Designer, Niels Jeppesen, watched the historical moment of the first start of the International X-35 One Design Cup through the lens of his camera. Out at sea in a rib he followed the X-35 fleet competing in the first three races on Friday 17 August. It was a proud moment when the twenty-four X-35s, from five different nations, were heading out for this international competition.



AUDI X-35 Gold Cup 2006

 

The first international X-35 Cup in history took place in Holland in August, and Nic Bol ensured that the AUDI X-35 Gold Cup stayed within the national border.

It was a happy Nic Bol, who celebrated his victory with his eight crew members, even though he had to face a disqualification in the first race. But, with four 1sts, one 2nd, one 7th and 8th, he ended up with a score of 21 points, ahead of Jaap Zuiderveld (23 points), also from Holland, and Peter Bolvig (39 points), from Denmark.

Twenty-four yachts from five nations
Twenty-four X-35 One Designs gathered in Holland from the 17 to 20 August to compete in the first International X-35 Cup on the IJsselmeer off Medemblik. Participants from Belgium and Great Britain arrived by sea, whereas the competitors from Denmark and Germany had to transport their yachts by land.

AUDI as sponsor
X-Yachts Holland together with the three X-enthusiasts, Jaap Zuiderveld, Gerard Verduyn and Bart van Aken, put a great deal of effort into the preparations for the Cup; together with the organisers at sea, The Royal Yacht Club Hollandia. AUDI had, from the very beginning of the X-35 Class, flown the flag and entered into a partnership with the Dutch X-35 Class. For the International X-35 event, AUDI was on site again. 


The teams are on their marks, every detail has to work precisely in order not to lose valuable seconds when hoisting the spinnaker.

The winner Nic Bol and his Dutch crew. Number two, Jaap Zuiderveld, Holland, and number three, coming all the way from Denmark, Peter Bolvig and crew.
Nic Bol, in his X-35 “Quantum” - winner of the International AUDI X-35 Gold Cup.

To race an X-35 at top level requires a trained helmsman and crew. Then you will get all the performance and potential out of her which makes this yacht really fun racing.


A tense atmosphere
Some of the X-35 teams had practised only for a few weeks, whereas others had started training in the cold, early spring. However, everyone had the same goal: to make sure the rig and sails had a perfect set-up and trim, and that the crew was familiar with the yacht’s sailing abilities.
  
On Thursday 17 August the atmosphere was tense. On shore, boats and sails were measured, sail stickers checked and, at sea, the crews had a last practice; now they were ready for the start signal.

Eight races over three days
The first race was sailed on the Friday in winds of between 11 and 14 knots. Weather conditions were stable and the photographers started to smile when the sun came out. It was a majestic sight to see the twenty-four X-35s in this new One Design Class sail over the start line. Competition was tough during all three races, and at the buoys hectic activity caused several protests for the jury to deal with later.

After a day at sea, the participants returned to the harbour for a well- deserved pasta buffet and drink.

On the Saturday, the second day of racing, three races were completed in winds starting at 12 knots and decreasing during the day to 8 knots. Race seven and eight were sailed on Sunday and thereafter the winner, Nic Bol from Holland, was able to take home the AUDI X-35 One Design Trophy 2006.

2007 in Kiel Germany

The Kieler Yacht Club in Germany has offered to organise the International X-35 Cup in 2007. This event will take place during the Kieler Woche from 16 to 24 June 2007.




RESULTS

Pos
Nationality
Sail No
Boat name
Owner
Race
1
Race
2
Race
3
Race
4
Race
5
Race
6
Race
7
Race
8
Total Score
1
NED 16
Quantum Racing
Nic Bol
(dsq)
1
7
1
1
2
8
1
21
2
NED 18
Audi
Jaap Zuiderveld
4
3
2
3
6
3
2
(7)
23
3
DEN 56
Plan B
Peter Bolvig
3
5
5
7
5
6
(9 )
8
39
4
NED 34
Heerema.com
P. Heerema
6
8
11
4
4
(ocs)
12
2
47
5
NED 5
Xhibition
Rob Schuttrups
2
(ocs)
4
11
16
4
6
5
48
6
GER 9
Mann-O-Mann
Dirk Manno
9
(17)
8
8
8
8
1
12
54
7
NED 57
Just 4 Fun
Albert Kooijman
1
4
1
(dsq)
14
10
16
3
56
8
NED 17
X-Connection
Alfred van der Heide
14
11
9
5
2
(ocs)
7
11
59
9
BEL 1607
XArgenta
Eddy Verbinnen
5
13
12
9
10
7
3
(16)
59
10
NED 115
Who’s Next
Alwin van Daelen
11
10
14
(17)
9
9
4
4
61
11
GER 5737
Excitement
Christian Dreyer
7
2
6
13
11
(ocs)
15
9
63
12
NED 12
Yellow Rose
Marten Jan Ringers
12
12
(18 )
2
13
5
14
6
64
13
NED 14
Gold Marine
Bart van Aken
21
6
17
6
7
(ocs)
11
10
78
14
NED 40
Elixer
J.P. Klaver
10
7
10
12
15
(ocs)
18
14
86
15
BEL 1407
Krefima / Arenda
Bertrand Stuyts
18
16
16
18
18
1
5
(21)
92
16
GBR 3500
Kiss
David Pinner
15
20
13
14
12
(ocs)
10
15
99
17
GBR 1035
Perfect Ten
Ten Racing Group
13
9
19
19
3
(ocs)
20
18
101
18
NED 11
Active 11
Gerard Verduyn
(dsq)
dsq
3
10
17
ocs
13
13
106
19
NED 54
Tupak
Cornelis Slippens
8
dne
15
15
21
12
(dns)
dns
121
20
NED 28
Brass Tacks
Walter Ganzevles
16
18
(raf)
16
22
11
19
23
125
21
GER 5735
Anderssen Yachting
Sven Anderssen
19
14
(dsq)
21
24
13
22
17
130
22
NED 15
Jetstream
Gerben Bos
20
(ocs)
20
20
23
14
17
22
136
23
GER 5668
4C For Sea
Thomas Ross
17
15
21
23
19
(ocs)
dne
19
139
24
NED 42
La Dolce Vita
John Keijsers
(raf)
149