Results after 3 races
18 photos and
A perfect kickoff for the fourth Windsurfing Euro-Cup of the year. The forecast was realized and a nice warm onshore schirocko breeze turned on in the afternoon of the first competition day. The race committee used it to run three perfect races back to back.
In the beginning the racing was hindered a little bit as first a Catamaran regatta was entering the competition zone of the windsurfers and then the windsurfer fleet was too nervous which resulted in two general recalls. But then everything worked perfect.
The first race was run in 12 to 15 knots. Steve Allen (AUS-0, Fanatic) dominated the race in front of Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (ARG-3, Starboard, Neil Pryde) and Wojtek Brzozowski (POL-10, Starboard, Neil Pryde).
In the second race Sam Ireland (KC-1, Starboard, North Sails) was able to win with Ross Williams (GBR-83, AHD, Gaastra) and Arnon Dagan (ISR-1, Fanatic, Neil Pryde) on his heals. The wind was between 10 and 13 knots.
The last race was again a triumph for Sam Ireland. Steve Allen and Wojtek Brzozowski were following him in winds between 12 and 16 knots.
After three races Steve Allen is leading with 7 points in front of Sam Ireland with 8 points. But Sam has a good starting position for the next days as he can discard a 6th place while Steve has to discard a 4th. Arnon Dagan presented very consistant racing and is on place 3 after the first day. Very impressing is also the result of the Italian youngster Alberto Menegatti (ITA-456, Starboard, Neil Pryde) who was 5th in the last race and in now on place 11 in the ranking.
Interesting side stories:
–Ross Williams got a new (fast) hair cut. We hope that his parents know about this already and will not get the first info about it from us!
– Wojtek broke the mast of his 12,5 sail just before the first race. He didn’t have a spare mast available so he was forced to sail with his 9,8 sail in all the three races in winds under 15 knots. One of the heaviest guys with the smallest sail and still succesfull! This should put an end to the discussions that only size matters and the heavy guys have an advantage as they are able to use bigger sails.
– Bad luck for Pieter Bijl (H-280, Neil Pryde)! Moving his van he oversaw an obstacle in the parking area and destroyed the backwindow of the vehicle. thank god we are in Sardinia and you don’t really need windows in 30 degrees and sunshine.
Here you have on-line reports from the races:
SMSes from Matthias Regber:
17:30
No more races today. The wind is dropping and the competitors are tired after 3 races back to back.
16:38
Race#3:
1. KC-1 Sam Ireland
2. AUS-0 Steve Allen
3. POL-10 Wojtek Brzozowski
4. ISR-1 Arnon Dagan
5. ITA-456 Alberto Menegatti
6. ITA-1 Andrea Cucchi
7. F-72 Benoit Moussilmani
8. F-73 Silvian Moussilmani
9, GBR-83 Ross Williams
10. H-280 Pieter Bijl
We have a break and the competitors are send to the beach. After 1 hour we will have more races
16:24
Race#3: Bottom mark: KC-1,POL-10,AUS-0,ITA-456,ISR-5(?)
16:20
Race#3 started. One over early: POL-16. Windspeed: 12- 18 knots!
15:46
Race #2:
1. KC-1 Sam Ireland
2. GBR-83 Ross Williams
3. ISR-1 Arnon Dagan
4. AUS-0 Steve Allen
5. ARG-3 Gonzalo Costa Hoevel
6. ITA-1 Andrea Cucchi
7. F-72 Benoit Moussilmani
8. POL-10 Wojtek Brzozowski
9. ITA-415 Marco Begalli
10. H-280 Pieter Bijl
Race #3:
Next race in a few minutes back to back
15:34
Race#2: Bottom mark: F-72,KC-1,POL-10,ARG-3,ITA-1; all incredible close. Now already 15 knots around the mark!
15:26
Windspeed 10 – 14 knots. Race#2 is started.
15:20
I am now on the start boat. Three minutes to go for the next start …
15:05
Race #1:
1. AUS-0 Steve Allen
2. ARG-3 – Gonzalo Costa Hoevel
3. POL-10 – Wojtek Brzozowski
4. ISR-1 Arnon Dagan
5. POL-16 Michael Polanowski
6. KC-1 Sam Ireland
7. GBR-83 Ross Williams
8. F-73 Sylvian Moussilmani
9. ITA-1 Andrea Cucchi
10. H-280 Pieter Bijl
14:55
Race #1:
Bottom mark: AUS-0,POL-16,ITA-1,ARG-3,POL-10
14:40
The course of a Hobie Cat regatta seems to overlap with the FW course. I do not know what is happening at the moment … Sorry for the confusion! Now they have started!!!!
14:20
Some communication problem so we have no news from the water so far!
14:08
3 minutes to the start of the first race!
14:00
Action!!!
The wind is picking up! At the moment 15 knots. AP is lowered! Competitors are going to the water!
