The Windsurfing Era PWA Formula Racing World Cup Day 3

Aussie race guru Steve Allen (Fanatic) has stormed into the lead here on the penultimate day of the Windsurfing ERA, PWA Formula Racing World Cup.

Aussie race guru Steve Allen (Fanatic) has stormed into the lead here on the penultimate day of the Windsurfing ERA, PWA Formula Racing World Cup. Allen took another bullet this afternoon in the second of four races and has now moved into pole position ahead of Wojtek Brzozowski (Starboard, Neil Pryde). Antoine Albeau (Neil Pryde, AHD) also had an excellent day after smoking the rest of the fleet in the final two races and has now moved up into fourth place overall.

The wind this morning looked like it was not going to co-operate but filled in to a steady 14-16 knots around 2pm. The first race saw Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (Starboard, Neil Pryde) of Argentina take a surprise victory after he stormed past Brian Rogild (Gaastra, Starboard) of Denmark at the finishing straight. Next across the line was American racer Micah Buzianis (Mistral, North) who added a further top three placing to his string of consistent results.

It was Allen’s turn to hit the gas in the second race and hit the upwind mark a fraction ahead of England’s Ross Williams (Gaastra, AHD). The two racers battled it out on the downwind run with Williams looking like he had the edge. Williams tacked too early on the second upwind and the mistake cost him his first victory here in Poland. Third place went to Ben Van Der Steen (Fanatic, Neil Pryde) of Holland who had only just recovered from a heavy catapult in the opening race.

STEVE ALLEN (Fanatic)
“The wind picked up today. Sometimes it was a little bit of a handful but it is still good. I was on an 11m all day today, it was perfect 11m power. I feel I am going very well downwind and am very happy with my downwind speed. I am trying to stay in there with consistent results. I was stoked when I got the bullet. I don’t want to think too much about being ahead. There are still a lot of races to go. I don’t like to think that I am leading, I just like to focus on each race as it comes.

ROSS WILLIAMS (Gaastra/AHD)
“A few mistakes have cost me heavily today. I fell off in the first race and lost at least eight places, that was a bummer. I am hanging in there, the wind was nice today, I reckon about 14-16 knots”

In races three and four, which featured an upwind and downwind gate, Antoine Albeau (Neil Pryde, AHD) shifted up into top gear. The 30 year old French sailor who is still yet to use any other sail than his Neil Pryde 12.5m won both races despite a dogfight on the home straight with Wojtek Brzozowski (Starboard, Neil Pryde) in race ten. Brzozowski had started the day with a disastrous 21st place finish after damaging his 11m sail during a collision. He was then forced to change down to 9.8m for the remaining three races but still managed to take 4th second and 6th placings to keep him in the fight for the overall title.

ANTOINE ALBEAU (Neil Pryde, AHD)
“There are a lot of people on the starting line so if you make a bad start then you are dead! It is very hard to come back. If you have a good start then it is easy. I have been on a 12.5m in every race of the event so far…I am fine on that! The technique with the up haul I was using yesterday works well in light wind but not in the wind we had today! In light winds you have to try some new things sometimes…I think it helps!”

Current Formula World Champion, Kevin Pritchard (Gaastra, Bic), slipped down to fifth place today after only posting one top three result in race three. Micah Buzianis (Mistral, North) meanwhile, consolidated his top three placing after finishing 3rd, 6th, 5th and 3rd.

KEVIN PRITCHARD (Bic/Gaastra)
“I am still not doing what I want to do…what I came here to do! The wind was better but I am not happy. I am at least trying to stay consistent and hopefully that will pay off in the long run. Eleven races down and I am now just hoping to get up on the podium! A lot of guys are inconsistent so we will see what the last races bring”

In the women’s racing, Dorota Swaszewska (Starboard, Neil Pryde) added three more bullets to her tally here in Poland. With nine wins already posted her position at the top now looks unbeatable. Lucy Horwood (Gaastra, AHD) took three 2nds today and remains in second with Verena Fauster (Starboard, Gaastra) of Austria hot on her heels in third.

DOROTA STASZEWSKA (Starboard/Neil Pryde)
“ It very was exciting today! I had a crash with one of the guys in the second race. I destroyed his equipment completely. It was a good idea for the women to have just one lap of the course today. It is much more competitive, it was not just about speed today it was more about tactics and technique ”

LUCY HORWOOD (AHD/Gaastra)
“Not really happy today! I had three good races where I could have won but unfortunately I got mixed up with some of the male sailors at the back of their fleet. That’s life I guess. My aim is to at least win a race tomorrow!”

With one day remaining and four possible more races, the PWA Formula Racing World Cup is set to go down to the wire. The forecast is calling for stronger winds and with the leader board so tightly packed the tension on the racecourse is bound to be high. So far the event has been an outstanding success with dramatic racing, excellant organization
and huge crowds on the beach enjoying the show!


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