Aruba-race
for sailing yachts on Sunday 6 July 2008!
Press release hosted under courtesy of Sunfish Club Aruba
On Sunday, 6 July 2008, the Aruba-race for sailing yachts will take place. Aproximatelt 10 yachts have already registered for the race, of which several yachts from Curaçao. Besides the annual ‘Roundrip Aruba’ for sailing yachts, Aruba now has a second event for larger sailing yachts.
The race will start at the Eastern Oranjestad harbor entrance accross the Surfside Marina at 11:00 a.m. A good view on this can be obtained from the Wilhelmina Park. From the start the yachts will sail to a buoy at Barcadera and then on to Arashi. After several other buoys in front of the hotels, the yachts will finish across Manchebo Beach Resort around 3:30 p.m.
The captain’s meeting will be held on Saturday July 5 at 5:00 p.m. and the prize ceremony will be held on Sunday July 6 at 6:00 p.m. at the Bucuti Yacht Club Aruba.
June 8, 2008 Long distance race
Oranjestad.
- Sunfish Club Aruba held a long distance race on June 8th,
2008. Total distance was 11 nautical miles mostly over a broad
reach. The route extended from Fishermen’s Huts to Oranjestad
harbor, then back to the Antilla wreck at Malmok and then back
to Fishermen’s Huts. The wind speed prediction was 5 Beaufort
and higher. Participation numbered 8 Sunfishes. The long
distance race was also to count for the 2008 Ranking List.
The race started at 10:30am. A Boston Whaler motor craft accompanied the fleet for safety reasons. The race was actually a try-out to experiment with Sunfish long distance racing. Soon the start was signaled. The race began with a very small downwind and upwind leg at Fishermen’s Huts to get the event going. Some sailors got entangled at the windward mark causing the fleet to scatter early. However, soon everyone headed South along Palm Beach and taking a broad reach as the wind was Easterly. The right sailing technique here was to let the sail out as far as it would go without luffing and to pull up the daggerboard as far as possible without allowing the boat to slide leeway (i.e. “crabbing”). The optimal trim resulted in reduced rudder pressure and enormous boat speeds. Obviously, speed was an important factor to win this race.
After Palm Beach, Punta Brabo (Aruba’s most Western cape at the Manchebo Beach Hotel) came into sight. With the wind busting out in strong gusts most of the Sunfishes jumped on a plane; i.e. instead of pushing through the water, the boats would lift up over the surface and skip along it like a flat rock skimmed across the water. Planing generally makes the Sunfish go twice as fast as normal. Obviously, staying on the plane required not only constant wind speed but also utmost concentration of the sailors especially when planing for several consecutive minutes!
At Punta Brabo currents and waves were mixing from three directions as usual. Heading from here to Oranjestad harbor required adjusting course and sailing sharply to windward. The sailors who had crossed Punta Brabo very close to the beach now had the advantage of being on the windward side of the track. This meant being well poised to make it to the Oranjestad harbor turning point without tacking. On this stretch the waves were coming from upfront, pushing back the boats and causing the Sunfishes to pound their way through the waves.
The turning point was marked by the first yellow light buoy of the Oranjestad harbor channel across the Divi Dutch Village Hotel. After rounding the buoy the sailors headed downwind back to Punta Brabo and from here on a broad reach all the way to the Antilla wreck at Malmok. The turning point at the Antilla was the new red buoy marking the wreck. From here the Sunfishes headed back to Fishermen’s Huts only to finish after 1:30 to 2:00 hours of intense racing.
Several
sailors suffered severe damage throughout the day. One Sunfish
suffered damage and came ashore at the Hyatt Hotel to abandon
the race. Another Sunfish with two junior sailors unfortunately
suffered severe damage at Eagle beach whilst being well poised
in fourth position. On the return trip their sail top started
tearing off with the gaff collapsing. They were quickly assisted
by the Boston Whaler motor craft and towed back to Fishermen
Hut’s. Yet another Sunfish sailor saw his mainsheet getting
loose at the Antilla wreck. Taking the time to retighten the
mainsheet caused him a serious set back but in the end he still
terminated the race. By 1:00pm the long distance race was over
leaving everyone exhausted. However, all sailors agreed that the
race had been a tremendous experience and that it certainly is
an event worthwhile repeating.
Whilst wrapping up their gear the sailors were approached by a tourist lady who put forward some questions about Sunfish sailing in Aruba. Soon it became clear that the lady was Mrs. Lies Thijssen who had sailed with Sunfish Club Aruba as a child in the early 1960’s. Mrs. Thijssen was the daughter of the late notary Thijssen who used to live on L.G. Smith Boulevard next to the Talk of the Town Hotel (i.e. the former Strand Hotel). Notary Thijssen, also a sailor, had been instrumental for Sunfish Club Aruba as he legally formalized the establishment of the club. Mrs. Thijssen had actually sailed a lot with both the Sailfish and the Sunfish during her youth in Aruba before leaving for college in Canada. Sunfish Club Aruba whishes Mrs. Thijssen a pleasant holiday stay in Aruba!
May 18, 2008 Aruban Championship series
Oranjestad. - Sunfish Club Aruba held the second series of the Aruban Championship on May 18, 2008. Participation numbered 7 Sunfishes despite several frequent sailors being abroad. Weather forecasts predicted wind speeds between 15 and 20 knots with moderate wave height, setting the stage for a good day of sailing. At total of three races were held all counting for the Championship and the 2008 Ranking List.
This time the Championship racing series were held at Surfside (i.e. “Paardenbaai”) with sailors gathering on the beach near the Surfside Marina around 10:00 am. Coincidentally a miniature sailing boat race was going on as well.
