The 2006 PWA Costa Teguise Super-X World Cup Day Two

Day Two Summary:

Antoine Albeau (F-192 Starboard / Neil Pryde Sails) takes the event lead, and Kevin Pritchard (US-3 Starboard / Maui Sails) claws his way into second place after the vital fourth race discard. Daida Moreno (E-64, Mistral/ North Sails) scored two more first place bullets to consolidate her claim on the world title.

After an excellent opening day of competition, Nik Baker (K-66, Mistral / North Sails) sat in pole position overnight, with vice world-champion Cyril Moussilmani (F-71, Fanatic/ North Sails) in second. It was also tight at the top for the ladies fleet, with the game wide open between the main players Daida Moreno, sister Iballa Moreno (E-63, Mistral / North Sails) and reigning world champion Karin Jaggi (Z-14, F2 / North Sails).

Skippers meeting was set for 11.00am. Race director Juan Antonio Aragon set a similar 5 leg course to day one with 3 inflatable jumps, but with different compulsory maneuvers. The start of race 3 was scheduled for 12.00 as the lunchtime trade wind filled in, but the wind backed off slightly, and racing was delayed for the typical afternoon breeze to kick in which it did around 13.00.

Race 3

Race 3 started without any surprises in the first heat, although Matt Pritchard (US-10 Tabou / Gaastra) and Robby Swift (K-89, JP/ Neil Pryde) were lucky to qualify for the final. Cyril Moussilmani showed his intent as he confidently took heat two ahead of a business like Antoine Albeau.

The final had an incredibly close start as three sailors crossed right on the gun, with Albeau at the upwind end of the line, Matt Pritchard in the middle and Kevin Pritchard taking the downwind end with the shortest route to the first mark. Albeau gained the lead and rounded mark one in first, pursued by Cyril Moussilmani and Kevin Pritchard who then sneakily took Cyril on the inside at the first duck gybe. However Kevin then sped too far downwind on the second leg and had to pinch upwind to make mark 2, as Moussilmani and Albeau overtook.

By mark 3 Nik Baker had worked his way up to third place, and on leg 4 leader Albeau crashed his spock and made way for Moussilmani. Cyril completed a sketchy second spock with Baker fast approaching and Swift hot on his heels.

Moussilmani raced over the line for a well deserved first, with Baker in second, and Swift in third, giving Baker the lead in the event so far, ahead of Moussilmani by only 0.4 points.

Astrid Muldoon (F-002 JP / Neil Pryde) started race 3 in first as Karin Jaggi pursued her to the first duck gybe. During the second reach Jaggi scraped past Muldoon to take the lead by the third mark, as the Moreno twins struggled in the temporarily lighter winds. Jaggi’s lead grew on the fourth reach and Junko Nagoshi (J-11 F2 / Simmer Sails) overtook Muldoon after a quicker forward loop, as Daida caught up. Karin won by a good distance with Junko in second and Daida Moreno in third.

Race 4

The 4th race was penciled in to start at 15.00. In Heat one Albeau and Volwater's speed was not enough to beat the consistent planing spocks of Taty Frans (NB-9, Starboard/ MauiSails) who took first. All the form players in heat two progressed as well with Ross Williams (GBR-83, Tabou/ Gaastra) showing dangerous speed.

Albeau and Kevin Pritchard hit the start line simultaneously in the final and Albeau led down the first reach as Matt Pritchard overtook brother Kevin to hit the first mark in second place.

Matt followed Antoine until the first spock which he crashed, letting Kevin past after he completed his planing. Matt took the lead as Albeau dropped his second spock, leaving the Frenchman to make a lightning waterstart recovery to claim second just ahead of Kevin Pritchard who flew over the line in third position.

Karin Jaggi started the women’s race way ahead of the rest of the fleet. However Daida Moreno classily took Jaggi at the first mark after motoring down the first reach to play catch-up. Superior speed saw her stretch that lead considerably over Jaggi to win ahead of the Swiss girl, as a good race for third place was fought between Astrid Muldoon and Junko Nagoshi.

The fourth race discard meant no change at the top as Baker clung on to the event leader’s position, with Moussilmani only still 0.4 points behind.

Race 5

Race 5 started around 16.00 and after 4 races Cyril Moussilmani blew his second overall place by failing to qualify for the final. All the other usual suspects progressed with the main players chomping at the bit for the day’s final bout.

Another synchronized start by Kevin Pritchard and Antoine Albeau kicked off the final and Albeau pushed into the lead approaching mark one, as Matt Pritchard thundered up behind them in third. That was how it stayed until they passed the third mark for the first spock. Kevin Pritchard crashed his spock allowing Matt to move up into second place, whilst Albeau’s maneuver was super clean extending his lead. The second spock was another beauty by Albeau but this time both Matt and third placed Kevin crashed theirs! Baker failed to make ground on the floundering Pritchard’s, and his second spock fall cost him the overall event lead, as Taty Frans rolled into second behind Albeau, whilst Matt Pritchard recovered to claim third.

More similar conditions are expected tomorrow and skippers meeting is set for 11.30 with a first possible start of 12.00. Antoine Albeau sits on top overnight with Kevin Pritchard in second, as Baker slips into to third place. Daida Moreno holds her lead over Karin Jaggi as Iballa Moreno settles for third.

Men’s Elimination 3

Men’s Elimination 4

Men’s Elimination 5

Men’s Results

Ladies Results

For more information, please contact the PWA office at info@pwaworldtour.com

PWA/McDowell

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