An international wind- and kitesurfing regatta NeilPryde Baltic Cup Estonia were held at the Bay of Tallinn from Friday 17th to Sunday 19th June 2016. Three-day event brought together nearly one hundred surfers from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Russia, including Formula Windsurfing Class leader in the current world rankings, Janis Press (LV), and Estonian RS:X Olympian Ingrid Puusta, who is currently preparing for Rio.

Regatta’s director Erno Kaasik said that he was satisfied with the weather conditions and arrangement of regatta. “We are glad that NeilPryde Baltic Cup Estonia is increasingly popular among the windsurfing and kitesurfing top-riders. The weather was great as usual in Pirita and all classes – Formula, Formula Kite, RS: X, Raceboard and Techno 293 – had a chance to hold several races,” said Mr Kaasik.

The regatta was kicked off on Friday by windsurfer classes Techno 293, Raceboard and RS: X, who enjoyed the sunny weather and changeable wind conditions. Latvians dominated in all Techno 293 classes (U13, U15 and U17), as well as in Raceboard class. After the first races, Estonian Olympic surfer Ingrid Puusta was the leader of RS: X class. Unfortunately, unstable and bumpy wind on Tallinn Bay did not allow to hold the Formula and Formula Kite Classes races that day.

On Saturday, the weather was rather tough. The wind of 12-15 m/s was too strong for Techno 293 class, but perfect for the professionals. In Formula, Latvian Janis Press won all four of Saturday’s races, followed by Estonian John Kaju and fellow Latvian Janis Rencis. In Formula Kite, Latvian Martins Sporgins managed to took the lead, while Estonians Madis Kallas and Ranno Rumm competed for the second and the third place. Ingrid Puusta kept her leader position in the RS: X class, being the most successful Estonian of regatta so far. In the Raceboard class, Rets Skritsiks took the lead from fellow Latvians Ilona Grinbera.

The last day of regatta surprised participants and organizers with excellent surfing weather. The wind of 6-10 m/s enabled races for all classes. After the decisive races, Latvians won the first place of all Techno 293 classes, Raceboard class and Formula. The winner of Techno 293 U13 was Matiss Punte, U15 – Emils Punte and U17 – Nameijs Dreimanis. In Formula, Janis Preiss was unbeatable by winning six races out of seven, followed by Estonians John Kaju and Tristen Erik Kivi. In Raceboard class, Rets Skritsiks managed to keep the leader position while Ilona Grinberga won the 2nd and Juris Dreimanis the 3rd place. Estonians were victorious in the Formula Kite and RS: X class. After the final races of regatta, Madis Kallas won the Formula Kite, followed by Latvian Martins Sporgins and Estonian Ranno Rumm. Marcus Pertelson was the winner of RS: X class, while second place belonged to Lithuanian Karolis Zaksauskas and third to fellow Estonian Rainer Kasekivi.

NeilPryde Baltic Cup is an internationally recognized Formula Windsurfing class racing series that gives points in the Formula world ranking. The series reaches the peak on 8–10 July in Latvia, where the Baltic’s best surfers will be crowned.

Estonian NeilPryde Baltic Cup is sponsored by Extreme Sport, Oxbow, Tähtreklaam, Jaani Lihapood, Prike and Dylan. Estonian Yachting Union is sponsored by Vopak E.O.S., Liviko, Tallinna Sadam, Marinepool, NG Investeeringud, LTT, Matek, Eesti Loots and Planestar.

Results, photos, videos: http://event.extreme.ee/