Starting in 2022, the Allianz Regatta will be sailed from Almere in the southern bowl of the IJsselmeer/Markermeer. The event will take place next year from May 27 to June 5. The world’s best sailors will compete in the World Cup, part of the Hempel World Cup Series, in the ten Olympic classes including the new kite sailing and windfoiling. The ambition is for the week of the event to grow into the Dutch Water Week, where water sports in all its pluriformity come together.
Since 1985, the Allianz Regatta, under various names, has taken place in Medemblik. Arno van Gerven, director Watersportverbond: ‘We are very grateful to Medemblik for the crucial role it has played in the development of our sport. The regatta is leading and innovative and we want to stay that way. To this end we have drawn up a plan in collaboration with our regular event partner TIG Sports. A plan that requires more and solid partners who want to embrace our ambition.’
Both parties are extremely happy with the cooperation and support of Flevoland, Almere, Allianz (main sponsor Watersportverbond) and World Sailing (international sailing federation). Harold Hofstra, Flevoland representative for sports: ‘We are surrounded by what characterizes and binds the Netherlands: water. Water sports are the core sport of Flevoland’s sports policy. We are therefore very enthusiastic about Dutch Water Week, a broad water sports event in which the international and national sailing top is involved, where new disciplines are introduced and presented, newcomers get the chance to taste all the flavors of water sports and fans are immersed in their passion. Of such an ambitious new event we are happy to host.’
Julius Lindenbergh, alderman of sport Almere: ‘For us, this collaboration is a recognition and confirmation. The Dutch Water Week, and all the competitions that go with it, are exactly what we are talking about in our new sports vision, which has yet to be determined; the city is our sports accommodation. Land, of course, sounds logical when it comes to sports and to us, water is. This is now also seen by parties outside Almere. It’s a good collaboration that tastes like more.’
Dutch Water Week – more than just competitions
The Allianz Regatta is the core of the event. In addition to the world’s top sailors in the Olympic classes, Dutch and foreign competitive sailors compete against the same backdrop in other classes for the Open Dutch Championship.
The event takes place in the waters off Almere and Lelystad. At various places on the water, competitions will be held in a number of modern and longer established sailing classes. Demonstrations of the new urban water sports will be organized and there will be ample opportunity to do sports yourself as a newcomer and as an enthusiast.
From Almere, a link will be made with the Floriade and the XL version of Optimist on Tour will be organized. It is also the ambition to link fairs and other events on and near the water (e.g. canoe/sup-tour trips, motorboat events, canoe races) to the Dutch Water Week, as well as crowd-pullers in extreme water sports. In fact, all events with a link to water are welcome to link up with the Dutch Water Week. The Watersports Association calls on interested parties to apply.
Of course we would also like to involve our associations in the growth and development of the Dutch Water Week,’ says Arno van Gerven. ‘The goal of the event is to stimulate water sports and therefore also our associations. They also play a crucial role in the organization of the event, for example in the competitions on the water.’
Sjoerd Laarberg, CEO Allianz Nederland: ‘We are extremely happy and proud that since the beginning of this year we can connect our name to the great water sports. Events are one of the pillars of the partnership that we have with the Watersports Association and TIG Sports. We are very enthusiastic about the ambition and innovation that is now being put into the plans for the Dutch Water Week. In the coming years it will really grow into an event where we like to be, with our customers, employees and business partners, to celebrate the water with the whole watersports loving Netherlands.’
Martijn van der Meulen, Managing Partner TIG Sports: ‘The core of what we do best is to organize top sports events in the Netherlands in a qualitative, innovative and surprising way. Think of the finish of the Volvo Ocean Race in 2018, the annual KLM Open and for example the F1 Dutch Grand Prix. With the Dutch Water Week, we also want to take another step towards allowing as many enthusiasts as possible to experience the many facets of water sports in an unexpected way.’
Fltr: Julius Lindenbergh, Arno van Gerven, Frank Burghout (Allianz), Ernst Jan Broer (chairman Watersports Association), Harold Hofstra, Martijn van der Meulen. Photo credits: Yannick Schurwanz, TIG Sports
