Splash Flash News - Gea Jutjens wins Open UK Splash Class Championship

Last weekend (September 8 and 9 ) a group of 12 Dutch Splash sailors, both boys and girls, were in Great Britain to take part in the Open UK Splash Class Championship. The team was accompanied by Cees Crul, Bouwdewijn van der Werf and Roel Wester. For the Dutch Competitors it was not only a sweeping victory, they also turned the event into an enormous Splash Class demonstration. The English competitors were very much impressed by what a Splash can take and how well she behaves under extreme circumstances. Our sailors also impressed their opponents by the way they could handle their Splashes. On Saturday three races were sailed in a force 4 wind, later increasing to 5. It soon became clear that Gea Jutjens, Erwin veldman, Auke van der Werf and Stephan Veldman would dominate the event, with Thijs Moens, Jelle Jutjens, Michiel van der Meulen, Jessica Crul, Rozan Gilles, Jacqueline Speet and Friso Wempe breathing down their necks. Later on Erwin lost his position at the top because of a disqualification. When we arrived at the harbour on Sunday morning there was a lot of wind and racing was postponed for 2 hours, during which the race committee asked everyone: ”What do want to do now?” All the sailors said: ”Let’s go sailing!” So, at 1 pm, we started in a force 7 wind. From the start Gea Jutjens took the lead and could not be overtaken. At the start of the second race the wind had increased even more, but of they went for an exciting race. Again Gea started in first place, but after the gybing mark she capsized and was overtaken by 5 boats. Auke finished first and Gea fought back to second (?) place, Stephan finished third and Erwin fourth (?). The level of boat handling the Dutch sailors showed in this strong wind at the gybing mark was very impressive. They rounded this mark as if nothing was the matter.  Gea, congratulations with your British title. The way in which you won this title was admirable, especially when we heard that you had sailed these excellent races with an injured arm since you had been hit by the boom before the start of the first race on Sunday. That is the real spirit. The other sailors also deserve a compliment for the way in which they showed what perseverance is and we, as your support team, would like you to know that, with such sportsmen and –women, it’s a pleasure to go away every weekend. Cees Crul Boudewijn van der Werf Roel Wester < Back >