Drama as sailor lost overboard
Captain Edwin Versteeg’s D-Trip from Curacao won the Budget Marine Cup for the most competitive yacht in the Aruba Rembrandt Regatta 2011. D-Trip also won trophies in the Round Aruba Race and Racing Class.
In Cruising Class, Marc Anthony Rooijakkers’ Rafaga sailed to victory, while the win in Open Class went to Eva Luna skippered by Eric Mijts.
Dozens of boats and hundreds of competitors took part in the sailing races, swimming competition and beach tennis tournament.
Races were sailed for yachts, wind surfers, kite surfers, optimist, sunfish and beach cats. On Friday August 11th, the wind and current were so strong that only three yachts managed to complete the Round Aruba race. Conditions on Saturday August 12th and on Sunday 13th were more favorable, and the sailing races were a spectacular sight.
The races for Sunday afternoon had to be cancelled when a sailor from a beach cat was reported lost at sea. From the moment it was known that a sailor was missing, a rescue operation was organized with the participation of the yachts, fishing boats, the coast guard and the Aruban police. Forty-five minutes into the operation the sailor was found some four miles from the west coast of Aruba by the yacht D-Trip.
The races for optimist sailors, the youngest participants, were won by Dominique Hopman. In Sunfish Class Job Laborie was the fastest competitor; the beach cat competition was won by the duo Martin and Nicole van de Velde. Young surfers Milan de Jonge and Berend Pronk took the prizes in the wind surfing competition, and the kite surf competition was won by Peter Pechacek.
Regatta organizer, Eric Mijts, said he was satisfied with the number of participants, the effort of all volunteers and sponsors, and the successful cooperation with Aruba Beach Tennis. This year the whole event took place at Eagle Beach, which proved to be a successful change in the planning.
The closing dinner offered by Café Rembrandt was attended by about 400 people
For more info, visit: http://aruba-regatta.com
Report submitted by Eric Mijts.
