[UK Cat Info] [Press Release] Team Holmatro starts inconstantly in Portsmouth

Tue, 30 May 2006 19:06:48 -0400

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PRESS RELEASE

Team Holmatro starts inconstantly in Portsmouth 
Spectacular capsizes on second day 

Portsmouth / Great Britain, May 30 2006

  _____  

Team Holmatro started inconstantly at the Volvo Extreme 40 Grand Prix in
Portsmouth (GBR). After two days and eight races, the Dutch entry claims
a fourth position overall. The Austrian Andreas Hagara, former European
and national Champion Tornado, did the honours as a skipper on Sunday.
He performed pretty well with a series of 4-2-2-4. On Tuesday May 30,
Mitch Booth returned in his role as skipper with Hagara next to him. The
crew experienced difficulties with the short course and a drop on the
point table was inevitable. Tommy Hilfiger and subsequently  the Volvo
Ocean Race multihull made history as first VX 40's to capsize in a
breeze up to 25 knots. Basilica stood up against all risks and is
leading, followed by Tommy Hilfiger and Motorola. 

"That was an entertaining day", said Mitch Booth afterwards on the dock.
"I was so much distracted on the downwind leg, that I sailed over the
starting buoy." It was Leigh MacMillan that pitchpoled first with the
Motorola in the second race. The crew was hanging in the air for
seconds, with the rudders free. The VX 40 came down snail-like and
everybody drew a breath of relief, as nobody knew the consequences of a
capsize. The answer came in the last race: the carbon boat and the
sailors were very strong. Randy Smith and his teammates were given the
honour to be the very first VX 40 upside down. They were just recovering
from a nose dive, as the next wind gust came in. It blew the American
multihull over. A heavy rib was needed to upright it. While being in
this rescue process, the Volvo Ocean Race team pitchpoled merciless.
Skipper Yves Loday, designer of the VX 40 and 1992 olympic champion
Tornado, could not avoid this unvoluntary swim and crashed badly into
the mast. Loday, who had a bruise in his face: "The cold water relieved
the pain, but my back hurts now." Nevertheless, the sailors could still
make fun of it. Randy Smith, sitting on the upper hull and shouting down
to the people in the rib: "Of course we will finish the race anyway."
This did not happen.

Team Holmatro had its own problems today. The starts went well, but from
there they lost more and more ground to the competitors. They dropped
from a second to a fourth place overall, with a series of 5-4-4-3 on
Tuesday. Booth afterwards: "We have not performed well. The course was
too short for us, which resulted in poor boat handeling as our guys are
in general smaller. It is pretty heavy to carry around the spinnaker and
to trim constantly." But this did not affect the effort or fun. The
second Austrian guest crew member Alex Wiesinger, won in 1986 with
Andreas Hagara the European title Hobie Cat 18 en skippers a Dragon
nowadays, with a smile: "It has been years since I was a bowman. I am
totally broken, but it was great." He replaced Herbert Dercksen, who got
sick after the Holland Regatta. Taylor Booth was the fourth core crew
member.   

Hagara's comeback
Hagara enjoyed his latest sailing adventure on the Volvo Extreme 40: "I
have tried to set up an Austrian project, but I did not succeed. Mitch
called me and asked me to stand in for him on Sunday. I have not sailed
for two years, so I had to get used to it at the beginning. Especially
because we had 24 knots on the first training day, which was pretty
tough. Taylor was the only person who knew the boat." Hagara's goals was
not to finish in last position, which did not happen: "I think my
extensive experience counts. We were off in first position every time
and we could take over other teams on boat speed. The forces are
incredible and the fun factor is big."

A very sad loss
The arrival in Portsmouth was also an emotional event for the employees
and relations of Holmatro. Their beloved skipper Hans Horrevoets of the
Holmatro 1, a Grand Soleil 44, died on May 18th 2006 during the seventh
leg of the Volvo Ocean Race. Since 2003, Horrevoets has used his
passion, knowledge and professionalism in sailing as a coach and trainer
of talented young sailors. He made their dreams of participating in high
level IMS-events come true. They did it and won several prizes.  
Jaap Meijer, Managing Director Holmatro: "We had so many more plans with
Hans for after the Volvo Ocean Race. I can still not believe he is gone.
Hans has always had an enormous value for our company, as a skipper and
as a person. We will miss him deeply."

The Portsmouth Grand Prix will end on Thursday June 1st 2006. 

///

  _____  

For more information about Team Holmatro, please contact Diana Bogaards
on number +31 6-51383762 or by e-mail to diana@diabo.nl
<mailto:diana@diabo.nl> 

Photography: Team Holmatro / Diana Bogaards
You can download high resolution images from www.holmatro.nl
<http://www.holmatro.nl>  or you can send your request by e-mail to
Diana Bogaards. 

For more Information on the VX-40-class, please surf to
www.volvoextreme40.org <http://www.volvoextreme40.org> .

