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This afternoon, 74 teams lined up for the start of the official Dutch Catamaran Championships. The two planned races were sailed under good conditions with north wind force 4.

"I was snoring", told Mischa HEEMSKERK after the finish of the second race. The winner of the Zwitserleven Round Texel 2002 rounded the wrong mark in the gate and ended up at the left side of the course. "We shouldn't have been there. Finally we were only five second in short of the winners, Figueroa/Hernandez from Puerto Rico. That was not too bad." Heemskerk and Van Ruitenburg did win the first race: "We rounded the upwind mark just behind a Israeli Nacra 6.0. It was funny to see again such an old boot in the front." Heemskerk missed the olympic qualification for Athens, but now he and Van Ruitenburg are aiming at participation in the Olympic Games of 2008 in Beijing. "After Texel we will set up a foundation, we will look for sponsors and we will sail a lot".

Today, sixteen year old Taylor BOOTH, son of Olympic Medallist in the Tornado Mitch BOOTH, made his début as F18-helmsman. Occasional crew Daan KOENE:"We did well, but I think I shouted too much". Taylor: "I have a deal with my father. If I beat him on Saturday, he will buy me a brand new F18." But the sailors did not reach the starting line in time and missed the first race. They finished ninth in the second race and are now in 24 position of the 45 participating boats in their class. Ten teams had ISR in their main sails. At the initiative of Boaz Adar, Chairman of the Israeli Catamaran Sailing Association, the project was effected. After months of preparations, the team arrived on Saturday May 29 in the Netherlands.

Texel week
As off Thursday, the promo area will be the 'place to be' for all catamaran enthusiasts. Today, people have worked hard to finish their booths. At the moment music is coming out of the party tent on the beach. The opening party with DJ's, Wolter KROES and the Binnenband will continue until 01:00 hours. Thursday evening Dutch radio TROS Live will broadcast live with Di-Rect, Xander de Buisonje and the Amstel Live Coverband. In daytime, two races will be sailed for the Texel Dutch Open and in the afternoon the traditional Horstocht.

Results
Big cats (<140 Fleet)- Sailed: 2 Discards: 0 Ratings: Texel

Pos	Class	Nation	Hel	Crew	R1	R2	Pts
1	F18	NED	HEEMSKERK, Mischa	RUITENBURG, Peter van	1	2	3
2	Cirrus F18	TX	PLAS jr., Arie	vd POOL Eddy	2	3	5
3	F20	NED	BOERS, Eelco	BOERS Tjidde	3	6	9
4	F18	GBR	STYLES, Hugh	LYNCH Marcus	6	4	10
5	Nacra Inter 20	NED	HOLLANDER, Leen	DEN MULDER Sander	5	7	12
6	F18	NED	GUSSINKLOO, Janwillem	TE SIMOOONS Roel	4	11	15

Small cats (> 104 Fleet) - Sailed: 2 Discards: 0 Ratings: Texel

Pos	Class	Nation	Helm	R1	R2	Pts
1	Hobie Fx One	TX	Pool, Dirk	2	1	3
2	Hobie 16	NED	Huntelman, Vincent Maghielse, Martijn	1	4	5
3	Nacra Inter 17	NED	Brouwer, Ron	4	2	6
4	Prindle 15	NED	Primowees, Hans	3	3	6
5	Nacra Inter 17	NED	Wolters, Henk	5	5	10

Besides Zwitersleven the event will be sponsored by Repeat Sales Promotions B.V., TNG Swiss watches, Komatsu, Holkema Group, Tros, Mondriaan Onderwijsgroep, SportLive.nl, Nissan, Teso and VVV Texel.