International Championships Yngling-Splash-Flash hosted by Lelystad

by Diana Bogaards on 9 Jun 2010 Lelystad/Netherlands will this year host the international championships in the Yngling, Splash and Flash classes. The Yngling Open European Youth Championships, Yngling Open Worlds, Splash Open European Championships and the Euro Cup Flash will take place between July 15 and July 23 2010. This unique combination of events emphasizes Lelystad's objective to promote itself as 'city by the water'. Lelystad is located at the Markermeer, south of the IJsselmeer.

'This World & European Championships Sailing is an important step forward in the ambition of Lelystad to develop into a valued sailing location,' says Bauke Boersma (NED), Chairman of the Organising Committee. At the moment, there are 61 pre-entries for the former Olympic Yngling. The Splash and Flash fleets are also growing steadily. The organization expects a total of about 280 boats to line up for the 2010 sailing championships in Lelystad. The Batavia Harbour will be the event area, including a sailors' village and a free camping place for competitors. The 2010 World and European Championships Sailing are supported by the Province Flevoland and the City of Lelystad.

Another novelty is the cooperation with ROC Flevoland, an institute for intermediate Vocational Educations. Students of different departments like Art & Culture, Sports, Security & Safety, are involved in the organization of the event. Their internship is awarded with study points.

About the Yngling
The three persons Yngling keelboat has been an Olympic discipline for eight years. After the Olympic Games of 2008, it was replaced by match racing for women. The current defenders of the Yngling World title come from the Netherlands. Tom Otte, Mark Haven and Floortje de Vries won gold twice in a row. For more information about the class, please go to www.yngling.nl

About the Splash
In the eighties, the Splash singlehanded dinghy was designed as follow up for Optimist sailors, who were not heavy and experienced enough to proceed to a Laser or Europe. At the time, there was a gap for 12 to 18 year old teenagers. In 1991, the Royal Netherlands Sailing Federation officially recognized the Splash as national one-design class of preference. The international recognition by the ISAF followed in 1999. For more information, please go to www.splashclass.org

About the Flash
The Flash is the bigger sister of the Splash. The hull and mast have the same sizes as the Splash, but the Flash has more sail area (7m2) and therefore a longer boom. There are no age limits, which results in an interesting mix of ages and a good atmosphere in the Flash class. For more information, please go to www.splashclass.org

Organization
The event is a product of the co-operation between the Yngling Club Holland (YCH) and the Splash Flash Klasse Organisatie Nederland (SKON). It is organized by the foundation Open Championships Sailing and the racing takes place under the auspices of the Royal Water Sports Club Sneek, in co-operation with Sailing Club Workum. Everything will be done in consultation with the International Yngling Association (IYA), Splash Class International Association (SCIA), Splash Flash Klasse Nederland (SKON), Yngling Club Holland (YCH) and the Royal Netherlands Sailing Federation.

For more information please go to: www.championshipssailing.org