Kiri Thode, just back from a terrific championship in Sylt, Germany, showed what he was made of during the Freestyle competition, which took place last Wednesday morning. As dark clouds gathered and gusts of wind swept the water surface, Kiri’s star shone brightly. Acrobatics included a fantastic Burner, switch-stand Chacho’s and E-Sliders as well as a loop or two.

Asking scoring official Mac from Aruba why Kiri stands out in a terrific field, Mac said: ``Kiri makes optimal uses of the wind. When the other competitors make three moves, Kiri makes eight, showing lots of transitions and board maneuvers in between the awesome stuff.’’ Choko Frans got second place, impressing the judges very much as well, while Bjorn Saragoza came third.

There is still a lot to learn and practice, but Youp Schmit is on his way as a new Freestyle talent. He proved that last Wednesday in the Junior Freestyle competition. Schmit is followed by young Amado Vrieswijk, a huge windsurfing talent, and Florian Wegerer.

Freestyle Kids winner was Jurgen Saragoza. He was in good company: 2. Stepherd Gustowki (Bon) and 3. Mitchell de Palm (Cur).

The Regatta’s Sunfish champion of the last few years, Sipke Stapert, does not disappoint this time either: he is still leading the field after the first five races. Yellowman, Alfred Martis, is currently in second place and Cabes, George Soliano in third. In the Sunfish B it is Damiaan van den Burg, with Ruben van Eldik and Jason Carter.

Fishing boat captains Papichi and Jopie Soliano had enough wind on Thursday at the start, but unfortunately the Unico of Papichi had to be towed ashore after a technical breakdown. The first race between the two brothers was held on Wednesday: the course for the historic fishing boats was cut short drastically as there was too much wind for this type of vessel.

Aruba’s Rudolfo St. Jago, Mariela Kock and Elvis Kock are currently holding the top three positions in the C Class of the Micro boats. Top Gun and Dushi Yu I and II have done exceptionally well so far.Everardo Janga (AUA – No Game) and Tino Thielman (Bon –Whitestone) are in fourth and fifth.

In the B category it is Jenaldo Domacasse from Bonaire, who sailed his boat Joselle to first place. He is followed by Mariela Kock from Aruba (GC) abd Irma Nadorp from Bonaire (Gipi). Black Label (AUA – Elvis Kock) and Jesica (Bon – Elton Domacasse) are in fourth and fifth place.

Class A is an international affair at the top: Samantha Domacasse’s Samantha (Bon) is in first position, Aruba’s Rasta Fly (Elvis Kock) is in second, and Curacao’s Escape (Ibi Zimmerman) is in third. The Black Hog and the Chucker are both from Aruba in fourth and fifth position (Miguel Barera and Jessica St. Jago).

The new Trimaran category has four participants: their position is currently: 1. Rose –(Reagan Soliano), 2. Kimberly (Kimberly Soliano – USA), 3. Veva (Jopi Soliano – Bon) and 4. the Keda (Alejandro de Wind – Aua)

Bon nochi públiko di Boneiru aki presente. Pa motibu ku e Regata aki ta un evento di karakter internashonal i nos tin huéspetnan di otro pais presente ku no ta komprondé nos idioma papiamentu, pa motibu di nos hospitalidat tradishonal, pa motibu ku mi ta orguyoso ku boso por komprondé diferente idioma, permití mi pa mi hiba palabra na Ingles.

Good evening everybody here present. Thank you for responding to the call of Bonaire to celebrate and participate in the 42nd edition of our International Sailing Regatta & Festival. On behalf of the community of Bonaire I welcome you!

