Jack Parkin/ Florian Eenkema van Dijk (USA) © Steve Keen
Open Orange Bowl Regatta
The Orange Bowl Regatta is the perfect antidote to excesses of Christmas festivities and a perfect reason not to over indulge with turkey on Christmas Day.
Taking place from 27-30 December, this annual event regularly attracts a large following with racing for the 420, 29er, RSX, Techno and F16 Classes.
This year, racing was an intense battle between Jack Parkin/ Florian Eenkema van Dijk and Wiley Rogers/
Ian Robinson who between them claimed all the race wins in the 9 race series, bar race 9 which went to Russell Clarida/Forrest Thomas.
The mainly American line-up were joined by teams from Brazil, Canada and the Netherlands for a twenty boat fleet.
Going into the final race, it was advantage to Parkin/Eenkema van Dijk on 12 points, with Rogers/Robinson a reasonable distance behind on 17 points, but the race didn’t quite go as planned and it was a pretty close shave to victory. Parkin/Eenkema van Dijk fought their way around the track trying to catch Rogers/Robinson who were ahead in 4th. But ultimately with their 9th place finish putting the teams on tiebreak, it was the greater number of race wins over the series which awarded event honours to Parkin/Eenkema van Dijk. In third place were Wade Waddell/Henry Fernberger (USA).
Top girls team were Audrey Giblin/Taylor Gavula (USA) in 8th overall.
