IFCA World cup slalom @ Curacao 19th untill 24th of April

16-4-'11 Two years ago the IFCA world cup was at Bonaire (for me some good memories).

Now this year they going to do the IFCA in Curacao after two years of practise during the Curacao Challenge been held at Mambo beach they moved to St Joris baai.
This time I was flying with Insel Air. It was a bit later then expected but I was with all three boardbags in once at Curacao. Insel was so nice to be our sponsor for this event and they organized it very well. 

17-04-'11 After a very slow start today, then I mean staying in bed till 9 aa.m. and having a breakfast we waited for the afternoon breeze. So around 14.00 hour we packed the car and drove to ST. Joris baai with only one set of windsurf gear as it was go BIG or stay home wind. So it means for the people who don't surf, very light wind and then you take your biggest board and biggest sail. For me it is my 8.5m2 RSX sail and 111 liter I -sonic. At the event side I met as always all the people I know from the other competions, but also Ben van der Steen was there already and Alice Arturik I both know from the PWA tour. Then of course the locals, like Jean Patrick and his father Perry, Ed and his wife Carola, Fulco etc etc. One big family. 
I was pretty quick to go on the water and test my new combination. It felt a bit funny but with a bit more downhaul, to get a twist in my sail it's a possible combination with the light wind we will have this week.

18-04-'11 After a very relaxing moring we drove to St. Joris baai. At the entrance of the area we noticed we could see Bonaire in the far distance. Little bit later on the drith road we met Myles. One of the grand masters and we know eachother already for a while. So always nice to see windsurf (friends). 

* Jurgen NB-117, Aron CUR 2, Myles USA 213, Me NB-28, Patoun NB-8

I took some time to organize my gear bags at the event side, there is not much place yet and no shade so was a bit of a puzzle but at the end "The Dutch windsurfteam" accept me in there own made "gearbox". In the afternoon I was for more then two hours on the water and doing some testing with Aron, Patoun, Amado and Wolfgang. The wind was still very light, guess about 10 knots and a lot of holes. Myles let me test his new Starboard 127 liter I sonic. This was the biggest slalom board I ever tried. Oh that was nice without doing anything I was "flying". Of course you would think why my biggest board is then 107. Very simple with the wind like today we never will start a race....

After the windsurfsession we found some place in the new container, so all the gear is safe and also dry inside from now.

19-04-'11 Last day to test, last day to practice before the World is going to start. In the morning we checked our gear, talked with (new) friends etc. At 12.00 hour we went on the water.I took the Go Pro to make some cool movies. I was testing with Patun NB-8, Juan V-103, Sergio Arg-05 and Wolfgang AUS-3. I felt better on my gear then the other days, so it seems I get used to a big sail 8.5m2 on a relative small board 111 liters. Special when I look to all the Master men, who will be in the same heat, They sail with 9.5m2 and 135 liters.After a little break we went out again and had some better wind so we could realy plain. Not to long dough as we have races starting tommorrow, so didn't want to get to tiered and the plan was to go home and relaxe a bit before the opening ceremony.




Back at home I helped the boys to sticker there numbers and sponsorstickers in the sail.
The IFCA Slalom World Championships on Curacao has officially started with a grand opening ceremony. With 85 competitors from 16 different countries from 4 different continents, this is the biggest windsurfing event on Curacao since the 90’s.
During the opening ceremony there were various prominent speakers, such as Prime Minister Schotte, Minister of Education and Sports Lionel Jansen, President of the IFCA and main sponsors Albert Heijn and InselAir. They all had a similar message: the unique accomplishment of the organization and the Curacao windsurf community to be able to organize such a big international event.
The ministers officially opened the Surf Town, which features various shops, bars and entertainment. Afterwards there was a DJ and completely in style: a campfire on the beach. It was a nice evening.

Day 1- The weatherforecast wasn't promising a lot. The trees outside the house where nearly moving. At 8.30 hour we where already in the car to the eventside. Later I realised it was far to earlie. The skippers meeting was at 10.00 hour.

There haven’t been any races on Day 1. The wind stayed steady around 8 knots (a minimum of 11 knots is needed). Predictions for the next couple of days are looking good though.
The lay-day gave the volunteers and organization the time to relax after the big opening ceremony. The Surf Town has been perfected for the expected crowds this Easter weekend. The competitors enjoyed themselves with some wake-boarding and Stand UP Paddle-boarding (offered by local windsurf school Windsurfing Curacao).
If you want to know who is competing in which class, check the complete Entry List.

