Brest September 25th. Wouter and the team of five on board the Open 60 Estrella Damm have completed the course and are satisfied with their third place overall.

“The five up Open 60 racing has been a real eye-opener to me. This kind of small crew offshore racing really pushes the team to the limit, and with the very open class rules there is lots of room for new developments in hull, sail, mast and systems.”

The team skippered by Spanish sailor Guillermo Altadill had to retire from the last leg after damage to the mast track, but with their solid results from the first two legs they still kept a podium place for the overall race.

Says Wouter: “We were devastated when we broke the track, and with the wind always favourable for the leaders we had no chance for a comeback after we carried out the repairs. It is a credit to the whole team that we managed to keep a good spirit on the boat by focussing on learning more about the boat and the sails when we knew we no longer had a chance to catch the others.”

The main goal for the Estrella Damm project is the Barcelona World Race in December 2010, and Wouter is contracted to help the team providing his technical experience from two boat testing in the America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean Race.

“With crew numbers being reduced further and further in races like the Volvo Ocean Race, the shorthanded technologies as developed in the Open 60 classes become more and more important. Sailing is both a physical and mechanical sport and you have to be in touch with the latest in both to compete against the best. With the Volvo still two years away this is the class where things happen. I have to be involved”