Round Texel 2010
Press Realease by Diana Boogards
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ZWITSERLEVEN SAILING WEEK CONTINUES HIGH PERFORMANCE FORMULA Nacra Int. Championships 2010 and Grand Prix Slalom Windsurfing come to Texel
In 2010, the Zwitserleven Sailing Week continues last year’s high performance formula. This means that the island of Texel is the centre of exhilarating water sports from Monday 14 to Saturday 19 June. Both catamaran sailors and windsurfers will jump into action. But demonstration sports with skiffs and kite surfers are also part of the programme. As always, the climax is the massive and, by now, legendary Zwitserleven Round Texel on Saturday 19 June. Then hundreds of multihulls participate in the world’s biggest cat race.
“The new approach made the Zwitersleven Sailing Week even more attractive to the public. According to the police, about 25.000 people visited the island on the day of the ‘Round’. That’s about 10.000 more than in previous years”, says the spokesperson of the Zwitserleven Sailing Week. On Monday 14 June the Zwitserleven Sailing Week starts with the Nacra International Championships and the Grand Prix Slalom for windsurfers (sanctioned by the International Funboard Class Association).
The international contest among the Nacra sailors for the world’s title lasts until Wednesday morning. The boards will compete for the last time during the finals on Saturday 19 June. That happens right after the gigantic catamaran fleet departs for its race around the Island of Texel.
Catamaran spectacle at Dutch beach
On Wednesday afternoon 16 June, the competition for the Dutch Open Catamaran Sailing Championship starts off.
During the first three days the teams race around buoys on a racing track. On Friday afternoon the best crews get into action again during the TNG Short Track Races. Recreational sailors can enjoy themselves during the traditional Horstocht (to the southernmost point of Texel) and the ‘Trip to the North’ on Thursday. Sailors and visitors can gather information whilst they walk through the pit lane on the beach. From Wednesday, the party tent opens with a spectacular entertainment programme. The degree of high performance grows due to the addition of kite surf and skiff demonstrations during the week.
Zwitserleven Round Texel Race
On Saturday morning 19 June the flood line at Paal 17 (numbered post at the beach that indicates the location) changes into an impressive parade of brightly coloured catamarans. Once they have managed to break through the surf, they start to line up for the kilometre long starting line. At around 13:00, racing officer Jaap Tirion signals the start from a helicopter with a smoke signal. About 500 to 600 boats are expected to compete, including international top teams.
Overall Zwitserleven Sailing Week winners and F18 World Champions of 2009 Coen de Koning and Thijs Visser will compete against multiple national F18 champions Mischa Heemskerk and Bastiaan Tentij. Heemskerk won the Zwitserleven Round Texel Race twice before. Strong foreign competition is also expected.
About the Zwitersleven Sailing Week
In 2009, the Zwitserleven Round Texel developed into the Zwitserleven Sailing Week. This innovative water sports event combines several spectacular activities.
By adding high performance sports such as windsurfing and kitesurf- and skiff demonstration sports, the event becomes more varied and challenging for its participants, and more interesting for the public.
The Zwitserleven Sailing Week 2010 consists of the following events:
- GP Slalom windsurfing, from 13 until 19 June 2010Nacra Int.
- Championships 2010, from 13 until 16 June 2010
- Open Dutch Catamaran Sailing Championship, from 16 until 18 June 2010
- TNG Short Track Race, Friday afternoon 18 June 2010
- Recreational trips, 17 and 18 June 2010
- Zwitserleven Round Texel, 19 June 2010
Apart from title sponsor Zwitserleven, VVV Texel, TNG, Treffers & Kappa, Paal 17 Events, Nissan, ROC Mondriaan, TESO and Liebherr support the event.
WWW.ROUNDTEXEL.COM
