Swan 45 VanUden Wins at Kieler Woche

June 22, 2012 10:22 0 comments

After five races spread over two days at the Kieler Woche in Germany, Swan 45 VanUden finished in first place with five points, also putting them first overall in the Swan 45 Class North European Circuit. The racing was close and competitive due to consistency. VanUden and second place Checkmate were only separated by two points, and third place Motions followed just two points behind Checkmate.

The event finished with a very exciting final race. Van Uden, Motions and Checkmate were all over at the start and had to go back. Tarok 7 managed to maintain their lead off the line and won the race with VanUden, Checkmate and Motions finishing very close together.

The Swan 45s experience all types of wind conditions with wind speed that varied from 8 knots to up to 30 knots, and some starts had to be delayed to reset the course to compensate for large wind shifts.

VanUden had a last minute skipper change when regular skipper Harm Tiddens unfortunately missed the event due to the arrival of his first child just days before he was due to leave.
Barbara Snieders stepped up at the last moment and skippered the Swan 45 to take the event:

“It was amazing! It was my first time helming on a Swan 45 and we were sailing in all conditions with winds going from 8 to 30 knots. The Race office was clear and good. He was looking to please everybody. A lot of compliments for him.”

Harm Tiddens was delighted to comment on VanUden’s ascension to first place on the Swan 45 North European Circuit:

“It’s very good. It’s only our second season, and we managed to get a good team and it’s starting to show now. We have a long way to go, but it is looking promising. We hope to seal it at the last event at Breskens.”

The next event on the Swan 45 Class North European Circuit is the Breskens Sailing Weekend at the end of August in the Netherlands.

Results:

1 – VanUden – 5 points

2- Checkmate – 8 points

3 – Motions – 10 points

4 – Tarok 7 – 13 points

5 – Katima – 24 points

6 – Blue Label – 28 points