Mercedes-Benz Windsurf World Cup Sylt

Sylt continues to show several different sides to itself in the opening half of the 2019 Mercedes-Benz Windsurf World Cup Sylt - with day three producing predominantly a day of float and ride conditions, which produced one major upset which potentially opens up the Men’s Wave World title race. After the opening 5 heats the forecast heavy rain set in, which caused havoc with the wind and meant that no further heats were completed.

Wave

Men’s

The main news of the day is that current world tour leader - Ricardo Campello (Brunotti Boards) - is out of the single elimination in joint 9th place after suffering defeat to Antoine Martin (JP / NeilPryde) in Heat 12b. The 34-year-old wasn’t particularly happy with the conditions and struggled to find the wave scores he required, but Martin looked extremely impressive - picking off plenty of waves and showing excellent timing to perform critical turns and aerials to deservedly advance as he continues to enjoy his best year on tour. The 25-year-old came into Sylt ranked joint 7th and is already guaranteed his third top 10 result in a row.

Martin will now face Adam Lewis (Fanatic / Duotone / SWOX) in Heat 14b after the Brit dispatched of Marino Gil (Goya Windsurfing) with an excellent display. Lewis showed plenty of aggression and took a lot of risk to throw powerful turns and aerials. With Lewis guaranteed at least 5th place in the single elimination the 31-year-old is already guaranteed his best result of the season no matter what happens.

With Campello out of the single elimination that potentially opens up the title race for Jaeger Stone (Starboard / Severne / SWOX), Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / Duotone) and Philip Köster (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins), who now all stand to gain valuable ground, but Marcilio Browne (Goya Windsurfing) also fell today against Thomas Traversa (Tabou / GA Sails), who remains in the race to defend his event title from last year and looks to be in dangerous form. 

Victor Fernandez, who is 4th in the current world rankings, has already secured his place in the top 4 of the single elimination after negotiating his way past two potentially very tricky heats against Julian Salmonn (Bruch Boards / GUNSAILS) and Marc Paré (Simmer / Simmer Sails). The reigning world champion showed off plenty of well-timed full rail turns to progress and he will now face Traversa in the semifinals.

With Stone pitted against Köster in the quarterfinals, one of the world title hopefuls is guaranteed to be eliminated in joint 5th in the single elimination and Heat 14a could yet prove to be a pivotal point in this seasons title race. Stone eliminated Alessio Stillrich (Fanatic / Duotone) earlier today, while Köster defeated Dieter van der Eyken (Severne / Severne Sails). A couple of attempts were made to run Heat 14, but on both occasions the conditions were deemed unsuitable and it was therefore cancelled.

There is still a long way to go in this wave contest with the double elimination to come, but Campello is now under severe pressure to mount a come back or his title challenge for 2019 would take a major dent with no discards this year.

The wave fleet will meet at 7:30am (GMT+2) for the skippers’ meeting on Monday morning with 29-34 west-north-west winds predicted and expected to stay for the duration of the day, so Monday should see a full day of action. The Freestyle fleet will meet at 10am with a first possible start at 10:30am. 

The Foil fleet have a skippers’ meeting at 12pm, but realistically the chances of them competing tomorrow is extremely slim.
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Result Single Elimination 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sylt PWA World Cup - Women's Wave

1st Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)
2nd Justyna Sniady (Simmer / Simmer Sails / AL360)
3rd Lina Erpenstein (Severne / Severne Sails)
4th Maaike Huvermann (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins)
5th Martine Hunter (KA Sail)
5th Steffi Wahl (Sailloft Hamburg)
5th Iballa Moreno (Severne / Severne Sails)
5th Caterina Stenta (RRD / RRD Sails / AL360 / Maui Ultra Fins)