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NETHERLANDS ANTILLES

Posted: 2010-02-22

Curaçao Youth Championship 2010

On returning back home from Curacao, where they had taken their son to participate in the Curacao Youth Championship last January, Laurey-Ann and Ruargh Findlay from St Maarten, wrote a letter to IODA commenting on the unbelievable experience they had had in Netherlands Antilles. Read the letter and learn about the tough sailing conditions the kids endured in the event, that can't be described better.

They also wrote a thank-you letter to the organisers, from which we extracted the following paragraphs that describe the excellent organisation and wonderful hospitality of the organisers in Curaçao.

“... I am writing to say thank you for a wonderful taste of Curaçao hospitality, kindness and welcome. So on behalf of Liesbeth, Laurey-Ann and the boys I hope that you will spread the word of our total enjoyment of our wonderful experience over the CYC 2010 . It will be remembered with fondness and appreciation for a long time to come. Our admiration of Robert as a Race Officer and the respect we have for all those who made the event possible is unsurpassed. Thank you all for your dedication and hard work. You will long be remembered as the foremost team of people dedicated to youth sailing we have ever met. From the smallest item being the water provided , the food, the lunches, the courses all were outstanding and the bar you have set is the highest we have ever imagined. Even the skippers meetings the presentation of the prizes and every aspect seemed so carefully and clearly dedicated to the children's ultimate benefit. I would truly recommend any aspiring person wanting to learn how to organize youth sailing events to come study under you. We salute you.

...

On our return to St Maarten every one wanted to know what happened and how it went, so instead of boring everyone with long explanations I decided to write a brief report and include pictures which would best convey the size of the waves and the strength of the winds your brave kids treat as normal. They certainly deserved our admiration with their impressive performances. I am sure that it will be the ambition of a great many members of our youth to come sail in Curacao in the future.”

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Posted: 2009-06-24

Klein Curaçao Challenge

Sometimes young kids have big dreams and want to challenge themselves. 9 Optimist sailors between 11 and 15 years of age challenged themselves to sail in an Optimist of 2 ½ meter from “Klein Curacao” to Curacao. A 30 km crossing on open sea with high waves and strong winds. On Saturday 13 June 9 Curacao kids and their boats embarked the ‘Mermaid’, a motor vessel, and set off to the remote island of Klein Curaçao. Why did they want to challenge themselves? First of all to make the population more aware that around Curaçao, a small island within the Neterlands Antilles, we have splendid waters, which we should use to the fullest. Secondly to show that children are able to do more things than one frequently thinks. Also to have an intensive training for the Optinam 2009, with an emphasis on the down wind technique. And finally to raise money to participate in the North American Optimist Championships, the OPTINAM 2009 in the Dominican Republic.

After a briefing by coach Martin Jenkins, the sailors departed Klein Curaçao around 11:00 accompanied by 5 rescue boats. The conditions were perfect, force 4 to 5 and waves between 1.70 and 1.90 meter. Without any problems, just a couple of capsizes and nosedips, all sailors reached the Lions Dive Hotel safely around 16:30. Kevin van Otterdijk (14), Kevin Maas (13), Jarrik Bijsterbosch (13), Eugene (15) en Louis (13) Hendrikx, Deion (13) en Jorden (11) van Rooijen and Just (13) and Odile (11) van Aanholt can be very proud of themseleves. At the beach the team was welcomed by parents, family, friends, sponsors and the press. Mr Millerson and Mr van Wilgen of the Netherlands Antilles Olympic Committee presented the AHO flag to the team, congratulated them and whished them good luck at the OPTINAM 2009.

The OPTINAM 2009 team is sponsored by: ENNIA, Banco di Caribe, DAE, Lions Dive Hotel, CMTC, Curaçaose Wegenbouw Maatschappij, Elite Dry Cleaning, Firgos Bonaire, Firgos Curaçao, Hemingway, Livingstone, Mermaid, Onsoftarch, Sambal, Seaquarium, Wet & Wild & Willemstad NV.