Gaastra Dragon World Championship 2009

WORLDS DVD NOW AVAILABLE!

Jimmy — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:23:32 +0000

As you might know, the Gaastra Dragon Worlds 2009, is followed by a professional filmcrew. We made a beautiful and spectacular DVD about the Event. Extreme Dragon racing footage and interesting interviews with participants make this DVD the ‘must have’ for every dragonsailor. A very short preview can be seen on:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMamct5X1hQ

You can order the DVD for Euro 35,- (including shipment)
Teamoffer: 3 DVD’s for Euro 90 (including shipment to 1 address). A DVD for every teammember, or just a very nice Christmas gift to share among your sailingfriends.

Interested? Please write a e-mail with your name, address and quantity to: info@dragonworlds2009.com and transfer either Euro 35 for 1 DVD or Euro 90 for 3 DVD’s to:

Stichting Dragon World Championship 2009
37.31.41.017, Rabobank, Sloten-Badhoevedorp NL,
BIC: RABONL2U
IBAN: NL86RABO0373141017

Merry Christmas and a great year of sailing for u all!

After event interview Mark Neeleman

Jimmy — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:09:02 +0000

Mark Neeleman, the Dutch Olympian, only started sailing Dragons a year ago. His first race was the Open Dutch Championship, which he won. He did not win the Worlds, but he sailed a strong championship. Below you find a link of an interview he had with Zilt Sailing Magazine:http://www.ziltmagazine.com/audio/nummer42-2009/neeleman.html

Movie in Media section

Jimmy — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 17:54:44 +0000

In the media section of this mebsite you find a movie about the Gaastra Dragon Worlds. In the near futrure it will be possible to order a 30 minute DVD about the event and all sailing pictures by Sander van der Borch.

Hoj Jensen new world champion Dragon

Jimmy — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:06:19 +0000

The eighth and final race on Friday was decisive for the Gaastra Dragon Worlds in Medemblik. Going into today’s race Hoj Jensen (GBR 745) was leading the series with a two point buffer to second placed Lars Hendriksen (UKR7). The 63 year old Hoj Jensen fought of all attacks of the Ukranian boat to finish the last race in 3rd position thereby winning the championship.

Tough week
The new world champion has not won a race this week but sailed a very consistent series. Hoj Jensen: “We had to work very hard for this title, we had some great battles with Lars. Today we were less than three boat lengths separated for practically the whole race. But in the final beat we were able to shake him off and secure the championship. I am a very happy and proud champion!”
Dutchmen Mark Neeleman was disqualified for starting to early in the last race. He dropped out of the top five. The rest of the top five has not changed.

Final results after 8 races:
1. GBR 745 - Hoi Jensen - 2,3,4,(17),15,6,4, 3 : 37 points
2. UKR 7 - Hendriksen - 1,5,8, 8,5,(14),9, 8 : 44 points
3. DEN 396 - Schönherr – 5,6,14,1,(48),18,3,4 : 51 points
4. RUS 27 - Loginov – 4,16,(47),9,2,5,16,2 : 54 points
5. GER 996 - Müller – 16,1,6,(45), 17,12,12,6 : 70 points

Neeleman superior, Hoj Jensen back on top of leaderboard.

Jimmy — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:28:16 +0000

Dutchman Mark Neeleman won both races on the fourth day of the Gaastra Dragon Worlds.
He was the most consistent in the typical IJsselmeer circumstances. Poul Richard Hoj Jensen is back on top of the leaderboard. He has a lead of only two point over Lars Hendrikson which promises a very exiting final race tomorrow.

“This was our day”
Mark Neeleman was very pleased with his results of today which brings his team to fifth place in the overall series: “When we were preparing for the worlds we did not have much time to train on the water because we were mainly busy with the boat in good shape. But today everything went our way. Our speed is getting better every race but I’m afraid it’s too late to be a real contender for the title.”

“Tough but fun”
Hoi Jensen continued his good form with a sixth and a fourth place: “It was tough, I am very tired. Luckily we were a bit lucky today with our choices. But it was great fun being on the water today. Just one race left and we still have a good chance of grabbing the title, that would be a perfect ending of a great championship.”

