The 2003 Island Sports Newport Funcup Windsurfing Regatta was won by 21 year old Devon Boulon of St. John US Virgin Islands. Devon, a former laser sailor who just won the last race of the Formula class European championships on Lake Garda, Italy, won the Funcup in a triple tie breaker over his former Mistral team member Seth Besse of Groton Connecticut. Both competitors had an equal number of firsts and seconds throughout the six Formula class races. The event was held Friday, Saturday and Sunday May 16-18 in the waters adjacent to Fort Adams State Park in Newport Rhode Island. Several of the round alone racing yachts, such as Pindar and Tommy Hilfiger Freedom were out buzzing the course before their awards ceremony on Saturday held at the Museum of Yachting.

Conditions were raw and cold for Friday with winds from 3 to 22 knots from the East South East. On Saturday the wind was steadier in direction and velocity with 10 – 23 knots from the North East. Sunday was happily warmer with wonderful sunshine but lighter conditions with the wind from every point of the compass. There was no Formula sailing this day but the longboards in Open and Mistral Prodigy classes managed to get in four good races.

28 racers competed in three different classes, Formula, Mistral Prodigy and Open Class. The Formula class is the highest performance windsurfer class where racers are limited to just one board, three sails and three fins. The largest sail can be no more than 12.5 square meters in size (138 square feet), almost twice the area of a Laser class sailboat. There is an international Formula class tour with prize money and thousands of spectators watching the races over in Europe.

In other Formula class results Tyler Gibson of Martha’s Vineyard was 3rd. 4th overall was Nancy Johnson of Newport RI and also the top female competitor. 5th was Seth’s dad Steve, also from Groton and the Grand master (over 50) champion. 6th was Platt Johnson, the top master (over 35) competitor. 6 races were held over the three day event.

The top Open class sailor was Dennis Rawley of Hudson Massachusetts. The top Open class women was Theresa Tuthill from Niantic Ct. The Top Mistral Prodigy class competitor was Al Simmons from Bristol Ct. Top junior competitor was Jeremiah Malinha from Boston, Mass.

For further information, photos and complete results see www.islandsports.com/funcup

The Newport Fun Cup, one of New Englands Premier Windsurfing events was the fourth stop on the United States Windsurfing Tour.

For more information visit www.islandsports.com/funcup or call Island Sports at 846-4421.

PRESS CONTACT: Platt Johnson

DAY: 401-846-4421

FAX: 401-846-4485

EMAIL: funcup@islandsports.com