World Championship Cadiz- Spain

On my way to another competion (right now again at Schiphol airport).


It's so far the second qualification round for qualification Olympics.
The first 20 spots are given already to the top 20 countries in the Wolrd Championship Perth Australia last December. 
The last 7 places are left and I'm one of the countries going to fight for one of does places.
It will be a very tof competion. There are 120 men and 80 women registrated.
The biggest windsurf event I ever been too. It will be great, it will be fun and it will be hard!!!

Last time the Dutch Antilles flag ever will be at a (RSX)sportevent.

18th March. I arrived yesterday very late as the last connection flight from Madrid was on delay, then we had tecnical problems at the sart and had to return and when we finaly where in the air they told us the aiport was closed by now so we had to fly to Seveila and transport by bus to Jerez. 4 hours later I was finaly there.

The appartment we stay is very nice and at the event side a nice atmospher and all my friends already there. Very nice to see them all back again.
I didn't sail today as I wanted to take a bit rest after the crazy travel, I stickered the sail and checked the material for today.


19th March. Today for the first time on the water here in Cadiz. The sail seems to work nice, I feel I have to change some of the footstreps later, but no big problems on the gear. Around 12.00 o'cloc I went on the water, as this is going to be the official racing time. I missed the start of the first practice race but followed the group just to see what they where doing. As the comeption is in a bay and today with the light of shore wind it was very tricky with the wind. The 2nd and 3rd practise race I was most on port side but staring over bakboard I got a lift from a wind shift wich brouth me straight to the upwind mark. After two very good races between 2nd and 5th place upwind and around 5-6 downwind I thought it was a nice way to start an went with most of the other people back to the shore after 2 hours of training.
In the afternoon I went with Luca to Gibraltar and Tarifa what was nice and relaxing.

In Puerte St Maria

Gibraltar Englisch state

Sunset Tarifa

20st of March My second day on the water. It was more windy then yesterday, I guess around 22 knots, but very gusty. Not easy to sail.

After 5 min. The screw came out of the chickenstrep on the back of the board so couldn’t use it anymore so in the downwind no change, but in te hupwind I could follow the others in does difficuilt conditions, so was nice.

Just I need to get used to the cold as after 2 hours I realy wanted to go back to shore as couldnt feel my hands and feet anymore of the cold wind.
After I changed to another hotel Pinomar as it’s much closer to eventside.

One of the training races just before the start

Training race at the start

21st of March- Today it was mesearment and registration and also the practise day, so full scedule. I went around 10.30 to the sailing club to get myself registrated, I did already my mesearmet online just had to put the serie stickers on the equiment and give back the form and showing them my fin. All was fine.

Then I played a bit with the gear to get everything good and decided not to go bac to the hotel but prepair to go on the water to have a little training sesion with Lilian and Esther and followed by the practise race. The training was oke just for me dificuilt to understand what they where planning to do, the practise race was feeling good. Only had some troubles to get away at the start but later I got told that almost everyone was overearlie and because I made a clean start I had absolutely no wind. After I got speed I was doing good. At the upwind mark I decided to stop and to go back to shore was already out for 2,5 hour.

In the evening we had a short opening ceremonie and then time to sleep zzzzzzzzz.

Practise race (me most on the right)

22nd of March The first day of the BIG competion here in Spain. The men where lready out on the water. It took some time for them to do all 3 races so we had one hour prospone. I was in the second fleet (yellow). It was nice and windy and after a bad start I was sailing oke. I finsihed on time and went back to the start the wind was increasing and I had many problems at my second start. My 5m saftly line was loose and when I tried to get it in I stepped on the daggerboard and that all in the staring time. Half way the course again problems so decided to quiet as no way to catch up anymore. I went back to shore.

Me warming up in the back

Start of the 1st fleet (blue)

23th of March Today I'm again in the yellow feelt, only now we start first. Before the men and before the blue fleet. I was earlie again to have space for rigging but outside was no way to do with the wind, so  all started to rigg inside. At the moment we did some boards where flying around us. Scary and dangerous. Then lucky the prospone flag went up, we are on hold for two hours......men going out first....At 14.00 hour prospone flag untill 15.00 hour.
Races canchelled for the day.

35 knots with gust over 40!!!! No sailing this day...

24th march Today was official the rest day, but because we didn't sail. Again a lot of wind a material flying around. I decided to give it a try to go to the start. I managed to get out of the sailingclub and into the bay with my sail all the way tied and the mast all the way forward. When there came a big gust I couldn't controle my board and before i knew I was head first in the water. Oke, I don't want to give up imidatly, so next try after a waterstart. Not much later I was drinking again salty water and after the 3rd time I did see the official starting time was passed. I signed for a tow in back to the shore.
Later in the afternoon Kiran had to sail and Dorien told me I could go with her coach boat to see a competion close by so I could learn abaout the starts more and the position on the board etc. etc.

Day three, realy windy conditions!!!