  _____  

 <http://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/newspics/vx40_boei.jpg>  Mark
rounding <http://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/newspics/vx40_boei.jpg>
<http://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/newspics/vx40_capsize_med.jpg>
Capsize
<http://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/newspics/vx40_capsize_med.jpg>
<http://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/newspics/vx40_flying_med.jpg>  Flying
one hull
<http://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/newspics/vx40_flying_med.jpg>
<http://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/newspics/vx40_nosedive_med.jpg>  Nose
dive <http://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/newspics/vx40_nosedive_med.jpg>
<http://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/newspics/vx40_spiset_med.jpg>  Spiset
<http://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/newspics/vx40_spiset_med.jpg> 
  U staat momenteel in ons bestand met het volgende mailadres:
info@catamaran.co.uk	

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<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC"-//IETF//DTD HTML//EN"><html><head><style =
type=3Dtext/css></style></head><body =
bgcolor=3D"#FFFFFF"><DIV align=3D"center"><center><table border=3D"0" =
cellspacing=3D"1" celpadding=3D"1" width=3D"680" =
bgcolor=3D"#ffffff"><tr><td width=3D"100%" bgcolor=3D"#ffffff"><table =
width=3D"100%" height=3D"110" border=3D"0"><tr><td width=3D"100%" =
align=3D"center"><img =
src=3Dhttp://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/eventlogo/blanco.jpg =
border=3D0></td></tr></table><tr><td =
bgcolor=3D"#ffffff"></td></tr><tr><td width=3D"100%" =
bgcolor=3D"#FFFFFF"><DIV align=3D"center"><center><table border=3D"0" =
cellpadding=3D"2" cellspacing=3D"0" width=3D"96%"><tr><td =
width=3D"100%"><h3>PRESS RELEASE</h3><STRONG>Team Holmatro starts =
inconstantly in Portsmouth </STRONG>
<BR><STRONG><EM>Spectacular capsizes on second day</EM></STRONG>
<br><br>Portsmouth / Great Britain, May 30 2006</td></tr><tr><td =
width=3D"100%"></td></tr><tr><td width=3D"100%"></td></tr><tr><td =
width=3D"100%"><hr class=3Dhr_blue><br>
</td></tr><tr><td width=3D"100%"><img =
src=3D'http://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/newspics/vx40_capsize_kl.jpg' =
align=3D'left' valign=3D'middle' hspace=3D'10'>
<P>Team Holmatro started inconstantly at the Volvo Extreme 40 Grand Prix =
in Portsmouth (GBR). After two days and eight races, the Dutch entry =
claims a fourth position overall. The Austrian Andreas Hagara, former =
European and national Champion Tornado, did the honours as a skipper on =
Sunday. He performed pretty well with a series of 4-2-2-4. On Tuesday =
May 30, Mitch Booth returned in his role as skipper with Hagara next to =
him. The crew experienced difficulties with the short course and a drop =
on the point table was inevitable. Tommy Hilfiger and subsequently  the =
Volvo Ocean Race multihull made history as first VX 40's to capsize in a =
breeze up to 25 knots. Basilica stood up against all risks and is =
leading, followed by Tommy Hilfiger and Motorola. </P>
<img =
src=3D'http://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/newspics/vx40_nosedive_kl.jpg' =
align=3D'right' valign=3D'middle' hspace=3D'10'>
<P>"That was an entertaining day", said Mitch Booth afterwards on the =
dock. "I was so much distracted on the downwind leg, that I sailed over =
the starting buoy." It was Leigh MacMillan that pitchpoled first with =
the Motorola in the second race. The crew was hanging in the air for =
seconds, with the rudders free. The VX 40 came down snail-like and =
everybody drew a breath of relief, as nobody knew the consequences of a =
capsize. The answer came in the last race: the carbon boat and the =
sailors were very strong. Randy Smith and his teammates were given the =
honour to be the very first VX 40 upside down. They were just recovering =
from a nose dive, as the next wind gust came in. It blew the American =
multihull over. A heavy rib was needed to upright it. While being in =
this rescue process, the Volvo Ocean Race team pitchpoled merciless. =
Skipper Yves Loday, designer of the VX 40 and 1992 olympic champion =
Tornado, could not avoid this unvoluntary swim and crashed badly into =
the mast. Loday, who had a bruise in his face: "The cold water relieved =
the pain, but my back hurts now." Nevertheless, the sailors could still =
make fun of it. Randy Smith, sitting on the upper hull and shouting down =
to the people in the rib: "Of course we will finish the race anyway." =
This did not happen.</P>
<img =
src=3D'http://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/newspics/vx40_spiset_kl.jpg' =
align=3D'left' valign=3D'middle' hspace=3D'10'>
<P>Team Holmatro had its own problems today. The starts went well, but =
from there they lost more and more ground to the competitors. They =
dropped from a second to a fourth place overall, with a series of =
5-4-4-3 on Tuesday. Booth afterwards: "We have not performed well. The =
course was too short for us, which resulted in poor boat handeling as =
our guys are in general smaller. It is pretty heavy to carry around the =
spinnaker and to trim constantly." But this did not affect the effort or =
fun. The second Austrian guest crew member Alex Wiesinger, won in 1986 =
with Andreas Hagara the European title Hobie Cat 18 en skippers a Dragon =
nowadays, with a smile: "It has been years since I was a bowman. I am =
totally broken, but it was great." He replaced Herbert Dercksen, who got =
sick after the Holland Regatta. Taylor Booth was the fourth core crew =
member.   </P>
<img =
src=3D'http://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/newspics/vx40_flying_kl.jpg' =
align=3D'right' valign=3D'middle' hspace=3D'10'>
<P><STRONG>Hagara's comeback</STRONG><BR>Hagara enjoyed his latest =
sailing adventure on the Volvo Extreme 40: "I have tried to set up an =
Austrian project, but I did not succeed. Mitch called me and asked me to =
stand in for him on Sunday. I have not sailed for two years, so I had to =
get used to it at the beginning. Especially because we had 24 knots on =
the first training day, which was pretty tough. Taylor was the only =
person who knew the boat." Hagara's goals was not to finish in last =
position, which did not happen: "I think my extensive experience counts. =
We were off in first position every time and we could take over other =
teams on boat speed. The forces are incredible and the fun factor is =
big."</P>
<P><STRONG>A very sad loss<BR></STRONG>The arrival in Portsmouth was =
also an emotional event for the employees and relations of Holmatro. =
Their beloved skipper Hans Horrevoets of the Holmatro 1, a Grand Soleil =
44, died on May 18th 2006 during the seventh leg of the Volvo Ocean =
Race. Since 2003, Horrevoets has used his passion, knowledge and =
professionalism in sailing as a coach and trainer of talented young =
sailors. He made their dreams of participating in high level IMS-events =
come true. They did it and won several prizes.  <BR>Jaap Meijer, =
Managing Director Holmatro: "We had so many more plans with Hans for =
after the Volvo Ocean Race. I can still not believe he is gone. Hans has =
always had an enormous value for our company, as a skipper and as a =
person. We will miss him deeply."</P>
<P>The Portsmouth Grand Prix will end on Thursday June 1st 2006. </P>
<P>///<BR></P></td></tr><tr><td width=3D"100%"><hr class=3Dhr_blue>

