Mercedes-Benz Aloha Classic

October 30, 2019 Created by Chris Yates

Day 3: Light Cross-on Winds & a Macking Swell Makes For Extremely Slow Progress While Edging Offringa & Köster Closer To Respective World Titles

With the macking swell continuing into day three of the 2019 Mercedes-Benz Aloha Classic, and the trades showing early signs of kicking, the decision was made to begin the Men’s Double Elimination at 11am.

However, with the wind being cross onshore and light that made progress extremely slow going with just two heats being completed in two hours. Numerous heats were started, but with huge west sets closing out the channel, the decision was soon made to put the contest on hold with the conditions being deemed too dangerous to continue.

Unfortunately, Zane Schweitzer (Starboard) sustained a dislocated knee during Heat 27, which was one of the only heats to be completed, but despite that, the 26-year-old still advanced in second place, behind Julian Salmonn (Bruch Boards / GUNSAILS). Everyone from the PWA and ITW wishes Zane a quick recovery.

The only other heat of the day to be completed was Heat 25, which saw Russ Faurot (S2Maui) use his local knowledge to full effect as he stayed out of trouble, while linking together a 6.38 and a back up of 3.88 points to win the heat ahead of Flo Jung (Starboard / GUNSAILS), who was making his first appearance on the world tour since 2018 after sustaining a serious knee injury. Klaas Voget (Fanatic / Duotone) had his chances but was unable to cleanly complete his best waves, which cost him a place in the next round - however, the two heat results gained thus far will not count unless the whole of the first round is completed.

The difficulty of the conditions today was clearly highlighted by the amount of broken gear and the number of sailors who ended up on the rocks and once the contest was placed on hold at 1pm the conditions never really looked like becoming suitable to resume - with the wind remaining onshore and the swell continuing to pump - so the fleets were released at 4pm.

Realistically with just two days of the contest period remaining, and the forecast not looking particularly promising to complete the Double Eliminations, that means that both Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) and Philip Köster (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) are slowly edging closer to a first and 5th wave world title respectively.

Offringa’s main threat would be Iballa Moreno (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins), who finished second in the Single Elimination, but Iballa would be required to defeat Offringa twice to deny the Aruban a maiden world title, while defending her own world crown, but she may not get the opportunity to do that.

For Köster, the German would be required to win two heats in the Double Elimination to defend his 9th place in the Double Elimination as if the 25-year-old was to lose before that stage he would then be demoted to joint 13th or 17th, which would then see Marcilio Browne (Goya Windsurfing) overtake Köster in the race for the world title. However, it now looks extremely unlikely that we will be able to even get to his first heat in the Double - which would be Heat 38.

Looking ahead, Wednesday on paper realistically looks like a lay day with light onshore winds expected, but as always you never know until the day, so the sailors will meet again at 10:30am (GMT-10) tomorrow morning for the skippers’ meeting.

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Result 2019 Mercedes-Benz Aloha Classic - Women's Single Elimination

1st Sarah-Quita Offringa (ARU | Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)
2nd Iballa Moreno (ESP | Severne / Severne Sails / Maui Ultra Fins)
3rd Motoko Sato (JPN | Starboard / Severne Sails)
4th Lina Erpenstein (GER | Severne / Severne Sails)
5th Angela Cochran (USA)
5th Tatiana Howard (USA | Quatro / Goya Windsurfing)

Result 2019 Mercedes-Benz Aloha Classic - Men's Single Elimination

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