World Premiere: Para Sailors discover AC40 Simulator
Last weekend, DutchSail welcomed the top of national para sailing to the DutchSail Teambase in Scheveningen for a unique test day with the AC40 simulator. For the first time worldwide, para athletes had the opportunity to experience what it’s like to sail the high-performance AC40 in a simulator. The goal was to gain insight into the boat’s suitability as a para sailing boat and to provide the sailors themselves with experience and inspiration. The day was experienced as highly positive by both the organization and the sailors. Based on the knowledge gained, the next steps and how to shape them will be determined in the coming weeks.
Sailors getting instructions. © DutchSail
International kick-off
Hein Dijksterhuis, ambassador and former chairman of DutchSail, explains the initiative: “Late last year, we came into contact with para sailing experts such as Swedish professor Claes Hultling and our fellow Dutchman John Lammerts van Bueren. They indicated that the AC40 could potentially be the ideal para sailing boat. An initial test with Professor Hultling during Metstrade in our AC40 simulator was so successful that it left us wanting more. This test day at the DutchSail Teambase was a first follow-up step and, as far as we know, an international premiere.”
Professor Hultling at Metstrade in the AC40 simulator © DutchSail
The day was led by Hein Dijksterhuis and Bart Beuk. In preparation, Dutch paracoach and trainer Christoffel van Hees made the gathering possible. Professor Claes Hultling opened the program with his personal story about the spinal cord injury he sustained at the age of 31.
Paul Hameeteman then took the floor. In 2024, he sailed for JAJO Team DutchSail in the Youth America’s Cup in Barcelona. He spoke about, among other things, the more than 500 hours he spent in the simulator before being allowed to step into the AC40.
During the kick-off, the international character and importance of the test day were further emphasized by the (online) presence of, among others, Maria del Mar de Ros, co-founder of the first Spanish team to compete in the Youth America’s Cup, and CEO and founding member of the Spain SailGP team, and Magnus Wheatley, chief event writer for the America’s Cup. All once again stressed the importance of an inclusive sailing sport and expressed their appreciation for the unique and valuable nature of this Dutch initiative
The sailors in the AC40 simulator © DutchSail
Sailors Impressed
The five para sailors – all experienced elite athletes with backgrounds at the highest level in judo, basketball, and skiing – were impressed and looked back on a successful introduction to the AC40 simulator. In their responses, adrenaline, speed, complexity, teamwork, and the many possibilities emerged as common themes.
The para sailors:
Katelijne Langezaal
Wieke Mulder
Jasper Zuidervaart
Bernadette Linssen
Erik van Winkoop
DutchSail chairman Peter Burggraaff: “The simulator proved to be highly sail-able for the para sailors, partly thanks to the layout and the positioning and operation of the controllers. We also encountered no insurmountable limitations when entering and exiting the simulator.”
Bart Beuk left en Hein Dijksterhuis right with the Dutch parasailors. © DutchSail
DutchSail: This Tastes Like More
Burggraaff continues: “Personally, I found it wonderful to see the same enthusiasm among the para sailors that you also see with other sailors as soon as they step into the simulator. The quality of the sailors also deserves a compliment: the starts were immediately sharp and they sailed convincingly, quickly achieving around 95% flight time. Today, together, we have demonstrated that sailing in the AC40 simulator can be inclusive. The AC40 simulator can therefore provide a platform for equal competition between able-bodied and disabled sailors.”
Under the leadership of DutchSail, actions will be initiated in the coming weeks to follow up on this. “We still need to determine the exact approach, but together with the America’s Cup and other stakeholders, we would like to continue this effort. With this day, we hopefully have opened a door. We will remain actively involved and invite anyone with ideas or the ambition to play a role to get in touch with us,” said Burggraaff.
The simulator with the para-athletes © DutchSail