Carolijn Brouwer and Kyle Nico Bundock. Image copyright Denis Popov.
by 2BSailing media
Olympian and former round the world sailor Carolijn Brouwer is returning to the competition arena less than four months after giving birth to her son Kyle Nico with the well-known sailor to contest the famous Round Texel regatta this coming weekend.
Brouwer will team with Dutchman Jeroen van Leeuwen for the event which annually attracts hundreds of the best cat sailors in the world and will be raced on Saturday 25th of June.
The pair will sail a Viper with Brouwer to steer and Jeroen acting as crew.
While Brouwer is looking forward to returning to competition in Texel and the lead-up Dutch Open event which will be raced from Wednesday to Friday this week, she admits it will be hard to be away from baby Kyle Nico while out on the water.
Carolijn Brouwer and Kyle Nico Bundock. Image copyright Denis Popov.
"This is one of the first times away from him for more than a few hours so it will be a bit weird" she said.
"But he'll be my No.1 fan and will be waiting for me back in the boatpark with his grandmother who is visiting from Australia.
"It's a good incentive to do well so we get back fast."
Kyle Nico, who already has his own trapeze harness, is the son of Brouwer and multiple Olympic Tornado medallist Darren Bundock.
Carolijn Brouwer and Jeroen Van Leeuwen. Image copyright Thom Touw.
Brouwer and Van Leeuwen are considered among the leading contenders for the prestigious overall handicap honours in Round Texel in their Viper.
"It's a great boat and I think it has a very good chance," Brouwer said.
The world body of sailing, ISAF, recently determined that a mixed catamaran would be on the program for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Brouwer previously sailed a Tornado catamaran and was the only woman to race the class at the Beijing Olympics.
On Saturday Brouwer will be testing the waters for a possible campaign in a mixed boat in Rio.
Carolijn Brouwer and Jeroen Van Leeuwen. Image copyright Thom Touw.
"I think with the mixed sailing for the Olympics it should be possible for the woman to both steer and crew, which ever they find better for the team," she said.
"I am steering here but I also often crew for Darren (Bundock) and it’s great fun."
Brouwer and Van Leeuwen will test their new teaming on the Viper at the Dutch Open, which begins,Wednesday 22nd of June.
The Round Texel race is the biggest catamaran race in the world and is contested over a 60 nautical mile course made tactical by strong tidal currents and variable winds.
For further information about the Viper please go to our website www.2Bsailing.eu
Round Texel
