STIFF BREEZE during BELGIAN OPEN 2019

The 21 competitors of the Belgian Open 2019 in Ostend (8 – 11 August) of whom 6 NED’s and 4 GBR’s experienced a lovely start of the Championship.

However…during the Championship an Atlantic Low brought a frontal system with serious showers on Friday 9th and a south westerly storm on Saturday 10 August. The wind tracker in Ostend indicated a peak of the storm on Saturday at 15:20 hrs with 43 knots of wind.
Even the alternative programme ‘beach sailing’ had to be cancelled. Team NED 380 and company reported that they went for a walk. They crossed the harbour in a rolling ferry, while the Dragons were well sheltered in Montgomery Dock.

The Saturday Evening ‘ walking Dinner’ at the Royal North Sea YC was as ever delicious and in a great friendly atmosphere.

During the dinner the storm had calmed down. On the final day the 2019 Championship could be finished with two races.

NED 422 Team Bakker consolidated their leading position during the races on Sunday with a score 2 and 6 (which was discarded) scoring a total of 13 points. They became Belgian Champion 2019.
WELL DONE Jan, Olivier and Dominic !

With 5 points difference BEL 80 (Team Van Cauwenbergh) became 2nd, followed by BEL 79 (Team Van Helsen)

Team NED 432 (Van Dis) performed also strong during this last day with a score 1 and 5 out of the 14 boats that started. Seven teams had concluded that the swell of the North Sea and the gusts of around 20 – 25 knots was a bit too much for a Sunday afternoon sail. They took a DNC and an early craning out.