Don Juan crowned J/80 Frostbite Cup winners

Don Juan crowned J/80 Frostbite Cup winners © jboats.com

With seven completed Frostbite Cup days from November 2023 to March 2024, participants can look back on a fantastic winter season on the Gooimeer for the J/80 Frostbite Cup.

The result in the top 3 did not change during the last day of competition - March 17, 2024. Team DON JUAN of the De Zeeuw brothers was a worthy defending champion and once again took home the trophy. Team JOYRIDE of Torsten Nullmeier and Team JERAPI of Robert de Liefde completed the podium with their second and third places respectively.

The top 3 on the final podium

All winter long the sailing arena was dominated by the same five teams. The Youth Gang (number 4) teams of Martijn Verwoerd and Bram Adema's nJord (number 5) were often allowed to climb the day's podium. There was also a lot of fighting behind it.

According to competition leader Henk Schiltkamp, it was striking that the differences were minimal. "The field was even closer together compared to previous years. You really see that all teams have more and more experience. Making a mistake is fatal, because then you immediately fall behind," said Henk.

The competition leader looks back on a beautiful, quiet winter. "I don't think we have ever experienced that all match days could go ahead. We often got a rain shower on our roof, but the wind was fairly steady. Not too hard and not too little. We were often able to sail four races instead of the planned three. In addition, we have had few general recalls and few OCDs. If a boat started too early, it usually sailed back. Very smart, but it also reflects the sportsmanship and experience of the teams."

Well-oiled RC machine for the Dutch fleet

Usually the entire J/80 fleet finished within one minute. That was a lot of work on the RC Committee boat!

Henk praises his RC crew for making the organization of the Frostbite Cup possible. "We are a well-oiled machine on the starting boat, together with skipper Jan Smit and De Dobbertjes who set the buoys. We have been working together for several years and hopefully we can continue that next season."

A total of 21 boats competed during this Frostbite Cup. In addition to the familiar core, the fleet also welcomed new participants: Team JAMAS was there from the first day of competition and Team JAMES HUNT joined in mid-winter. The final day was used by the returning BTG team and the German team LEBENSLUST to train for the Open Dutch Championship that will be sailed from April 5 to 7. The BTG immediately finished second in the daily results, between the DON JUAN and JOYRIDE teams.