Sven and Kalle Coster

Fonte: 470.org


Competing at the Dutch National Ice Sailing Championship last week, the Dutch Coster brothers, Sven and Kalle, team showed a different side of their sailing talent compared to their more usual 470 racing. Kalle finished in thirteenth place, but his brother Sven did even better, finishing just in the top 5. Sven was disappointed he did not win but was still satisfied with the result.

There will be one place available for the Netherlands in the 470 class for men at the 2012 Olympic Games and Team Coster are still in the race for this ticket. Although it has not been decided who will be awarded this place, it is highly likely Team Coster will be on the start line.

Over 40 sailors participated in the 2012 National Championship. On Saturday, three races were held in a light wind of around 3 knots and Sven took an early lead, before dropping back down the leaderboard on Sunday.

This year will be a busy one for the Coster’s. Not only the 2012 Olympic Games, but also the ISAF World Cup is part of their calendar. By winning the North American Championship and finishing 2nd in the Rolex Miami OCR, they started the 2012 season very well. An upwards move up the ISAF Sailing World Rankings puts them as the #5 ranked 470 men team in the world. Home nation hopes will be on them for the 2012 Delta Llloyd Regatta, event five on the 2011-2012 ISAF Sailing World Cup tour, 22-26 May 2012, where they finished fifth in 2011.