The Qantas Downunder Pro – Formula Windsurfing Oceanic & Australian Championships had sailors caught in a long day on the beach with no racing, as a large southerly front travelling up the New South Wales coast played havoc with the weather dumping torrential rain, 50 knot gusts and even some hailstones!

Despite the promising forecast, suitable racing conditions did not materialise on Day 3 of the Qantas Downunder Pro. What appeared to at first be a stinking hot day on the beach soon became a cold and dark one as a large southerly frontal system arrived from the south bringing with it torrential rain, and squalls of up to 50 knots for most of the day.

Current event leader, with 4 bullets, Australian Steve Allen (Starboard/Severne) kept a cool head spending most of the day relaxing out of the rain and wind squals at home with most of the top contenders for the event including Wilhelm Schurmann (Starboard/Neilpryde) who is currently in 3rd overall and Sean O’Brien (Starboard/Severne) who is currently in 4th.

Defending champion O’Brien had an on-edge day, hoping the rain and wind would recede and conditions would recede enough for another race so he could claw back the 2 points required to pass Schurmann to get back on the podium. O’Brien is currently 2nd overall Australian behind Steve Allen and ahead of Steve Walsh (JP/MauiSails).

In the Free Formula division, hotly

A new division for the sailors new to the Formula Windsurfing class called ‘Free Formula’ was run for the sixth time at a National Titles this year. The division allows newer sailors the opportunity to race at the same time as the Pro Division but sail one less lap then the top sailors. This class has seen the biggest growth in the past few seasons with 18 competitors taking part in this year’s event. The division was dominated by Andrew Vacopoulos from New South Wales, ahead of Hayley Thom from New Zealand and Roger Lucas.

The forecast for the final day of racing continues to baffle the sailors with conflicting forecasts from each weather service as the aftermath of the southerly front travelling up the New South Wales coast, dumping torrential rain and causing more havoc after the damaging floods to many of the nearby towns on the Hunter Coast, where Hawks Nest is situated, earlier in the week. With the possibility of 5 more races being run on the final day, there is plenty more action to come and the battle for the Downunder Pro title will be fought to the death, as the Australian contingent aim to reign back the remaining podium spots from the internationals currently holding the first last 2 podium positions.

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Further information about the FW Oceanic & Australian Championships as well as a media service with press releases, results, rankings, background information and photo/video downloads can be found on the official website www.fw-australia.com.

Contact and further information:

Sean O’Brien

Organising Committee / Media Relations

AUSTRALIAN WINDSURFING ASSOCIATION

Phone: 0402 467 857

E-Mail: seanobrien@aus120.com

Internet: www.fw-australia.com