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LOCAL SPORTS Friday 8 September 2017
A17

Magnificent 7: J35 Dash wins Aruba Regatta for 7 straight time
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The J35 Dash has now won
the Aruba International Re-
gatta an unprecedented
seven times in a row. Some
35 vessels from around the
ABC Islands crewed by
people from as far away
as the US, Puerto Rico,
Venezuela,Sint Maarten the
Netherlands and Belgium,
participated in the event
that was characterized by
winds ranging from 2 knots
to 25 knots, testing the range
of sailing skills of all partici-
pants.

Dash, formerly fromCura-
çao but now sailed by the
Aruban Eric Mijts and his
team, including veteran
sailors Anita Aerts and Mar-
tin van der Velden, clearly
set the pace in Racing
Class. Dash finished ahead
of his Curaçao rival J105
Vuja De skippered by Capt.
Remco van Dortmondt, and na skippered by Eric Maris. ners in the Optimist races
newcomer Vejigante under The Sunfish races were won were Vivian Hankart, Colin
the command of Puerto Ri- by Richard van der Walwho Debevere and Quentin de
can Capt. Pedro Marcucci, pushed last year’s winner Lisle.
who finished second and Randy Brown into second The Aruba International Re-
third respectively. place. Third place went to gatta again received gold
In the Open Class Aruba Theo Poiesz. In the Beach status from Sailors for the
won as well. First place went Cat races Aat Hoek and Sea – Clean Regattas and,
to Capt. Anthony Hage- Theo Kock took the winner’s living up to that expecta- marked the transition of the which human activity affects
doorn with Ocean 505, cup, followed by Rob and tion, sustainability officer Surfside Beach Bar to a non- the marine environment.
then came Melody from Frances Grijpmain second Anita Aerts set up a number single use plastics policy. Regatta organizers Eric Mijts,
Curaçaowith Capt. Win- and Henk Steenbergen and of campaigns to promote As a result, the volunteers Joost Horward and Anthony
fried Merkies, and Robai- Henk Hankart in third. Win- and stimulate responsible charged with beach clean- Hagedoorn look back on a
resource management dur- ing following the regatta successful regatta.
Taoist Tai Chi Society Aruba ing the event. Symbolizing could devote their attention “The event brings together
this effort, the coveted re-
to other tasks: no trace was the sailors of different dis-
celebrates ‘Awareness Day’ gatta awards were pro- left behind. ciplines and from different
duced from reclaimed plas-
Special regatta guest for places in the world, to cel-
tics and wood by the Aru- 2017 was American sailor ebrate sailing and friend-
ban sustainability initiative and environmental activist ship in a sustainable fashion.
Brenchie’s Lab. No one-time Tyson Bottenus who gave a Special thanks need to be
plastics were used during speech at the closing cer- given to the sponsors that
catering and participants emony on the activities of made the event possible,
and spectators joined in the Sailors for the Sea. He un- and to the valuable support
effort to make the footprint derscored the role sailors provided by the Dutch Ma-
of the regatta as small as can play in convincing peo- rines who provided safety
possible. ple of the impact of single and support at sea,” the or-
The regatta event also use plastics and the way in ganizers said. q

All 26 countries that prac- movement. Tai Chi is suit-
tice the art of the Taoist able for all ages and will
Tai Chi have a celebra- eventually be a flow that
tion coming up. This Sat- is part of your body move-
urday they will celebrate ment without stressing
‘Awareness Day’. Aruba anything. The advantag-
has an active Taoist Tai es that come out of this
Chi Society and you are exercise are of great im-
welcome to come over portance to your health.
and have a look this Sat- For more information you
urday at the address: Sta- can call 583-0177, check
dionweg 13. From 9 am to Facebook Taoist Tai Chi
12 am there will be dem- Society Aruba or the web-
onstrations and expla- site www.aruba.taoist.
nations about this art of org.q