Top 5 provisional results after 7 races:
1. GBR 745 Hoi Jensen - 2,3,4,(17),15,6,4 Total: 34 points
2. UKR 7 Hendriksen - 1,5,8, 8,5,(14),9 Total: 36 points
3. DEN 396 Schönherr – 5,6,14,1,(48),18,3 Total: 47 points
4. RUS 27 Loginov – 4,16,(47),9,2,5,16 Total: 52 points
5. NED 373 Neeleman- 14,15,18,5,(25),1,1 Total: 54 points

Mix of conditions get the best out of the sailors at Gaastra Dragon Worlds

Jimmy — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 07:26:51 +0000

Lay day was very welcome to most of the teams. Five races were sailed in different conditions. Sunday and Monday offered winds between 12 and 16 knots and lots of sunshine. Tuesday was still very sunny but with light winds. The change in wind also showed in the results. Hoj Jensen who was in the lead after three races, had two top 20 finishes on Tuesday which dropped him back to second place behind Lars Hendriksen. Hendriksen sails the UKR 7 and so far has the most consistent serie (1,5,8,8,5). In third place is Ruslana Taran, she won the last race on Tuesday.

Top 5 provisional results after 5 races:
1. UKR 7 Hendrikson - 1,5,8, 8,5 =27 points
2. GBR 745 Hoi Jensen - 2,3,4,17,15 =41 points
3. UKR 9 Ruslana Taran – 9,14,19,12,1 =55 points
4. DEN 392 Valdemar Bandolowski – 13,19,9,13,6 =60 points
5. SUI 297 Ulli Libor – 11,10,10,15,21 = 67 points
When six races are sailed there will be a discard of the worst result in the serie.

Schonherr and Talan showed to be the best in tropical weather

Jimmy — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:34:36 +0000

Medemblik - The third day of the Gaastra Dragon Worlds was a very difficult one. In a very light breeze and beautiful, 27 degrees, weather, the competitors had some difficult and long racing to do. Jorgen Schonherr (DEN 396) won the first race. Second race was won by Ruslana Taran (UKR 9). The Dutch Gaastra Team (NED 395) Marc Blees, Ben Kolff and Gerben van de Werff showed to be some serious competitors, not to be under estimated, they did a 2nd and 11th place.

More details about today’s races will follow shortly. Tonight there will be the big Gaastra Worlds dinner in the Bonefacius church of Medemblik. Tomorrow is Lay day.

Perfect racing day at Gaastra Dragon Worlds

Jimmy — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:31:37 +0000

Medemblik was a little bit like the Caribbean today. 12 to 16 knots of wind, high temperatures and lots of sunshine for the 67 competing teams at the Dragon Worlds. Two races were sailed which brings the total series to three races. Englishman Poul Richard Hoj Jensen leads the provisional results closely followed by Ukranian Lars Hendrikson and German Dirk David. Boats from five different nationalities make up the top ten.

First race
The fleet had a big split after the start. Danish Jorgen Schonherr led the fleet round the first mark going in to the run. In the second lap the right side of the beat was favoured. Thomas Műller made a big gain and captured the lead at the top mark followed by Frenchman Jean Breger.
This was also the finishing order. Hoj Jensen came in third.

Second race
After two general recalls the racing committee hosted the black flag. The fleet came off the line clean with no individual recalls. The right side of the course still was favoured. But Hoj Jensen chose the middle of the course and was leading at the first mark. He lost his lead on the second beat to Russian Victor Fogelson. Who extended his lead during the rest of the race. Danish Frank Berg came in second followed by the first female skipper Cavia Wilkinson-Cox from Great Britain.

Lars Hendriksen wins first race

Jimmy — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 15:14:56 +0000

Medemblik - In a nice 8 - 14 knots breeze, 68 dragons showed up at the start of the first race of the Gaastra Dragon Worlds. The conditions weer difficult because of variating and shifty winds, but it was very fast and tight racing. The Dutchman Bram de Wilde (NED 311), Lars Hendiksen (UKR 7) and Poul Ricard Hoj Jensen (GBR 745) were fighting at the front of the fleet for the victory in this first race.

In the end Lars Hendriksen showed to be the strongest and most consistent sailor and won the race. Lars hendrikse: “I am so happy to win the first race of this prestigious event. It was very fast and difficult racing, but we were in good shape and were able to beat Bram de Wilde and Poul Ricard Hoj Jensen”. After the race, drinks and fresh fried fish was served, with some traditional Dutch live organ music. The Gaastra Dragon Worlds is a big succes up to now; great sailing and super socials!!

Photos of todays racing can be found in the Media section of this website.

Largest International clog dance during World Championship Dragon sailing in The Netherlands

Jimmy — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 19:20:28 +0000

Today the largest International clog dance ever took place. At least 300 people from 14 different countries put on the Dutch wooden clogs during the World Championship Dragon sailing in Medemblik, The Netherlands. The typical Dutch folkloric dance was the kick-off event for the Dragon Worlds that starts tomorrow.

Follow the Dragon Worlds Twitter on: http://twitter.com/Dragonworlds09