Catalunya Costa Brava PWA World Cup

Event Summary: Foil Continues to Evolve with Intro of Foil Slalom, While Thomas Goyard Tastes Victory on World Tour For First Time

For the first time in PWA history, the 2019 Catalunya Costa Brava PWA World Cup saw a Foil only event and overall it was a huge success with 10 Eliminations being completed by the end of the week. For 5 out of those 6 days the sailors competed in Costa Brava’s consistent seabreezes, which found the lower wind limit for Foiling, while on day two the ferocious Tramontana showed its face to test the sailors mettle and the upper wind limits, while a variety of upwind/downwind courses, combined with the introduction of Foil Slalom for the first time led to widespread mix of different winners, which kept the racing exciting throughout.

In fact, from the 10 Eliminations completed there were 8 different winners:

- Thomas Goyard - 3 wins
- Julien Bontemps - 1 win
- Matteo Iachino - 1 win
- Gonzalo Costa Hoevel - 1 win
- Nicolas Goyard - 1 win
- Antoine Albeau - 1 win
- Antoine Questel - 1 win
- Tristan Algret - 1 win

Thomas Goyard (FMX Racing / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils) had to endure a frustrating final day in the opening event of the season in Japan with the Frenchman desperately needing a discard with two bullets and a 32nd from the opening 3 eliminations. However, the wind shut down with only the final of Elimination 4 to be completed - taking away Goyard’s shot at securing his first event win on the world tour. Fast forward a few weeks to the end of the last 6 days here and the 27-year-old can say that he has successfully righten that wrong after securing his first victory in Costa Brava. Goyard inflicted the damage with his expertise in the upwind/downwind racing, which saw him win 3 eliminations to build an unassailable lead. Goyard sits in 5th place in the overall rankings after the opening two events.

Behind him - Julien Bontemps (JP /NeilPryde) - secured back-to-back podiums in Costa Brava with the Frenchman going one place better than 2018 after claiming second this time around. Bontemps recorded an incredibly consistent set of results here - not finishing outside the top 10 once!

Matteo Iachino (Starboard / Severne / Shamal Sunglasses / Starboard Foil) had a bit of a mixed bag of results from the upwind/downwind racing, but the 2016 Slalom PWA World Champion truly excelled with the switch to Foil Slalom with the Italian recording a bullet, a 3rd and a 4th from the 3 Foil Slalom Eliminations that were completed. Iachino’s late charge saw him claim the final place on the podium, which gives Iachino the title race lead on countback. However, there is almost no room at the top with 4 sailors currently on 19,500 points after two events - himself, Pierre Mortefon (Fanatic / Duotone / LOKEFOIL), Amado Vrieswijk (JP / Severne / Starboard Foil) and Alexandre Cousin (Patrik / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils).

Besides Bontemps, Amado Vrieswijk was the next most consistent sailor with the Bonairean only finishing outside the top 10 once, which sees him finish 4th here as the 23-year-old continues his hugely impressive start to the year. After a 4th place here, Vrieswijk is now tied in second place for Foil, 12th for Slalom, while the Freestyle powerhouse currently leads the Freestyle tour as he looks for his first world title! There can’t be too many arguments against Vrieswijk being classed as the best overall windsurfer in the world at this current moment in time!

Reigning world champion - Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (Starboard / Severne / Starboard Foil) - bounced back from a disappointing opening to the season by being back in contention for the podium here. The Argentine just missed out in the end 5th, but will be pleased to have erased the memories from Japan.

Nicolas Goyard (Tabou / GA Sails / Phantom Foils) started the final day in 3rd place, which if he’d managed to defend would have been enough to send the 23-year-old to the top of the overall world rankings after 2 events. In the end, Goyard N. finished 6th and is now ranked 6th in the overalls - just one place behind his brother. 

Elsewhere, Alexandre Cousin finished 7th just one point ahead of Sebastian Kornum (JP / NeilPryde) in 8th, while Pierre Mortefon, who came into the second event of the year as the world tour leader claimed 9th place, which sees him tied in second place in the overalls with Amado Vrieswijk.

Sebastian Kördel (Starboard / GA Sails / Starboard Foil) managed to sail through the pain barrier after suffering some issues with his back to secure the final place in the event top 10, which means the German is now ranked 7th overall.

Brazil’s Mateus Isaac (JP / NeilPryde) missed out on the top 10 on countback after finishing tied on 74 points with Kördel. The top 16 is completed by Antoine Albeau (JP / NeilPryde) - 12th - Kiran Badloe (Starboard / Severne / Starboard Foil) - 13th - Antoine Questel (I-99 / S2Maui / Starboard Foil) - 14th - Tristan Algret (Starboard / Severne / Starboard Foil) - 15th - and Enrico Marotti (JP / NeilPryde - 16th.

The PWA would once again like to extend their thanks to the organisers, local workers and volunteers, who have made the last 6 brilliant days possible and we look forward to returning in 2020. Congratulations to all the winners.

Where’s Next on the PWA World Tour?

After a busy month spanning the globe from Asia and Europe, it's now time for a short break and we'll be back in about 5 weeks time for the opening wave event of the year - the Gran Canaria Wind & Waves Festival - which runs between 12th-20th July.

Result of the 2019 Catalunya Costa Brava PWA World Cup - Men's Foil

1st Thomas Goyard (FRA - FMX Racing / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils) 
2nd Julien Bontemps (FRA - JP / NeilPryde)
3rd Matteo Iachino (ITA - Starboard / Severne / Starboard Foil) 
4th Amado Vrieswijk (NB - JP / Severne / Starboard Foil)
5th Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (ARG - Starboard / Severne / Starboard Foil)
6th Nicolas Goyard (FRA - Tabou / GA Sails / Phantom Foils)
7th Alexandre Cousin (FRA - Patrik / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils)
8th Sebastian Kornum (DEN - JP / NeilPryde)
9th Pierre Mortefon (FRA - Fanatic / Duotone / LOKEFOIL)
10th Sebastian Koerdel (GER - Starboard / GA Sails / Starboard Foil)

Current Overall Ranking 2019 PWA World Tour - Men’s Foil 
*After 2 Events

1st Matteo Iachino (ITA - Starboard / Severne / Starboard Foil) 
2nd Pierre Mortefon (FRA - Fanatic / Duotone / LOKEFOIL)
2nd Amado Vrieswijk (NB - JP / Severne / Starboard Foil)
4th Alexandre Cousin (FRA - Patrik / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils)
5th Thomas Goyard (FRA - FMX Racing / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils) 
6th Nicolas Goyard (FRA - Tabou / GA Sails / Phantom Foils)
7th Sebastian Koerdel (GER - Starboard / GA Sails / Starboard Foil)
8th Sebastian Kornum (DEN - JP / NeilPryde)
9th Julien Bontemps (FRA - JP / NeilPryde)
10th Mateus Isaac (BRA - JP / NeilPryde)