The Curacao Youth Championships which took place from 2 till 4 January 2008 was a big success and:

THESE ARE THE WINNERS OF THE CYC 2008!!

Left to right: Romy Toornend - Optimist B; Dennis van den Berg - Splash; Louis Hendrikx - Optimist A; Aimee Voigt - YSCO Opti's

CYC 2008 exciting till the end

Racing was very tight in the Optimist A class at the Curacao Youth Championship. The CYC 2008 was decided in race 9 and 10. After 8 races Eugene and Louis Hendrikx and Just and Ard van Aanholt were only a few points apart and each had a serious chance to take the title. The last two races Louis excelled and eventually left Ard behind by three points. Louis, only eleven, is a clear prove of the positive development of youth sailing on Curacao. 

Well-known Morgan Kiss, the highest Worlds USA qualifier was send back to an overall fifth place by the four Curacao sailors. This is promising for the Optinam 2008 which will be sailed at the same location end of June this year. Mackenzie Cooper from Bermuda, who was coached by his private coach Pablo Webber, finished ninth. The best Dutchman finished fifteenth.

Dennis van den Berg ruled the Splash Class by miles. The victory was quite a relief for Dennis. Years he had been close but never made it to a big title. Now he was reigning with a very consistent series of  1, 1, DNS, 1, 1, 1, 3, 1, 2, and 4. The second place was decided between Philipine van Aanholt and Vincent Pietersz only just before the finish line of the last race. 

The Optimist B and the YSCO Opti’s conquered the waves in Spanish Waters at the “Stormplas”, the windiest spot. Races were tense and competition tough. In Optimist B Romy Toornend sailed her Optimist to a first overall followed by Colombian Laura Velasquez. Curacao sailor Kyra Maas completed the all girl prizewinners. Aimee Voigt won the YSCO Opti class, followed by Tomothy van Romondt and Myrthe Paarlberg.

The Race Committee can look back at 10 exciting and well organized races, where strong currents, deep waters and keeping marks in the right spot were the biggest challenges. The organization, with event manager Inga van Uchelen, will now direct its energy to a much bigger youth sailing event, the Optinam 2008, the North American Championships in the Optimist. This event will also have Jan Thiel Bay as its venue. 

Prime minister of Curacao Mrs. Emily de Jongh-Elhage enjoyed the prize giving ceremony.

For more pictures of the CYC 2008 click here.

For all the results of the CYC 2008 click here.

For more information about the OPTINAM check: www.optinam2008.org.

CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES OF the 2007 EVENT

LAST YEARS EVENT: WWW.CYC2007.ORG