</td></tr><tr><td width=3D"100%"><P>For more information about Team =
Holmatro, please contact Diana Bogaards on number +31 6-51383762 or by =
e-mail to <A href=3Dmailto:diana@diabo.nl>diana@diabo.nl</A></P>
<P>Photography: Team Holmatro / Diana Bogaards<BR>You can download high =
resolution images from <A =
href=3Dhttp://www.holmatro.nl>www.holmatro.nl</A> or you can send your =
request by e-mail to Diana Bogaards. </P>
<P>For more Information on the VX-40-class, please surf to <A =
href=3Dhttp://www.volvoextreme40.org>www.volvoextreme40.org</A>.</P>

<br><br>
</td></tr><tr><td width=3D"100%"><hr class=3Dhr_blue>
<a href=3Dhttp://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/newspics/vx40_boei.jpg =
target=3D_blank><img =
src=3Dhttp://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/icon/icon_pics.jpg =
border=3D0></a>  <a =
href=3Dhttp://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/newspics/vx40_boei.jpg =
target=3D_blank>Mark rounding</a>
<a =
href=3Dhttp://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/newspics/vx40_capsize_med.jpg =
target=3D_blank><img =
src=3Dhttp://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/icon/icon_pics.jpg =
border=3D0></a>  <a =
href=3Dhttp://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/newspics/vx40_capsize_med.jpg =
target=3D_blank>Capsize</a>
<a href=3Dhttp://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/newspics/vx40_flying_med.jpg =
target=3D_blank><img =
src=3Dhttp://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/icon/icon_pics.jpg =
border=3D0></a>  <a =
href=3Dhttp://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/newspics/vx40_flying_med.jpg =
target=3D_blank>Flying one hull</a>
<a =
href=3Dhttp://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/newspics/vx40_nosedive_med.jpg =
target=3D_blank><img =
src=3Dhttp://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/icon/icon_pics.jpg =
border=3D0></a>  <a =
href=3Dhttp://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/newspics/vx40_nosedive_med.jpg =
target=3D_blank>Nose dive</a>
<a href=3Dhttp://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/newspics/vx40_spiset_med.jpg =
target=3D_blank><img =
src=3Dhttp://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/icon/icon_pics.jpg =
border=3D0></a>  <a =
href=3Dhttp://www.diabo.nl/images/applic/newspics/vx40_spiset_med.jpg =
target=3D_blank>Spiset</a></td></tr></table></center></div></td></tr><tr>=
<td width=3D"100%" colspan=3D"2" bgcolor=3D"#FFFFFF" class=3D"smalltext" =
align=3D"center">&nbsp;&nbsp;U staat momenteel in ons bestand met het =
volgende mailadres: =
info@catamaran.co.uk</td></tr></table></center></div></body></html>
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