We started the Antwerp race with a marvelous start. We won the pin end of the line and were in front of all the large IRC 1 boats. We hoisted the masthead kite and were able to maintain our favourable spot until we had to drop the kite half an hour later.

On the genua we suffered quite a lot, because we didn't have a (smaller) reaching spinnaker. The other M30, Mumma Duck, did had one; so they passed us. We were able to hook on the stern wave of a Sydney 39 with a reaching spinnaker and lifted back in front of the Mumma Duck.

We hoisted our spinnaker again and were able to extend our lead on the Mumma Duck. The third M30, vanUdenTUDelftvanOord, was already out of sight. Until the last corner we held our lead, but then we ended up in a windless spot and the Mumma Duck passed us. We were able to catch up again and made it a very close finish, of which nobody could tell who won.

At the prize giving it turned out we lost by 2 seconds and in IRC 1 we finished 14th. Although, it was annoying to lead the entire race and lose it in the last corner, we had a nice race. It is really cool to have such a close racing in an one-design fleet!

photograph by: Mumma Duck

Team Triple P:

   1  Ernst-Jan van Housselt

   2  Ralph Etten

   3  Toon van Liebergen

   4  Ko Stroo

   5  Marc de Haas

   6  Fezi Khaleghi

   7  Jeroen van de Velden