Dunkerbeck-Eyewear Siam Park Tenerife PWA World Cup

Day 4: An incredible day of close calls and world class sailing

The fourth day of the Dunkerbeck-Eyewear Siam Park - El Médano - Tenerife PWA World Cup saw the best action of the week so far, as the conditions continued to get better and better throughout day, which saw the level of sailing go through the roof. By the end of another epic day of competition both the men’s and women’s double eliminations have been whittled down to just the top five sailors, which should see an exciting conclusion tomorrow. However, a hugely positive day was dampened by the news that Caroline Weber (Patrik / Sailloft Hamburg) has suffered a suspected broken back. Everyone from the PWA would like to take the opportunity to wish Caroline a speedy and full recovery.

Men’s - Double Elimination


Standout Sailor of the Day

Today saw many amazing performances, but Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / North / MFC) stole the show with an awe-inspiring display of sailing. The Spaniard originally set the highest scoring heat of the day - 26.12 points - against Alex Mussolini (Tabou / GA Sails), but in heat 31 Fernandez produced a near perfect heat versus Dany Bruch (Starboard / Challenger / AL360) as he wowed both the crowds and the judges to score 28 out of possible 30 points. Fernandez opened the heat with an incredible, bolt upright double forward before setting to work on the waves - where he earned perfect tens across the board after landing a fantastic frontside aerial into an insane taka right in the critical section of the wave. If Fernandez can sustain his level of sailing tomorrow then he will certainly be a very difficult man to beat.

Giant Killer

Moritz Mauch (Starboard / Severne / MFC) claimed the biggest scalp of his career thus far as he made his mark on the world stage again. The eighteen year old demonstrated his incredible wave riding time-and-time again today to defeat Ricardo Campello (Patrik / Point-7 / MFC) in heat 23b - thanks to his vertical, perfectly timed gauges and a taka on his final wave. Mauch then went on to defeat John Skye (RRD / RRD / MFC) in heat 26b with more sublime riding - as he was awarded 9 points for a single wave - but unfortunately suffered an injury to his ankle after landing a tabletop forward. The German still produced a good display against fellow countryman Dany Bruch in the next round but it wasn’t enough, as Bruch exacted revenge for defeat in Denmark last year.

Close Calls

Today also saw several incredibly close calls as virtually every sailor brought their A game to the water. Firstly, only 0.11 of a point separated Omar Sanchez (Patrik / Loft Sails / Dunkerbeck Eyewear) and Jules Denel (JP / NeilPryde) in heat 25a, but Sanchez clinched the tie thanks to his better jumping on this occasion. Adam Lewis (Fanatic / North) looked as though he had managed to defeat Alex Mussolini, but the Brit saw victory snatched from him at the last as Mussolini rotated through a radical goiter on his final wave of the heat. Next up Leon Jamaer (JP / NeilPryde) - who was extremely unlucky with equipment today having suffered a broken mast and then to rub salt into the wound had to watch in dismay as his board and sail separated in two different heats - defeated teammate Robby Swift (JP / NeilPryde / Mystic / Maui Ultra Fins) by less than half a point in heat 28a. 

Alex Mussolini delivered a scintillating display in heat 29a to take down the reigning world champion - Marcilio ‘Brawzinho’ Browne (Goya Windsurfing / MFC). The Spaniard landed an outstanding one-handed, one-footed backloop - including a head throw for good measure - before stomping a sick frontside wave 360 and a smooth taka to advance. At that point, Mussolini, looked like a sure fire bet, but Fernandez soon put an end to his hopes.

Women’s - Double Elimination

Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / Chris Benz / Mystic / Maui Ultra Fins) was the standout woman on the water today as she started her remarkable comeback in the double elimination, which saw her win five consecutive heats in a row - firstly by defeating Lucy Robson (Fanatic / North) followed by Waka Nishida (Goya Windsurfing), Carmen Afonso Martin, Sara Sommer (Severne) and lastly Alice Arutkin (Fanatic / North) in the battle for fifth and sixth place respectively. Today marks the first time that Offringa has broken into the top five, in only her second competition, and tomorrow she will face German Steffi Wahl (Patrik / Sailloft) as she looks to advance into the top four and beyond. The lady from Aruba impressed with her clean forwards and stunning shakas, as well as displaying fluid wave riding too.

Alice Arutkin also produced a fantastic performance today as she progressed through four heats in a row to claim sixth place overall in Tenerife. The French beauty started her succession of victories against good friend Sophia Gilje (Fanatic / North) before also going on to defeat Sarah Bibby (Simmer), Justyna Sniady (Simmer / Mystic) and Caroline Weber (Patrik / Sailloft Hamburg) - who as previously mentioned unfortunately sustained a serious back injury in her prior heat. Once again everyone at the PWA wishes the German a speedy and full recovery. 

The forecast for tomorrow shows similar wind and waves for the morning, before tailing off in the afternoon, so we are hoping to see a nail biting conclusion to the double eliminations. Can anyone topple Philip Köster (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) and Iballa Moreno (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) at the top? Find out by tuning into www.pwaworldtour.com where you’ll be able to follow the action as it happens via the PWA live stream and live ticker.

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