Herbert Dercksen

Herbert Willem Constant Dercksen (born 1 March 1973) is a former Dutch sailor. He won five Dutch titles, one European title and three World titles.

In 1994 Dercksen became Dutch champion in the Europe class and a year later he won another Dutch title, but in the Tornado class alongside Ron van Teylingen. Together they qualified for the 1996 Summer Olympics where they finished in eighth position. Their second Dutch championship together followed in 1997, while they successfully defended their title in 1998, before Dercksen switched to the Formula 18 class. [http://www.rzv.nl/kampioenen/kampioenen.htm Kampioenen] , rzv.nl]

In the Formula 18 class he partnered with Mitch Booth, an Australian who was nationality transferred to a Dutchman. They participated at the 1999 European Championships and won the title immediately. They were also able to participate in the Australian national championships where they won another gold medal in 2000. That same year they became World champion, but were unable to participate at the 2000 Summer Olympics as their class was not an Olympic discipline. They successfully defended their World title in 2001 and 2002 before they switched to the Olympic Tornado class. They took a bronze medal at the 2002 World Championship and a silver at the European Championship that same year. They qualified for the 2004 Summer Olympics and reached the fifth position. Participating in both the Tornado as well as the Formula 18 class they won a silver medal at the 2004 F18 World Championship and a gold medal at the 2004 Tornado European Championship. With Remco Kenbeek Dercksen won the Dutch tornado title in late 2004. In 2005 he and Dercksen won another medal, a bronze at the 2005 European Tornado Championship.

In 2006 both sailors decided to go their own way and participated at the 2006 Tornado World Championship but Dercksen only managed to win the sixth race with his team mate Mischa Heemskerk, finishing 26th overall. Booth and his new partner Pim Nieuwenhuis finished in 14th posisiton. [ [http://spitsnet.nl/nieuws.php/3/2178/online Herbert Dercksen topzeiler af] , spitsnet.nl] Dercksen then decided in early 2007 to end his career at the highest level of sailing, because he did not think he could fight for the medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics. He however continues in the Formula 18 class, but at a lower level. [ [http://www.telesport.nl/1159463/Dercksen_beeindigt_zeilloopbaan.html Dercksen beeindigt zeilloopbaan] , telesport.nl]

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