Continuing strong winds and large swells pelter the course on Day 2 of the Oceanic and Australian Formula Windsurfing Championships at Jimmy’s Beach, Hawks Nest.
Another stonking hot Aussie summer day awaited the competitors as they arrived at Jimmy’s Beach for the second day of racing at the 2010 Oceanic and Australian Formula Windsurfing Championships. The forecast of 20-25 knots lived up to its name by the afternoon despite a shaky start with light winds blowing as the competitors left the beach for the 12.30pm start only to be greeted by howling 25 knot gusts as they got out to the startline.
With most of the fleet taking big sails up to 12m and expecting light winds it was up to event leader Wilhelm Schurmann (Starboard/Neilpryde) to show the Australian contingent how it was done taking another four bullets in today’s races on his 10.7m sail despite crashing in Race 3 in the strong gusts of the afternoon.
Sam Parker (Starboard/Neilpryde) managed to hold on to his 12m in winds up to 25 knots in Race 1 today taking two 4th‘s and two 2nd’s to end the day creeping up on Sean O’Brien (Point-7/Gaastra) who had issues with the strong winds and didn’t seem in form today although still holds his second place overall in the event. Sean was able to lead to the first mark in a number of races today but wasn’t able to hold his position to the end of the race settling with three 3rd’s before taking the final race up to the Brazilian and finishing only seconds behind event leader Wilhelm to end the day.
There was plenty of carnage on the course with the strong winds and continuing enormous swell with plenty of gear breakages and sailors who were unable to finish races during the day due to exhaustion. Women’s event leader and 3x World Champion Allison Shreeve (Gaastra/Gaastra) slipped back against the Men today only squeezing in to the Top 10 in Race 3 although is still a clear margin ahead of her nearest rival, Olympian Jessica Crisp (Starboard/Neilpryde) at only her second Formula Windsurfing Regatta.
Showing his form today was Byron McIllveen (Point-7/Starboard) who scored a 5th in Race 3 today and then backed this up by leading around the top mark in Race 4 and held on to 5th overall at the finish to bring his overall place up to 9th in the Mens fleet.
Again the forecast is for North-East winds tomorrow at 20-25 knots with a continuing 3-4m swell. With the swell so big today the entrance to Port Stephens at the top of the race course was closing out which allowed a bunch of locals the opportunity for some great tow-surfing sessions
in the late afternoon which attracted even some of the competitors to get out their surfboards in the late afternoon. With the solid forecast we should see another 4 races run tomorrow bringing an important 3rd score discard for the competitors which will make the battle for the Australian Championship even more interesting come the morning.
Contact and further information:
Sean O’Brien
Organising Committee Director / Media Relations WINDSURFING NSW
Phone: 0402 467 857
E-Mail: seanobrien@aus120.com
Internet: www.fw-australia.com www.AUS120.com www.windsurfingnsw.com