Day 2- thursday all day no wind. I went wakeboarding with Jurgen, Kenny and Oscar. We had the best fun ever. All of use where able to have some nice rides and Marcello was so nice to give us a very long try. Thanks for that. 
The racecomitee came over to ask for his boat, as they needed the starting floating dock to be on the right spot, across from the beach. 
Back on the shore I heard Bonaire team won the SUP competion. Great job guys!!!
It was a little hope of sailing this afternoon but it wasn't going to happen.
At 16.30 hour I saw Milles coming in with his 10m2 and 127 liters Starboard I sonic. He asked me if I liked to try. You don't need to say that twice.
It was fun as I was planning easy with 8 knots. At 17.00 hour they canchelled the races and the race commitee was going to pick up the marks. They checked straight away the wind and where a bit in a shock when they seen me flying on the water. Later when I was back on the we had a great laugh about it.

Day -3 After a whole morning waiting we had a SUP board competion. We had 4 teams United Nations, Bonaire, Curacao and Aruba. First it was United Nations vs Bonaire. Patun and Amado went very good. I was the last and had to keep my position but it was not so easy as I thought. Ed was to strong for me, so Bonaire lost the SUP competion this time. Curacao vs Aruba was a easy win for Aruba. Then the final United Nations vs Aruba. Aruba was to strong for United Nations.  

We had a very short skippers meeting in the afternoon. Just to let us know that we where going to make an IFCA world cup start, but again not enough wind so we had a fun race. All the competertives together +/- 70. It was one big chaos. I had still one minute on the start watch when I show them pomping on the startline. So I went full speed from the back of the field and tried to stay as muchs as possible up wind from the other sailors. It was perfect tactick. I was passing one after the other. At the mark I rounded as close that I was moving the mark over the noise of the board but again not stopping. After rounding the four marks I was suprised as was 5th on the finish and that with suchs a bad start and 70 people on the same course, so nice feeling for the real races going to start.

Results funrace:
1 Open Class and overall: Ben Vandersteen - NED 57
1 Youth: Jocelyn de Souza - FRA 873
1 Junior: Amado Vrieswijk - NB 20
1 Master: Patrik Schmelzer - GER 127
1 Women: Monique Meyer - NB 28 

Day 4- I was around 9.00 hour at the eventside and waited till 11.00 for the skippers meeting. Not muchs news this time. Around 14.00 hour they tried to start us, but the starting area was realy gusty and course wasn't correct se we where sent back to the beach. In this time they changed the course again and only kept 2 jibe marks in the water.

At 16.40 hour (last moment the A.P. flag) went down and we all run to get the gear ready again. I was aso very suprised that we where going to start racing right now. I wasn't dreaming it was going to happen and right now. I had a good start and was in third position from the start to the finish. I was very happy as I was going to the half finals. 
In the half finals I was around place 4 together with Patun on the start. He was faster to the first mark and I stayed in 5th position, but was wondering what Patun was doing in my heat? So at the finsh I realized I was 4th in my heat, so going to the FINALS.
Then the first start of the final was crazy the sun was already down and they even tried to start us after a recall (two people over earlie). I hardly could see the marks on the water and we where sent back to shore in the dark. Wow what a day. Who expected this morning to going to race and then I ended up in the finall and will be top 6 now!!!  

Now time to sleep, tommorrow first start MASTER final.---> Results day 4

Day 5- The wind conditions were far from great, which is unusual on Curacao this time of year. During 5 possible days of racing, it was only possible to race one late afternoon. During the final day the windpredictions were great, but in reality the wind didn’t show up. On Day 4 all the classes, except one (the Masters), completed an elimination round. The final heat of the Masters could not be sailed on the final day. The competitors did go to the starting line for a last chance, but no luck. Still, the race directors and competitors managed to sail one elimination round so official World Champions could be crowned. This meant that by official IFCA rules there are six World Champions in the Masters class.

Results Masters
1. Sergio Mehl (Argentina)
1. Monique Meijer (Bonaire)
1. Constantino Saragoza (Bonaire)
1. Joris Bosman (the Netherlands)
1. Nikaj Droop (the Netherlands)
1. Diego Domenianni (USA)

Youth – U20

1. Gutek Kurczewski (Poland)

  2. Jocelyn de Souza (France)

  3. Jordy Vonk (the Netherlands)

Junior – U17 (+U15)
1. Jean Patrick van der Wolde (Curacao)
2. Justin Denel (France)
3. Amado Vrieswijk (Bonaire)

Junior – U13
1. Delano Moreno (Curacao)
2. Alex Halank (Australia)
3. Jean Paul da Silva de Goes (Curacao)

Sports Class
1. Ben van der Steen (the Netherlands)  
2. Behrend Veenhuizen (Curacao)
3. Remo Osnabrugge (Curacao)

Thanks to everyone who made this event happening and a special thanks to my sponosrs Starboard, Insel Air and Windsurf Place Bonaire