Team DutchSail – Janssen de Jong has set set a new speed record of 34.9 knots (64.6 km/h) in the newly formed 69F class – beating the previous record of 34.1 knots set by another Dutch crew, Team Kingdom Team Netherlands.
Team DutchSail – Janssen de Jong’s record setting run took place on Saturday October 24 in Porto Cervo on Sardinia, Italy where the team is preparing for the Grand Prix Sardinia which takes place from November 10 – 15 .
“We were already going downwind at 29-30 knots and then I saw a gust coming and I just thought: this is going to be it,” said Lars van Stekelenborg who was helming at the time of the record run.
“I had to squeeze the rudder as hard as possible to keep steering well and then the boat kept accelerating. With one eye on the clock and with my other eye looking in front of the boat I saw: 34.0; 34.7; 34.9. But then the rocks come towards you very fast and you only can think about a controlled rise to an upwind course, especially at that speed.”
Team DutchSail – Janssen de Jong which sails under the flag of Yacht clubs KNZ&RV and KRZV De Maas, was originally formed with the aim of participating in the since Covid-cancelled Youth America’s Cup in Auckland, New Zealand.
The team is made up of sailors under the age of 25 and is now focussing instead on competing on the 69F class circuit under the guidance of team coach and former Olympian, Pieter-Jan Postma.
For the Porto Cervo regatta the team consists of the following sailors:
– Cas van Dongen
– Ismene Usman
– Lars van Stekelenborg
– Robin Becker
– Scipio Houtman
Images © Sander van der Borch/Team DutchSail