PEGASUS AIRLINES ALACATI PWA WORLD CUP

Event Summary: A week of brilliant racing sees Julien Quentel and Sarah-Quita Offringa come out on top

Alacati reinforced its reputation as a world class windsurfing location as the wind machine produced six days out of six, allowing nine races in each the men’s and women’s fleets to be completed. After a week of intense, close fought racing Julien Quentel (RRD / NeilPryde) was able to hold his nerve to claim his first ever event victory on the PWA World Tour, whilst Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / Mystic) made an emphatic return to the slalom scene to be crowned the champion of Alacati for the third year in a row.

Men’s

Slalom

The past week in Alacati will live long in the memory of Julien Quentel. The man from Saint Maarten finished third overall last year, but had been enduring a frustrating season as he entered Turkey with just one top ten finish - ninth in Fuerteventura. However, Quentel replicated the form of 2013 as he qualified for all but one winners’ final after showing unbelievable consistency and speed on the course. The twenty-eight year old also accumulated two bullets, and despite a scare in the final race where he missed out on the semifinals, there was nothing anyway could do to stop Quentel claiming his maiden victory. Could this be the start of many victories?

Reigning world champion - Antoine Albeau (RRD / NeilPryde) - missed his chance to steal the event victory from under Quentel’s nose as he too failed to advance from the quarterfinals, handing the event title to his good friend. However, Albeau was still rewarded with second place overall, but more importantly the big Frenchman returns to the top of the overall rankings, after discarding his last place from Turkmenistan. 

Completing the prestigious podium for the second consecutive event is Pascal Toselli (Starboard / Point-7). The blisteringly quick Frenchman was able to win two races and led the event for a short period. Toselli looks to have taken his sailing to another level this year and is now firmly in the hunt for a place on the overall podium - currently occupying third overall after another fantastic performance.

Arnon Dagan (RRD / NeilPryde) enjoyed a fine week in Alacati and he was rewarded with fourth place overall. The Israeli combined perfect starts with a fantastic top speed to mount his challenge for the top and Dagan was able to cap a great performance in the best possible fashion, by claiming the final bullet of the week in race nine.

Ben Van Der Steen (Tabou / GA Sails / Mystic) eventually took him fifth place. The flying Dutchman endured a topsy turvy week, as he showed moments of brilliance - resulting in two victories - with a few costly mistakes as he missed out on the semifinals on numerous occasions. Credit must be given to Van Der Steen though as he made a great recovery in the final two days to claw his way back up the rankings.

Just behind the flying Dutchman was Pierre Mortefon (Fanatic / North), Josh Angulo (Angulo / Gun Sails) and Tristan Algret (Patrik / Loft Sails / Mystic), who finished sixth, seventh and eighth respectively. Algret enjoyed his finest performance thus far on the PWA World Tour as he broke into the overall top ten at the age of just twenty, proving that he is certainly a name to watch very carefully in the future. The man from Guadeloupe qualified for four winners’ finals, with his best result coming in the opening elimination where he claimed fourth.

The top ten was completed by Matteo Iachino (Fanatic / North), who claims another top ten finish, ninth and Cyril Moussilmani (Starboard / Severne), who slips back to second in the overall world rankings.

Women’s

Slalom

There was no stopping Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / Mystic) on her return to the slalom scene. The 2011 PWA Slalom World Champion came flying out of the blocks to claim bullet number one in the opening race and she never looked back from here. Offringa eventually finished the week with a quite incredible seven victories out of a possible nine, such was her dominance over the rest of the fleet.

Reigning world champion - Delphine Cousin (Starboard / Loft Sails) - secured second place overall, which sees her maintain the number one spot in the overall rankings. Cousin ended Offringa’s perfect record in elimination five with her sole victory of the week, whilst backing it up with six separate, top three finishes to keep Lena Erdil (Patrik / Loft Sails / Mystic / AL360) at bay.

Lena Erdil claimed back-to-back podium finishes in Alacati as she finished the week as the highest placed Turk. Erdil also celebrated her first bullet since Aruba 2011 as she became the only other woman to be able to beat Sarah-Quita Offringa. The twenty-five year old now sits level on points with Valerie Ghibaudo (Tabou / GA Sails) - joint second in the overalls - with Ghibaudo enduring an up and down week on the race course.

Meanwhile, fellow Turkish ladies Fulya Unlu (Starboard / Severne) and Cagla Kubat (Starboard / Loft Sails) claimed fifth and sixth respectively. 

Where’s Next on the PWA World Tour

From the 5th to the 7th September the elite of the slalom, freestyle and wave sailing world will be heading to Warsaw, Poland for the first indoor event in eight years. The event is set to be bigger and better than ever, with radical action and hardcore crashes left, right and centre. Don’t miss any of the action by tuning into www.pwaworldtour.com.

Overall Results Men's Slalom Pegasus Airlines Alacati PWA World Cup:

1st Julien Quentel (RRD / NeilPryde)

2nd Antoine Albeau (RRD / NeilPryde)

3rd Pascal Toselli (Starboard / Point-7)

4th Arnon Dagan (RRD / NeilPryde)

5th Ben Van Der Steen (Tabou / GA Sails / Mystic)

6th Pierre Mortefon (Fanatic / North)

7th Josh Angulo (Angulo / Gun Sails)

8th Tristan Algret (Patrik / Loft Sails / Mystic)

9th Matteo Iachino (Fanatic / North)

10th Cyril Moussilmani (Starboard / Severne)

Overall Results Women's Slalom Pegasus Airlines Alacati PWA World Cup:

1st Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / Mystic)

2nd Delphine Cousin (Starboard / Loft Sails)

3rd Lena Erdil (Patrik / Loft Sails / Mystic / AL360)

4th Valerie Ghibaudo (Tabou / GA Sails / Mystic)

5th Fulya Ünlü (Starboard / Severne)

6th Cagla Kubat (Starboard / Loft Sails)

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