Alacati PWA World Cup
The better forecast for day three of the Pegasus Airlines Alacati PWA World Cup just about came to fruition as the racing finally got underway in winds of 9-15 knots, which saw the sailors reaching for their biggest equipment as the opening elimination was completed for both the men and women. At the end of day three Pierre Mortefon (Fanatic / North) and Fulya Ünlü (Severne) lead the way on a day where many of the usual suspects fell earlier than anticipated.
Women’s
Winners’ Final
Marion Mortefon (Patrik / Gun Sails) made a flying start to the opening winners’ final of the week and was able to take full advantage of her great start to lead into the first mark ahead of Fulya Ünlü, Delphine Cousin (Starboard / Gun Sails), Lena Erdil (Patrik / Point-7 / Mystic / AL360) and Cagla Kubat (Starboard / Severne). It looked for all the world that Mortefon would be claiming victory, but Ünlü had other ideas and after rounding the final mark with a tight gybe the nineteen year old stormed down the final reach to capture the first bullet of the week - leaving Mortefon to settle for second place. Meanwhile, Kubat was able to manoeuvre herself into third followed by Cousin and Erdil, who finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Oda Johanne (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) enjoyed a good first day on the PWA Slalom World Tour as the freestyle vice-world champion won the loser’s final to finish ninth in her first slalom elimination ever. The Norwegian overtook Mio Anayama (Starboard / NeilPryde) and never looked back, whilst Maria Andrés (Fanatic / North) was able to climb into second place ahead of Anayama and Marianne Rautelin Kaplas (Patrik / Loft Sails).
Men’s
Winners’ Final
Sebastian Kördel (Starboard / GA Sails) was absolutely flying in the rounds leading up to final, but was disqualified from Heat 16 after a premature start. Upon the restart Malte Reuscher (JP / NeilPryde) timed his start perfectly, but was powerless to stop Pierre Mortefon from marching into the lead as the fleet approached the first buoy. After cleanly exiting the gybe Mortefon continued to look blisteringly quick and built an unassailable lead over the remainder of the course to claim an emphatic victory, whilst Reuscher finished comfortably in second place. Behind the front two Tristan Algret (Starboard / Severne) and Maciek Rutkowski (Patrik / Point-7) sailed well to secure their place in third and fourth place - keeping Ross Williams (Tabou / GA Sails / Mystic) at bay.
Pierre Mortefon: "It was nice, a bit of gust like always in Alacati, but good conditions. I managed to pass heat after heat which I was happy about as a lot of good guys fell early today. So I wanted to take it easy, but not too easy, so it was finding the right balance. When I knew I was in the final I wanted to make a good start and after I got that I knew that I had the speed to stay in the front. The first mark is the most important because in this wind after the first mark it's really difficult to pass anyone. I felt confident when I was in the lead and I'm happy with my start to the event.”
There were several big upsets in the opening two rounds of the first men’s elimination, but non were bigger than Antoine Albeau (RRD / NeilPryde) falling in the quarterfinals. The reigning world champion made an uncharacteristic mistake at first as he dropped his opening gybe - and in the light winds failed to make one of his famous comebacks as Nicolas Warembourg (Patrik / Loft Sails / Mystic) won Heat 12 ahead of Alexandre Cousin (Patrik / Loft Sails / Mystic), Maciek Rutkowski and Steve Allen (Starboard / Severne).
Elsewhere Julien Quentel (RRD / NeilPryde) - who won the event last year - was unlucky to take a first round exit. The man from Saint Maarten was in second place when Heat 1 was cancelled and missed out on a place in the quarterfinals upon the restart. Quentel wasn’t the only other big name to fall today though on a day full of upsets as the likes of; Antoine Questel (Starboard / GA Sails), Pascal Toselli (99NoveNove / Point-7), Micah Buzianis (JP / NeilPryde), Ben Van der Steen (Tabou / GA Sails / Mystic) and even last years vice-world champion - Cyril Moussilmani (Starboard / Severne) all took exits before the semifinals.
The flip-side of several upsets is that several of other names thrived such as local boy Poyraz Akay who qualified in second place from Heat 1 - fellow Turk Ertugrul Icingir (Starboard / Point-7) also booked his place in the quarterfinals after clinching the final qualifying place in Heat 4. Nineteen year old, Milan Gieingh (Angulo / KA Sail), also qualified for the quarterfinal - as did Erkan Morgan (Starboard / Severne).
The forecast for tomorrow doesn’t look quite as good for today with more the wind predicted to be much more west, however as always you never know. The skippers’ meeting has been called for 10:30am tomorrow morning with the action commencing from 11am onwards. Stay up to date with all of the latest developments from the event via the PWA live ticker @ www.pwaworldtour.com.
Current Standings After One Elimination - Men’s Slalom Alacati PWA World Cup:
1st Pierre Mortefon (Fanatic / North)
2nd Malte Reuscher (JP / NeilPryde)
3rd Tristan Algret (Starboard / Severne / Mystic)
4th Maciek Rutkowski (Patrik / Point-7)
5th Ross Williams (Tabou / GA Sails / Mystic)
6th Nicolas Warembourg (Patrik / Loft Sails / Mystic)
7th Steve Allen (Starboard / Severne)
8th Sebastian Kördel (Starboard / GA Sails)
9th Casper Bouman (Starboard / NeilPryde)
10th Matteo Iachino (Fanatic / North)
Current Standings After One Elimination - Women’s Slalom Alacati PWA World Cup:
1st Fulya Ünlü (Severne)
2nd Marion Mortefon (Starboard / Severne)
3rd Cagla Kubat (Starboard / Severne)
4th Delphine Cousin (Starboard / Gun Sails)
5th Lena Erdil (Patrik / Point-7 / Mystic / AL360)
6th Esther de Gues (99NoveNove / Point-7)
7th Ayako Suzuki (Tabou / GA Sails / Mystic)
8th Marion Dusart (Patrik / Gun Sails / Flymount)
9th Oda Johanne (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins)
10th Maria Andrés (Fanatic / North)