sneaked in with their Nacra 570. They leaded the fleet for two laps after which the Dutch Dart 18, crewed by Mark Rijks and Brenda Liefhebber, overtook them. Paul: 'It was fantastic. We choose for a different tack in the third lap. That was not a good choice, because the Dart passed us.' They finished second and got a fifth position on handicap. Paul: 'I think I will exchange my regular crew at home for Marjolein.'

Setar Race: Tussling for leading positions

Right from the start the F18 teams Power/Power and Booth/Nieuwenhuis were smoking. Throughout the race, they built up a substantial lead and swapped the first position several times. Finally, Mitch Booth and Pim Nieuwenhuis won this battle. Booth with a smile: 'It was good competition. Especially when you win. It was shifty and we were never more than fifty meters apart from each other. They sailed very well and we were pushing each other hard.'

Training was the biggest motivation for Booth and Nieuwenhuis to come to Aruba. It is their first regatta as a team and next month they will compete on the highest level in the Tornado Worlds in Argentina. Booth: 'I am happy with the competition here, because it is pushing us, which is nice. We come to the routine of racing and the teamwork is going very well.'

James and Gillian Power finished second. According to James Power, the Dutchmen had the last shift. Gillian Power: 'We definitely needed a good race after this morning’s capsize.'

The Austrian Dart 18 team Thomasch/Hankart leaded the small cats for a change. They lost their position on the very last tack to the finish. Thomasch: 'After the gate, we tacked to the right and Mark went straight. At was close on the finish line, but they beat us.'

Mark Rijks and Brenda Liefhebber remains unbeaten with seven bullets. Nicolette van Gorp and Ruud van Gisbergen closed the gap to the Austrian entry, that is still in second position overall on count back.

Tomorrow will be a lay day. The sailors and their families will enjoy some Caribbean activities on Aruba.

Top five big catamarans after seven races and one discard:

1. NED – F18: Booth/Nieuwenhuis, 12 points
2. GBR – F18: Gummer/Burke, 13 points
3. NED – F18: Samama/Buyse, 25 points
4. NED – F18: Moret/Smissaert, 31 points
5. NED – F18: Breur/Van Leeuwen, 36 points

Top three small catamarans after seven races and one discard:

1. NED – Dart 18: Rijks/Liefhebber, 6 points
2. AUT – Dart 18: Thomasch/Hankart, 16 points
3. NED – Dart 18: Van Gorp/Van Gisbergen, 16 points

In addition to the head sponsors Heineken and Aruba Tourism Authority, the Aruba Heineken Catamaran Regatta is sponsored by Hapag Lloyd, TNG Swiss Watches, KLM, Holiday Inn, Does & Cadushi, Magic Marine, Coca Cola, AWA, Anthony Veder & Co, Aruba Watersports Center, Kodak, Palm Tours, Pelican Watersports, Seaworld Explorer and Aruba Bank.