The most important Brasilian ocean race is from Recife to the islands Fernando do Noronha. A yearly blockbuster of an event. Just about 300 miles and 100 crazy competitors. The 'CrossRoads' was present, hosting the televisioncrew of the national broadcast company 'Globo'. Maaike and the 50ft Open crew fought hour after hour with the Brasilian crème the la crème. Straight from the start on Saturday the 21st till Sunday the 22nd. Finally she scored a second place in her Class, the fifth place overall (monohulls) and more important: the yacht and the crew was broadcasted all over Brasil in five specials of 2 to 3 minutes.

Nevertheless Maaike is disappointed. "We could easily win this race if the wind was not blowing right on the nose. Imagine. A northeasterly instead of the predominant southeasterly!" It was the second time in 25 years that a reaching leg changed into a hard beat on the nose. This favoured 'big boats' like the Excalibura with her 70ft and off course the 63ft catamaran Adrenaline Pura. Also the CrossRoads could not beat the on-wind hull design of two 50ft racers. Maaike: "It really is frustrating. The hull of the CrossRoads is like a surfboard designed for a reaching leg. And what do we get?! More than 300 miles hard to the wind. The competitors could point 2 or 3 degrees higher. That is it. Only second. Pfwww, what a disaster!!"

Maaike continues her training along the Brasilian coast and the northern Atlantic Ocean. She prepares herself for a ladies worldrecord.
She wants to sail with three other women the CrossRoads around the world and wishes to settle a 50ft record. "We are close to the realisation of this project that will be broadcasted life on Internet. It all depends on a budget deficit of 50.000 US dollar. We start campaigning now and hopefully we have a go within a few months. Anyway, we keep you posted".