Image copyright Claire Matches.
by Diana Bogaards
he first Zwitserleven World Championship Nacra Infusion 2011, to be sailed along the Dutch Wadden island of Texel, attracts world class sailors. Since November 2010, the Nacra Infusion is recognized by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF). Therefore, the class may now officially organize a World Championship. The Nacra carbon 20 and the Open Class have no ISAF status, so they compete at the Int. Nacra Open Championships 2011. Currently, the total fleet includes 41 teams, representing seven countries. The three-day event begins on Monday, June 20 and is part of the Zwitserleven Sailing Week 2011.
Since this is an official World Championship, the organization can count on the support of the province of North Holland. There are a total of ten races on the program, led by race director Rob Hoogstra (NED). On Monday and Tuesday, the sailors race four times and twice on Wednesday morning. The level is again high. In the Nacra Infusion class, all eyes are focused on the winner of the Int. Nacra Infusion Championship 2010, Gunnar Larsen (NED). Now he appears with his new crew, Sam Frank (NED) at the start. In May, this Boskalis duo won the Dutch Nacra Infusion Championship. A few weeks earlier, Larsen and Frank took the bronze medal at Eurocat Carnac in France, the first international showdown of the season.
Other favorites
If it was an Open Dutch Championship Nacra Infusion, the Australians Adam Beattie and Jamie Leitner would have been crowned as the 2011 champions. It was not, but this young team did show their intentions for the Worlds. The F18 World Champions 2009, Coen de Koning (NED, also world's best in 2008) and Thijs Visser (NED), are for sure hunting for another world title. Former Olympian and current America's Cup sailor Pim Nieuwenhuis (NED) and his crew Ferdinand van West (NED) are among the favorites as well. Like last year's winner in the Nacra carbon 20, Peter Vink (NED) and his crew in their class. They will have a hard time with newcomers Xander Pols (NED) and Sascha Larsen (NED). Pols took twice the line-honors of the Zwitserleven Round Texel Race on his former M20. A few years earlier, Larsen was first through the finish of world's biggest cat race.
Lazy Corner
The atmosphere is of paramount importance at the Nacra Championships. Therefore, a sailors village will arise in the pit lane on the Texel beach. 'The tents will be all together and this time the bar and 5 Lazy Jack-beanbags will be in the center of it. We call this the Lazy Corner. This must be the meeting point for all sailors. We turn the music on and catering is provided by Paal 17. We want to offer more than just racing. Hence the lunches and happy hours", said organizer Xander Pols.
The Zwitserleven World Championship Nacra Infusion and the Int. Nacra Open Championships can be followed via www.nacrachampionship.com and Facebook.
The Nacra Championships 2011 are made possible by: Zwitserleven, Provincie Noord-Holland, Paal 17, TNG Watches, Lazy Jack, Ultrasun, LensExpress.nl, KS Tools, Boskalis, Maasstad Ziekenhuis, Schouwstra Transport B.V., KZV Westerslag, Watersportverbond and Nacra.
Nacra Infusion Worlds
