ABN Amro good start at St Maarten Heineken Regatta

by Kate Fairclough on 3 Mar 2007
ABN AMRO ONE, winner of the 2005–6 Volvo Ocean Race today proved her prowess on the racecourse in Simpson Bay, St Maarten, Caribbean, as she won each of the three races in her ‘Bigboat Class’ to take the Budget Marine Commodore’s Cup trophy. The trophy, to be presented to Rolex World Sailor of the Year Mike Sanderson this evening, was hotly contested on the preliminary day to the 27th St Maarten Heineken Regatta.

Racing took place on a short eight mile windward-leeward course in up to 18 knots of breeze, tricky conditions for a 70 foot ocean going boat not specifically suited to inshore racing.

One of the most spectacular events on the Caribbean circuit, ABN AMRO ONE is visiting the St Maarten Heineken Regatta as part of their world tour, which has taken the boat to a number of races and regattas since the finish of the Volvo Ocean Race last June. Mike Sanderson (NZL), who skippered the boat to victory and headed up the TEAM ABN AMRO two-boat campaign, is racing this week with a crew of fourteen professional sailors.

Skipper Mike Sanderson commented: 'It was great to be back out on the water today aboard ABN AMRO ONE. We had some great sailing conditions which suited us really well.

Anything under 12 knots we would struggle with but the breeze we had today was great for us, letting us show everyone on the island what this boat can really do.

The courses were pretty short for us on ABN AMRO ONE, the length of the upwind leg didn’t even allow enough time for us to pack the 550 square metre kite so the whole crew had a lot on, but we enjoyed some great racing.'

ABN AMRO ONE remains docked in prime position outside the St Maarten Yacht Club, where hundreds of spectators and passers-by have been admiring the race-winning machine. Tonight, following the Commodore’s Cup prize giving, Mike Sanderson auctioned off a place to sail aboard ABN AMRO ONE for one day during the regatta, with all proceeds - US$2000 - going towards the St Maarten Yacht Club’s youth sailing programme, helping to get youngsters of St Maarten out on the water.

ABN AMRO ONE crew list:

Mike Sanderson, (NZL) Skipper ABN AMRO ONE
Brad Jackson, (NZL) ABN AMRO ONE
Justin Slattery (IRE) ABN AMRO ONE
Simeon Tienpont (NED) ABN AMRO TWO
Sidney Gavignet (FRA) ABN AMRO ONE
Mike Quilter (NZL) TEAM ABN AMRO
Neil Cox (AUS) shore crew TEAM ABN AMRO
Phil Harmer (AUS)
Jared Henderson (NZL)
John Kostecki (USA)
Chris Nicholson (AUS)
Emma Sanderson (GBR)
Francis Tregaskis (GBR)

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