Timmermans decisive winner

A report from the J/22 Worlds in Medemblik

Today the Dutch Tjarco Timmermans team comprising - Jurjen Feitsma, Fanny van Leeuwen and Ivan Peule - became the new World Champions in the J/22 class. After an impressive series of results, the four did not need to sail the final race of the Gaastra J/22 Worlds anf could return to the Regatta Center Medemblik (NED) to pack up their equipment.

But the same was not true for second and third in the Gold fleet. They had a tough competition which went right to the wire. In the end, the trio of John den Engelsman, Sven Machielsen and Bram van Hooijdonk took second position from Nic Bol and his team. Alexander Cutler (BER), winner in 2004, ended on place fifteen.

“I was sitting in my boat pumping adrenaline, so initially I did not believe we had become World Champion”, said Ivan Peule afterwards. Only once they started to receive congratulations, did the champions start to realise it.

After the calm weather of Thursday, Friday's racing started with a postponement as well. Around noon the first starting signal was given. Forma, Schaaf and Van Gelderen (NED) took the lead and maintained it. The team of Timmermans rounded the first upwind mark in fourth position and finally finished in second. Although they shouted for joy modestly, the result turned out to be enough for the victory. A stand-up ovation by the Forma tri said enough as Mark van Gelderen commented: “Tjarco was a first-class sailor. Their win is deserved.” The golden quartet has sailed together for only three quarter of a year, but they trained every weekend. According to Fanny van Leeuwen, team spirit is their biggest secret weapon. “And we continually worked at our boat speed.” They were unquestionably the fastest with a consistent series of 2-1-1-3-1-5-2-dns (did not start).

Friday’s first race passed off less glorious for John den Engelsman, World Champion in 2003 and second in 2004, and favourite Nic Bol. Bram van Hooijdonk, as bowman of Den Engelsman explained: “We were totally convinced of the right side of the course, since there was a huge, black cloud over there, but the wind shifted to the left. We were almost last at the upwind mark.” And they were wrong again in the second windward leg, so they were forced to take a risk. “We went to the extreme right, where we lost more boats”, said Van Hooijdonk. A 38th position was the result.

Nic Bol and his team had a bad race as well and ended up 30th, so the competition for silver was still on.

The final race was decisive as Van Hooijdonk explained: “Boat two through to ten were close, so we had to be fast.” Den Engelsman took his revenge and led the fleet until the last windward leg when two teams passed them: Nic Bol, Hjo Bijleveld, Dennis Goethals and Sander van der Borch were eighth and dropped to the third position overall. “Of course we were sour about that, but we are still very satisfied," said Bol. "There are about 82 other teams that would have liked to be where we are.”

The only Dutch female team of Marijke Manuel, Lot van Hooijdonk, Bregje Lodewikus and Renske Verbeek were overjoyed when they ended up in sixth position overall. Since they have sailed together for only two months, their surprise was big. “Prior to the championship, our goal was to get into the gold fleet”, said Lot van Hooijdonk.

“According to our trainer, there is much potential in our team, so I am very happy that we showed it this week”, added Marijke Manuel proudly. On the last racing day, the girls climbed three places.

The Gaastra J22 Worlds 2005 started on Monday July 4 and ended on Friday July 8th in Medemblik, the Netherlands. The fleet consisted of 84 J22s, representing eight countries. The qualification races for gold and silver fleet were sailed on the first two days, but the participants had to stay ashore on Monday due to bad conditions. Finally, eight out of fourteen planned races took place.

Top five final results Gaastra J22 Worlds:
1. NED – T. Timmermans, J. Feitsma, F. van Leeuwen, I. Peule / 15 points
2. NED – J. den Engelsman, S. Machielsen, B. van Hooijdonk / 38 points
3. NED – N. Bol, H. Bijleveld, D. Goethals, S. van der Borch / 41 points
4. NED – D. Forma, D. Schaaf, M. van Gelderen / 57 points
5. NED - M. Bon, J. Jepma, R. Roos / 58 points