I am sure this Regatta, and maybe even this 42nd edition, is special for everyone. Everybody will have a specific reason or condition which stands out during the lifespan of this event that will make it stand out in the series of events you participate in throughout your life. For me there are two reasons that stand out that I would like to share with you. The first reason is because this is the first time in my life I am asked to open the Sailing Regatta & Festival event. So the 42nd Regatta will always stand out in my memory for this reason. The second reason why this Regatta will stand out in my memory is because it has made me deeply conscious of the personal history many of us Bonaireans have in connection to the Regatta events. Let me share some memories with you and forgive me if I sound or am too romantic at times.
My grandfather used to race the Regatta every year. I have great memories of the weeks before the Regatta week. The boat my granddad raced with was called “Eagle”. He was very proud of this boat and he instilled in his children and grandchildren this same sense of pride and connection to this boat. He showed us that to be proud also means to feel responsible. So weeks before the Regatta week, he would gather his friends, but also his children and grandchildren and have us all involved in the preparations of the boat for the Regatta races. The boat would be pulled out of the water, put on the ramp at Playa Pabou and be completely revised. The rigging would be inspected and the hull would be cleared of debris, liberated from old paint and repaired where needed. I remember using this thing they called ‘stopverf’ which would stick for days on your fingers to help smooth out the hull. When done with that, fresh paint would be applied to the hull for a smooth finish.

The whole rig would be checked, and my grandfather took the sails home to inspect. I remember us sitting on the floor in the living room at the home in Noord Saliña. My grandmother had to move the furniture aside so the sails could be laid out on the floor to be inspected and worked on. Then out came this beautiful set of leather gloves and needles and other sewing gear to sew the sails. The sails would be scrutinized and reinforced where needed. My grandfather thought us that confronting the sea, but also an adversary in a race in the Regatta, you should do the utmost to not leave the integrity and efficiency of the boat and the rig to chance. Prepare yourself to perform to your best abilities. This lesson has been very valuable to me in my whole life and still serves me well to this day. Let me share another one with you.
My grandfather used to win and win, sometimes even year after year. At a certain moment a great cup was offered to the winner to take home yearly. After a certain amount of consecutive wins the cup could be taken home permanently. I remember my grandfather had that huge cup at home for almost the amount of years that would make it his forever. He was missing just one win.

Now being this young boy, I asked my grandfather to go with him in the boat in the race many times. He did not take such requests lightly. He made me understand that even though he liked me incredibly much as a grandson, he needed others to help him on the “Eagle”. But eventually I was allowed to go one year. It was in 1980. This year I remember him preparing sharply because he was facing stiff competition. This other boat had appeared on the scene, called “Ethienne”. This boat and his captain, mister Ismael Soliana I believe, performed better then my grandfather and his “Eagle”. So instead of coming in first, “Eagle” was expected to come in second. My grandfather was checking everything. He was counting ballast to weigh the boat just perfect. I remember us having to move these lead bricks in and out of the boat and also in different positions in the boat while my grandfather would see and feel how to boat sat in the water. Then we prepared these big bags of weight that needed to be shifted by us while racing to have to boat handle just as he wanted. He did test runs and we shifted the weight about. We did all of that, but still the Etienne won in 1980 also. I have the second place trophy here in my hand.
My grandfather showed me in that year how calmly and honorably you recognize that some else is better in something you want to excel in, but how to still keep giving your best to excel. He still tried his best in consecutive years to outclass “Ethienne”, but that large fishing boat and her captain took the huge cup home forever. I believe this duo of large fishing boats, “Eagle” and “Ethienne”, made the Regatta for the Bonaire community an incredibly exciting event. I feel deeply honored that this year the organizers of the Regatta will dedicate this event to my grandfather, who did the things I just described, and many more.
So, another personal lesson I learned from the Regatta was to recognize greatness when you are in its presence. I thank you all to keep recreating the opportunity for the discovery of these and other great qualities by participating in our Regatta and being here on stage with us. I hope Bonaire can somehow revive the large and small local fishing boat races, so the local community can unite and come together weeks before the Regatta week to prepare to excel and to recognize the greatness in others.
I am convinced that all of you, in one way or another, have such important experiences, histories and connections to our Regatta. Keep coming and keep celebrating it with us. The Regatta is part of our national and personal heritage, and I know your participation makes you part of us.
I ask you to join the whole community of Bonaire to make this event a deep personal experience the coming week. Please help us also to keep it a safe and healthy event.

The moment has come for me to declare that the 42nd Bonaire International Sailing Regatta and Festival 2009 OFFICIALLY OPENED.

The various starts of the first day of racing of the Regatta went off like without any hitches. Flags went up and down, horns were blown and boats sailed across the starting line in the pre-arranged sequence. Only one of the windsurfers had an over-early, and the entire group turned back in support of this lonely pirate. A new starting sequence was announced and away they went in the 10-15 knot-wind.

