Malcesine / Lake Garda (Italy), 30.04.02
Today the competitors had to get up really early. The race committee wanted to use the “Vento” wind in the morning. This can be very strong in Malcesine. Unfortunately it didn’t develop to the hoped strength and forced the competitors back to the beach. Soon the wind died completely and most of the racers used the chance to recover from the lack of sleep from the last night as they had to get up some minutes past 06:00 to have a chance for a fast breakfast and to be in time for the start at the beach.
At about 12:00 the “Ora” returned again. The southern wind picked up to 10 to 12 knots and the fleet was send out for the first race of the day. Wojtek Brzozowski (POL-10/Starboard/Neil Pryde) won this race but the Jury has recognized him over the starting line. A protest in the evening clarified that he has been forced over the line by another competitor. So the DSQ was withdrawn. Steve Allen (AUS-1/Fanatic) came in the second place and showed very clear that has has fully recovered from a poisening that has still weakened him on the first two days of the Euro-Cup. Ross Williams (GBR-83/AHD/Gaastra) was third.
“Back to back” a second race was started again Steve Allen was one of the members of the leading group. This time he even managed to win the race. He was followed by Andrea Cuchi (ITA-0/Starboard/Neil Pryde) who showed very well that the Lake Garda is his homebase. Ross Williams was again able to score a third place and moved up in the raking after a desaster start with a DNF and a DSQ on the first day.
Now it was time for the women to race. Lucy Horwood (GBR-95/AHD/Gaastra) was able to continue her good results from Monday an won the race. Dorota Staszewska (POL-1/Starboard/Neil Pryde) got second and Verena Fauster (ITA-31/Starboard/Gaastra) scored a third place. Like the men’s fleet the women raced a second race directly after the first one. This time Dorota was able to dominate the race in front of Verena Fauster, Margit Germany (AUT-88/Starboard/Gaastra) and Lucy Horwood. This reflected also the women’s ranking after 6 races with 1 discard.
At the evening the men were send out for a last race. The wind has already dropped and got a little inconsistent but it lasted for the men’s race #7 that gave the men’s fleet a second discard. Again Steve Allen dominated the race followed by Arnon Dagan (ISR-1/Starboard/Gaastra) and Jarek Miarczynski ( POL-127/Starboard/ ).
Men Race#5 :
1. WOJTEK BRZOZOWSKI (POL-10)
2. ALLEN STEVE AUS-0
3. WILLIAMS ROSS GBR-83
4. BUZIANIS MICAH US-34
5. CUCCHI ANDREA ITA-1
Men Race#6 :
1. ALLEN STEVE AUS-0
2. CUCCHI ANDREA ITA-1
3. WILLIAMS ROSS GBR-83
4. MIARCZYNSKI JAREK POL-127
5. RAUHANSUU JANNE FIN-24
Women race#5 :
1. HORWOOD LUCY GBR-95
2. STASZEWSKA DOROTA POL-1
3. FAUSTER VERENA ITA-31
4. JAMBERT GERALDINE F-115
5. GERMANY MARGIT AUT-88
Women race#6 :
1. STASZEWSKA DOROTA POL-1
2. FAUSTER VERENA ITA-31
3. GERMANY MARGIT AUT-88
4. HORWOOD LUCY GBR-95
5. GALECKA ANNA POL-200
Men Race#7 :
1. ALLEN STEVE AUS-0
2. ARNON DAGAN ISR-1
3. MIARCZYNSKI JAREK POL-127
4. BUZIANIS MICAH US-34
5. LEVER JAMIE GBR-5
The day was a complete triumph for Steve Allen (AUS-0/Fanatic). He didn’t “only” win two races and scored a second place but also overtook the lead in the ranking list of the Windsurfing Euro-Cup Malcesine. Micah Buzianis is second after 7 races with 2 discards in the men’s fleet followed by Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (ARG-3/Starboard/Neil Pryde) who showed some weakness on the third day and dropped down to the third place.
In the women’s fleet Dorota Staszewska (POL-1/Starboard/Neil Pryde) took the lead from Verena Fauster (ITA-31/Starboard/Gaastra). But both have equal points and the final decision will take place on Wednesday, the final day of the event. Margit Germany (AUT-88/Starboard/Gaastra) is able to keep her third place but Lucy Horwood (GBR-95/AHD/Gaastra) is coming closer and closer.
For the final day the competitors are called to the starting line at 08:00. So we don’t expect too many of them going out for parties tonight. Especially as many of them have to travel a long distance after the prize giving on Wednesday.