The
racing course started with a ‘Le Mans’ beach start and out to the
metal sea pole marking the reef across the Surfside Marina. Rounding
the metal pole at starboard tack, the sailors then were to enter the
first windward leg back to a buoy near the shore at the
Naphthali
E. Henriquez park. From here the sailors were to sail downwind to a
second metal sea pole a bit further to the West of the one mentioned
above. Rounding this pole would require a gibe maneuver from most
sailors. From here the sailors were to enter the second windward leg
back to the buoy near the shore and then out again to the first pole
mentioned above. From here the third and final windward leg would
lead back to the buoy near the shore also marking the finish.
Typically the course would take 30 to 45 minutes to complete.
Soon the race coordinators signaled the start with the sailors rushing out to the first mark. At the first mark the pack was still close together but fortunately no one capsized. Once into the windward leg the sailors focused on getting their boats into the groove. The groove is the right combination between sailing as close to the wind as possible and cracking off a few degrees from that position to gain a little extra speed. Obviously, this is easier said than done with wind gusts of up to 20 knots. Wind shifts added to tactical complexity with the sailors trying to make the right decisions. Going downwind some of the ‘downwind specialists’ gained extra speed to make up for lost mileage during the windward leg. On the whole competition was continuously fierce throughout the race and both in the front and at the back of the fleet. In the end all sailors completed the race successfully.
The
second race was marked by great performance of the youth team
consisting of two junior sailors on a single Sunfish. The team
demonstrated remarkable coordination with one sailor at the helm and
the other on the mainsheet. In the end, they finished third
receiving applause and encouragement from all spectators.
During the third race, reigning Champion Richard van der Wal clearly demonstrated his supremacy over the class. Shortly after the start, van der Wal suffered rudder problems forcing him to come to a complete standstill. As the fleet pressed on, van der Wal drifted off steerless while trying to repair the problem on the water. The fleet rounded the first mark and many sailors assumed that van der Wal was about to abandon the race. However, eventually the rudder problems were resolved. Van der Wal, now trailing behind in last position, embarked on strong pursuit to pass the other sailors. In the end, he managed to over take the front runners just before the finish and still win the race!
At the end of the day everyone was exhausted and satisfied with a good day of sailing and competition fun. You may see the results on the Competition page. The next series of the Aruban Championship will be held on 19 October 2008 at Rodger’s Beach. The Aruban Championship comprises four racing days spread over the year and each at different locations.
Previous Events 2008
- 2008 Championship Series
- Sailing to the Marines Camp
- Moonlight Sailing
- Aruban Championship
- Competition March 18, 2008
- Family day march 02, 2008
Archived Events
March 18, 2008
San Nicolas. - Sunfish Club Aruba held it traditional 18 March competition day on Aruba’s National Day of the Flag and the National Anthem. Participation numbered seven Sunfishes and one Laser. In addition, two leisure windsurfers accompanied the fleet. Expectations ran high as this was the first official competition day of the year and the sailors were to contest for an initial place on the annual ranking list.
The venue of the competition was Rodger’s Beach, Aruba’s most beautiful dinghy sailing location. Wind predictions ranged 15 to 20 knots (5 Beaufort) driven by a high air pressure system over the North Eastern Caribbean. Wave height was moderate at 1 to 2 feet due to the protective nature of the bay, providing superb sailing conditions.
The day consisted of three races in a row following a sailing course where all familiar sailing techniques had to be applied in order reach the finish line, i.e.:
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Starting with a beach start next to the former first pier, out to the first mark being the first of the two metal poles sticking out of the water at the center of the bay.
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From there the sailors had to head upwind to a buoy close to the group of fishermen’s boats at the East end of the bay towards the former Esso Club.
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Next the sailors had to head back to the first mark (the metal pole), then gibing, and then downwind all across the bay beyond the former third pier to the far West end of the bay to a high metal pole sticking out of the water close to the shore.
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Then the
sailors had to jibe and move on South and out to a floating barrel in front
of the bird
reserve reef
islands across the refinery installations.
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Finally, the sailors had to sail a long upwind stretch back to the buoy close to the group of fishermen’s boats at the East end of the bay. This buoy marked the end of the race and upon rounding it the sailors could sail calmly back to the beach.
Three races starting at 11:00am, 12:00 and 01:00pm subsequently. At the start of the first race the boats rushed out to the first mark with all sailors contending heavily for a place at the front of the pack. Minor collisions and scratches were numerous as the sailors closed in on the first mark. A sailor or two capsized but these sailors quickly regained control of their boats and continued the pursuit. Eventually all sailors but one finished. This Sunfish encountered rudder problems but made it to the shore safely.
During the second and the third race wind speeds increased to 20 to 25 knots (6 Beaufort) with the Sunfishes often sailing at brink of capsizing. One Sunfish unfortunately capsized during a gibe maneuver upon returning to the fist mark. Its sail scratched the metal pole of the mark causing severe damage. The sail was lowered on the water and tied to the boat. Another Sunfish provided towing assistance. However, instead of sailing back to the beach, the duo still completed the rest of the racing course in towing modus!
In the end, everyone was satisfied by a good day of sailing fun.
At
Manglo Halto the Sunfishes crossed the submerged reef into the open sea.
Coincidentally a sailing yacht was just crossing the reef as well. The ocean
swell was light with waves of 3 feet at most. The fleet traversed Manglo
Halto, Isla di Oro and Santo Largo subsequently. At this point sailing was
spectacular especially over starboard tack with land in full sight. From
outer sea the panoramic view of Jamanota peak and Savaneta tank was great. A
Boston Whaler motor craft accompanied the Sunfishes on the final stretch
over open sea.