The total number of registrations at this year’s edition is not known at this time, because the microboats still need to be registered. There are 21 yachts sailing in various categories, eight Optimists, thirteen Sunfishes, three Splashes and two Lasers. The Windsurfers are the largest group with twenty-two participants.

Good news from the professional windsurfers of Bonaire: Tati, Kiri and Tonky are coming back today from Sylt, Germany, where they were victorious among their international peers. Tati is returning with a champion’s trophy, Kiri got second place and Tonky had a third place. These guys are promoting Bonaire in the best way possible! Pabien!

The daily press conference of the Regatta saw organizer Byron Tromp and race director Victor Wijnand tell the assembled press members about the opening of the festival, the proceedings of the races and the weather forecast for the coming week and about new plans.

The opening of the Festival in downtown Kralendijk was a festive affair with lots of music, dancing and fun. Lieutenant governor Glenn Thode, for the first time officially opening the Regatta, spoke about this year’s event, which has been dedicated to his grandfather, Pedro Cristobal Thode. Shon Jan, as he was called, was one of Bonaire’s best respected captains. Mr. Thode remembered his grandparents and the time he spent on Bonaire in his speech.

The races went very well last Monday; the only incident was that a crew member of Team Ibis had to be picked up by a rescue boat because he had gotten a boom against his head. He needed stitching in the hospital, but he is absolutely fine now.

The weather forecast is favorable: light to medium wind which will be picking up during the week of racing. Tonight is the registration for the microboats, which is always a very loud and happy event.

A new plan was disclosed during the press briefing: Byron explained that the number of participating yachts has not been growing in the past years due to the fact that marina slots are not easily available at the time of the Regatta. Now there is the possibility of buying a floating marina, which would accommodate a number of yachts for a limited period of time. A costly solution, but one which would surely reverse the declining number of participants for many years to come.

Story of the day was the engine fire at the Aruban yacht Tranquilo with Curacao in sight: the starting engine had caught fire through overheating and captain Anthony Hagedoorn and his crew had to dock into the harbor without their motor, no mean feat. The Tranquilo will not be able to race the first race of this edition of the International Bonaire Sailing Regatta because of the lack of motorized power, but she is going to participate after that as much as she can..

Another Aruban participant at the regatta is the Eva Luna of Anita and Eric Mijts: it took them 48 hours to get to Bonaire, due to the fact that there was a fierce current keeping them on Aruban waters. Six hours after take off, they could still clearly see the North Coast of Aruba. The Eva Luna arrived at the marina on Saturday afternoon; celebrations were in order, of course.

The other story was the so-called Budget Marine Aanbreng Race 2009: a 7.30 am start saw eight boats from Curacao enjoying a favorable wind that was to take them to Bonaire. Around 10.30 however, a terrible rain shower almost drowned seven participating yachts and the wind lost its direction. Sailors were almost blind sighted, so much water came down. The Team Ibis of captain Karel van Haren, who just missed the downpour, made good use of his good fortune: he sailed to Bonaire in a straight line, arriving at 14.11 pm in first place. The Dash came in forty minutes later.

The results of the Racing Class are: 1. Team Ibis; 2. Chamba; 3. Dash; 4. Demarage and a Did Not Finish (DNF) for the Merlin. Racing Cruising Class results were: 1. Marvin; 2. Venus Callipyge and 3. Melody.

Despues di un tremendo Regata 41 ya nos ta den porta pa selebra Regata 42, di 4 pa 10 di oktober proksimo. Na April ultimo ya kaba BSaF huntu ku TCB a hasi e prome promoshonnan na Aruba i Korsou kaminda e interes tabata grandi atrobe.

E grupo di Prensa Internashonal ku aña pasá a eksperensia nos evento tambe a hasi nan promoshon i a skirbi masha positivo di nos Regata i a hasi invitashon na amantenan di bela i bon ambiente pa bishita Bonaire e aña aki. E programa general ya ta kla i ta hinkando esun di e Festival den otro. E sentro di kompetensia ta keda Kas di Regata i ta spera manera ya ta kustumber gran kantidat di partisipante ku lo hiba kompetensia den varios kategoria den nos bahia. Vakansi di tantu Korsou komo Aruba ta kore igual i esaki ta kontribui grandemente pa hisa e kantidat di bishitantenan. Kas di Regata lo ofrese tur dia aktividat pa e partisipante i bishitantenan i yegando den fin di siman lo tin presentashon di gruponan lokal i brass bands riba malekon.

