Palma World Cup Day 4: Mulder-Visser lead, Groeneveld-Begemann 0.6 behind after Redress

Mandy Mulder & Thijs Visser lead after 3 Final stage races only 0.6 ahead of Rene Groeneveld-Chalie Begemann who carried zero points from Qualifying Series, and won the first race of the day but had a DNF due to breakage/collision in the 3rd one, and tough 29th.
Finally they were issued a redress. Check updated results at (click N17 Tab.. https://www.trofeoprincesasofia.org/en/default/laregata/vertodoslosresultados/id/1/idsc2r/43

Sarah Newberry-John Casey had a mixed day, with a DSQ on Charlie’s collision and good final bullet.
Also Tim Shuwalow-Hannah Klinga on the rise for a tied 3rd overall with Moana Vaireux-Manon Audinet.

So the Dutch team took over the French ‘attack’ and continue to lead. Beyond questioned scoring system, the top crews from QSeries are still in the lead. But I think it opens too much gambling in the future.

Jasper Van Staveren had another talk with his dutch pals, to have full details of the 4th day.
Images: Jesus Renedo / Laurens Morels / Renedo / Renedo

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Report by Jasper Van Staveren/Sailshoot.com
ISAF World Cup Palma: Mandy Mulder and Thijs Visser newest Sailing coachs at Mallorca?
It was more than an exciting day in Palma. It seemed as if the Dutch Catamaran sailing teams were teaching how to sail today. Two of the three races have been won by them.
Both Mandy Mulder/Thijs Visser and Renee Groeneveld/Karel Begemann grabbed a victory. 

Elke Delnooz/Mischa Heemskerk improved their position in the overall standings again. Proudly the Dutch sailing teams look back on their excellent performance. Will the World Cup in Palma perhaps be a Dutch party?

With a breeze of around 5-7 knots it seemed like a relatively easy day to sail. “It was a serious fight on the course for the first place, it wasn’t an easy job at all! Hard and steady sailing without taking risks. The Dutch teams were going fast downwind, maybe that’s our main weapon this week in Palma” says Thijs Visser enthusiastically. “Mandy and I also noticed that we are a really good team. Our benefit from the Olympic experience of Mandy is huge since she’s been in two Olympic campaigns and gained a silver medal. Despite her relatively young age she’s a very complete sailor, we complete each other very well. “

Injury for Thijs Visser?
It buzzed around for a while: ‘Thijs Visser appeared to have serious injury on Wednesday.’ Not on the water, but onshore. “Putting my wetsuit on something went wrong, I’ve been at the physiotheraphist regularly. Therefore we weren’t able to perform on top level on Wednesday. Fortunately now it’s much better and I can almost sail painless.”

Is the spinnaker pole strong enough?
Karel Begemann reports after an extreme day of sailing: “The first race was as planned. We started good and had a great battle with the Swedes (Shuwalow/Klinga). At the finish it was a close call, but we knew we could have that victory!

The second race had  again a dynamic start. When rounding the top mark all Dutch cats were in position 1, 2 and 3. After rounding the top mark it was disastrous…. We had a nose dive, the spinnaker pole broke and the spinnaker got underneath the boat. I tried to get the spinnaker up again with all force I had inside, but without success. Because the spinnaker worked as an anchor, from that moment on we were doomed. Meanwhile the rest of the fleet was closing in fast! The French team Besson/Riou tried to dodge us, but there was no room for them to avoid us. A huge bang and a gaping hole in the hull was the result… Coen de Koning tried to repair the hull with duct-tape, but the hull was filled with water and seriously damaged. The third race we started about 30 seconds too late, a catch up was a mission impossible from that moment. If the spinnaker pole would have been stronger we might have been able to prevent this situation. Within the F18 I’ve never experienced such a thing.”

Text: Jasper van Staveren
Top 20 below – All results: www.trofeoprincesasofia.org

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