Rhodes presented itself from the best side again today. Four races were sailed in light to medium wind conditions of 10 to 17 knots. In the beginning the racing was started with almost the same course as yesterday with a slalom passage close to the beach. But in the second race the wind dropped and got a little inconsistent close to the beach. So this race was abandoned. Then the course was reset as a classical up and down course again. The wind picked up again to 15 knots and the racing was continued with three great races. The spectators could easily follow the competition as the finish was directly at the beach between a mark only 10 metres from the beach and a flag pole at the beach.
Steve Allen (AUS-0, Fanatic) was able to win the first race today. In this way he finally managed to pass Wojtek Brzozowski (POL-10, Starboard, Neil Pryde) and moved on the second place. Brian Rögild (DEN-173, Starboard, Gaastra) from Danmark and Arnon Dagan (ISR-1, Fanatic, Neil Pryde) from Israel were 2nd and 3rd in this race.
With the new course setup Antoine Albeau (F-192, AHD, Neil Pryde) returned to his old dominating style and won the second race in front of Steve Allen and Brian Rögild. In the third and the fourth race Wojtek Brzozowski had a great comeback: He was “only” 5th and 6th in the first two races today but the last two were completely dominated by him from the start to the finish. In both races he had a lead of almost 500 metres.
In race#12 Jamie Lever (GBR-5, Starboard, Neil Pryde) returned like a phoenix from the ashes with a second place and Arnon Dagan (ISR-1, Fanatic, Neil Pryde) had a perfect day with a 3rd place two 4th and one 2nd place. Antoine Albeau still presented consistent racing in the last races with a 3rd and a 4th and Steve Allen saved himself with a 5th and a 3rd.
After thirteen races Antoine Albeau has almost confirmed his victory at the first Formula Windsurfing Grand Prix. If he manages to finish somehow in an appropriate position tomorrow he is save. But non the less the regatta couldn’t be more fascinating: We have two ties in the Top-5! Wojtek Brzozowski and Steve Allen both have 22,1 points and Brian Rögild and Arnon Dagan are fighting for place four both with 54 points. And also the second half of the Top-10 is very close together so that nothing is fixed before the final day. This is the closest Formula Windsurfing competition we remember!
The maximum number of races for the Formula Windsurfing Grand Prix is 15. So we are expecting two final races for the last day tomorrow. The final decision will take place in the last race as this will bring the fourth discard which will bring significant changes to the rankings. The first start is scheduled for 10:00. If the wind is already blowing in the morning the results will be fixed at 14:00.
