| ARUBA, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES-(9-11-2003) On Sunday November 9th 2003, the British team Richard Allen and Stuart Gummer won the first race of the Aruba Heineken Catamaran Regatta. The lead on their fellow countrymen Sunnucks and Self was a few seconds. Team Larsen/Pols from the Netherlands crossed the finish line with their Nacra Formula 18 in sixth position, which brought it in third position on handicap. The conditions were perfect with wind force 4.
The olympic Tornado’s dominated obvisiously the front of the fleet. The first five finishes were of Tornado teams. The battle for the first and second place was srong. Team Allen/Gummer was constantly fighting the other British team Sunnucks/Self. The final difference was only half of the boat-length. The Dutch duo Larsen/Pols could follow and was able to limit the gap. Pols, last year’s winner: “It was close racing today. When the wind decreases, such a race monster will continue. We lose speed very quickly, so we hope for more wind in the coming days.”
After a rainy first day, today’s conditions were tropical again. The practice race of this morning was sailed with 30 degrees Celsius, sunshine and wind force 4. It was team Larsen/Pols that won on handicap. At the end of the afternoon, all 53 competing teams were welcomed with live music on the beach. Title sponsor Heineken offered all sailors a happy hour and a beach party, which caused a good atmosphere on the beach.
The Aruba Heineken Regatta will be held from November 9th until 14th 2003. Eight races are scheduled, included a long distance race on Thursday November 13th 2003. The regatta is sponsored by the Aruban Toerist agency, Heineken, Hapag Lloyd, Holiday Inn, KLM, TNG, Magic Marine, Coca Cola, AWA, Tropical Bottling Company Aruba, Does & Cadushi, Pelican Watersports, Palm Tours, Aruba Watersport Center, Anthony Veder & Co, Astec, Meta Corporation, Seaworld Explorer, Kodak, Meta Corporation, AS Aruba and the Caribbean Mercantile Bank.
Top five after race 1:
Tornado /GBR – Allen en Gummer
Tornado / GBR – Sunnucks en Self
Formule 18 / NED – Larsen en Pols
Formule 18 / NED – Graat en Koene
Tornado / GBR – Northrop en Speller
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