TEAM BOSKALIS EXPANDS TO FOUR CATAMARANS

Talent recruitment starts at Hiswa 2008

Papendrecht / Netherlands, February 27 2008 - In the season of 2008, Team Boskalis (NED) expands from one to four catamarans. That means a further development of the Nacra Master class, which started last year. The programme offers four young talents the chance to be trained by experienced and celebrated cat sailors. This approach allows the talents to work their way to the world top of the international F18 class in an intensive and effective manner. At the moment, two places for talented sailors are still available. Selected candidates can show their skills on the selection day at 23 March. The recruitment starts during the Hiswa Amsterdam Boat Show 2008. In May, Team Boskalis will sail together for the first time at the international event Eurocat in Carnac, France.

In November 2007 it was voted that the multihull will no longer be an Olympic discipline at the Games of 2012. This did not deter Boskalis from expanding their sponsoring in catamaran sailing. Roel Berends, Group Director Corporate Relations Boskalis, explains why: "If you start with something, you have to see it through. We won't be discouraged by a headwind. We aimed for the Olympic Games, because that's what the original Team Boskalis wanted to do. When this aim disappeared, we thought it through and quadrupled the programme. It's all about extending your goals and limits. That's how it works in sports, but also in our company." According to Berends their sponsoring is in essence about talent development and knowledge transfer: "That's why we're very happy to proceed after last year." Back then, Team Boskalis consisted of Stefan Dubbeldam and Bastiaan Tentij. Last autumn, Tentij decided to give priority to his studies, as his Olympic dream in the Tornado could not come true. Dubbeldam is eager to pursue a sports career at the highest level in the F18 class and continues the Master Class.

Sailors and ambitions

At this moment, Team Boskalis 2008 consists of six sailors. Stefan Dubbeldam crews again for Gunnar Larsen. The other masters are Sacha Larsen, Peter Vink and Andrew McPherson (AUS). Sacha Larsen takes Christa van Helden under his care. Until now, she is the only woman in the team. The World Championship F18 in Spain is to become the climax of the season. Larsen and Dubbeldam aim for a place in the top ten. Larsen and Van Helden want to become the best mixed crew. The other two teams are not yet complete, so their goals will be formulated later on.

Recruitment action and selection

For the two vacancies, the masters will search for racing talents who are already active in the F18 or other classes. Candidates have to be between 18 and 28 years old and possess a substantial amount of racing experience. From 4 March, the opening day of Hiswa 2008, they can submit their entry online at www.teamboskalis.com. The masters will select six candidates from all entries and invite them for the selection day at 23 March.

Boats and recognition

Each of the three F18 Nacra Infusions will show the core activities of dredging company Royal Boskalis Westminster nv. This means that every boat embodies a theme. The first boat represents 'creation of land in water', the second 'protection of coasts and riverbanks' and the third 'construction and maintenance of ports and waterways'.  The fourth catamaran sails in the style of the RBW 1910 clothing range, for casual and sailing wear.    

About Boskalis

Royal Boskalis Westminster nv is an international group with a leading position in the world market for dredging services. Its core activities are the construction and maintenance of ports and waterways, land reclamation, coastal defence and riverbank protection. The company holds important home market positions in and outside Europe and targets all market segments in the dredging industry. Boskalis also has strategic partnerships in maritime infrastructure (Archirodon) and in maritime and terminal services (Lamnalco). Boskalis has a versatile fleet of over 300 units and operates in over fifty countries across five continents. Including its share in partnerships, Boskalis has over 8,000 employees.

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For more information about Team Boskalis, please contact:

Royal Boskalis Westminster nv
Roel Berends, Group Director Corporate Relations
Tel.: +31 (0)78-6969822
Mobile: +31 (0)6 2001 0232
E-mail: r.t.berends@boskalis.nl
Website: www.boskalis.com

Team Boskalis 2008
Diana Bogaards, press contact
Mobile: +31 (0)6-51383762
E-mail: Diana@diabo.nl

Website Team Boskalis: www.teamboskalis.com (will be updated with details on Team Boskalis 2008 by March 4).