Fly! ANA Yokosuka PWA World Cup
A slight improvement to the overnight forecast meant that the racing action began on Day 2 of the Yokosuka PWA World Cup as the Foil fleets took centre stage during the afternoon. The wind remained light throughout at just 3-10 knots - pushing the lower limit possibilities of foiling - making well-timed starts and lay lines imperative for sucess, while being on the lighter side of the weight spectrum today was certainly no disadvantage.
Foil
Women’s
There was plenty of interest in the first ever Women’s Foil races on the PWA World Tour to see who the early frontrunners would be. After the first four eliminations - meaning one discard comes into play - reigning slalom world champion - Delphine Cousin Questel (Starboard / S2Maui / Starboard Foil) - heads up the overnight rankings after winning the first and last eliminations of the day, while backing those bullets up with two second places.
However, while Cousin Questel may lead the overnight rankings on count-back there is nothing separating her and Marina Alabau (Starboard / Severne / Starboard Foil), who recorded identical results meaning the two women are tied on 3.4 points. Alabau is a former Olympic Champion and it now looks like she will lock horns with the 3-time slalom world champion over the remainder of the event.
Marion Mortefon (Fanatic / Duotone / LOKEFOIL) currently occupies 3rd place after three 3rd places and a 4th, but for a while it looked as though the 27-year-old was going to secure second place in the second elimination, but she fell at the final gybe to allow Cousin Questel to claim 2nd. Mortefon holds a 2 point advantage over 22-year-old Blanca Alabau (Starboard / Severne / Starboard Foil) - who finished the day her best result yet - 3rd. 17-year-old Helle Oppedal is then a further 3 points back in 5th place.
Men’s
There is a new name at the top of the overnight rankings in the men’s division with debutant - Kiran Badloe (Starboard / Severne / Starboard Foils) - currently leading the way after a 4th and 2nd place in the opening two races. The 25-year-old is no stranger to racing though as he is currently campaigning for a place in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
However, there is almost nothing separating the current top 3. Current slalom world tour leader - Pierre Mortefon (Fanatic / Duotone / LOKEFOIL) - enjoyed his best day to date on the foil, which saw the Frenchman secure two solid second places and is tied on 6 points with Badloe, while Nicolas Goyard (Tabou / GA Sails / Phantom Foils) is just a further 0.7 of a point behind in 3rd. Goyard secured the opening bullet of the year, which he followed up with a 6th place in Elimination 2.
Current vice-world champion - Sebastian Kördel (Starboard / GA Sails / Starboard Foils) - made a steady start to proceedings with a 4th and 5th place and sits in 4th place at the end of the day.
Alexandre Cousin (Patrik / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils), who finished 3rd overall last season, is also firmly in contention after the opening two eliminations with the Frenchman recording a second and 8th place.
Nicolas Goyard wasn’t the only Goyard to secure a bullet today as his brother Thomas Goyard (FMX Racing / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils) claimed a clear cut victory in Elimination 2, which lifts the 27-year-old into 6th place after a 13th in the opening race.
Amado Vrieswijk (JP / Severne) was one of the 4 sailors to win an event last year and he is currently the highest ranked sailor out of those 4 in 7th place after a 10th and 6th. Matteo Iachino (Starboard / Severne / Shamal Sunglasses / Starboard Foils) is next in 9th place, followed by Mateus Isaac (JP / NeilPryde) in 11th, while reigning event and world champion Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (Starboard / Severne / Starboard Foils) is down in 27th place. The Argentine's efforts weren't helped by Thomas Goyard, who badly impeded Costa Hoevel just before the start of the first final causing Costa Hoevel to miss the start line and effectively end his chances.
The top ten is currently completed by Denmark’s Sebastian Kornum (JP / NeilPryde) in 8th and William Huppert (Fanatic / Duotone / LOKEFOIL) - 10th.
The gradient wind is expected to be slightly stronger tomorrow at 10-14 knots, but it is expected to swing to the south from the east, so we will have to wait and see what effect that has on the local thermal. The sailors will meet again at 9:30am (GMT+8) tomorrow morning with the action commencing from 10:30am onwards.
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Current Ranking 2019 Fly! ANA Yokosuka PWA World Cup - Women’s Foil
*After 4 Eliminations
1st Delphine Cousin Questel (FRA - Starboard / S2Maui / Starboard Foil)
2nd Marina Alabau (ESP - Starboard / Severne / Starboard Foil)
3rd Marion Mortefon (FRA - Fanatic / Duotone / LOKEFOIL)
4th Blanca Alabau (ESP - Starboard / Severne / Starboard Foil)
5th Helle Oppedal (DEN)
Current Ranking 2019 Fly! ANA Yokosuka PWA World Cup - Men’s Foil
*After 2 Eliminations
1st Kiran Badloe (NED - Starboard / Severne Sails / Starboard Foils)
2nd Pierre Mortefon (FRA - Fanatic / Duotone / LOKEFOIL)
3rd Nicolas Goyard (FRA - Tabou / GA Sails / Phantom Foils)
4th Sebastian Kördel (GER - Starboard / GA Sails / Starboard Foils)
5th Alexandre Cousin (FRA - Patrik / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils)
6th Thomas Goyard (FRA - FMX Racing / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils)
7th Amado Vrieswijk (NB - JP / Severne / Starboard Foil)
8th Sebastian Kornum (DEN - JP / NeilPryde)
9th Matteo Iachino (ITA - Starboard / Severne / Shamal Sunglasses / Starboard Foils)
10th William Huppert (FRA / Fanatic / Duotone / LOKEFOIL)