Sport Week

Regatta Sport Week ta keda un atrakshon spesial kaminda diferente displina di otro deporte i aktividat ta tuma luga. E preparashon pa e torneo internashonal di Softbol Mr. Bug ta kana bon i nan ta spera basta ekipo manera tabata e kaso den e ultimo añanan. Meskos ta konta tambe pa e torneo di Domino ‘Kopa Regata’ ku huntu ku Cargill Wellness Team lo inklui tambe un parada di bisikleta den nan aktividat. E otro aktividatnan deportivo ku tambe ta forma parti di e siman deportivo ta e kaminata Pia Pia, Jong Bonaire su Swim to Klein Bonaire, Working Boat Parade, FCB su paseo di Bisikleta, i e karedanan di Kayak. Lamentablemente pa motibunan fuera di alkanse e tan gustá torneo di Beach Volley Ball no ta sigui e aña aki. Pa loke ta trata e famoso kareda anual di Comcabon, e organisado ta anunsia ku e aña kai nan ta selebra nan di 5 lustro i lo kombiná e festividat ku un parada ku atletanan ku a yega di partisipa durante e ultimo 25 añanan na Bonaire. E organisashon ta buskando kontakto ku e atletanan aki na tantu Korsou komo Aruba pa invita nan. Otro tremendo aktividat ku pa prome biaha a keda organisá aña pasá ta e Golden Boat Party. Esaki ta tuma luga atrobe den bahia di Kralendjk den dia riba e ultimo diasabra di Regata. E ‘fiesta show’ di boto aki a hala hopi boto i yate ku bishitantenan di hermana isla Korsou i huntu ku e embarkashonnan di Bonaire a forma un ambiente formal den bahia i na tera kaminda varios grupo musikal i di baile a mira presentashon. E aña aki e aktividat ta priminti di bira otro eksito. BSaF a keda aserká tambe pa e promotornan di ‘Vierdaagse ABC’ pa pone e kaminata maratoniko ‘Vierdaagse Bonaire’ durante e siman di Regata. E kaminata aki di 25 pa 30 kilometro pa dia lo kuminsa riba djahuebs i kaba diadomingo. Ku e kaminata aki Regatta Sport Week ta bira un aktividat mas riku. Mas detaye di esaki lo keda publika despues.

Regatta Festival

E famoso parada di tur nashon ‘All Nations Parade’ ku ta pasa den kayanan di Bonaire lo ta e aktividat mas prinsipal na e apertura di Regata 42. E kolorido parada aki, kaminda gruponan den representashon di nan pais ta marcha ku nan bandera trahe i musika, ta pa mustra ku nan tambe ta forma parti di nos komunidat i ta uni na apertura di Bonaire su evento mayό. Ta hasi un yamada na representante di e varios paisnan pa nan kuminsa organisá nan grupo pa partisipa e aña aki tambe. Pa loke ta trata e Festival, manera ya nos a menshona ta hinkado e programa den otro. Pero ya kaba tin konfirmashon di algun grupo musikal i baile di Korsou, Aruba i ta pendiente di un grupo internashonal ku lo presenta huntu ku nos gruponan lokal den e Festival. Ta e intenshon pa e aña aki varia e programa hinkando nos gruponan krioyo tur dia den e progama promoviendo asina nos propio musika i baile. E sitio ta keda igual ku ta Parke Wilhelmina i Malekon ku e tarima ku lomba pa Ofisina di Post. Asina ku e progama ta kla esaki lo keda publika, pues keda pendiente. Pa loke ta trata e ‘stands’ den e Festival, BsaF ta suplika pa traha un petishon  na Regatta Festival i entrega esaki mas pronto posibel na ofisina di TCB. BSaF ta tene kuenta manera semper ku e klientenan di kustumber, pero ta supliká nan tambe pa yama i konfirma nan partisipashon.