Tiberias PWA World Cup
The wind filled in a bit later on day two of the Tiberias PWA World Cup, and remained slightly lighter than than the opening day with winds of anywhere from 6-20 knots, but the victors remained the same in the Slalom as Nicolas Goyard (Phantom / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils) and Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) both extended their advantage at the top of the event rankings. Meanwhile, Marion Mortefon (Fanatic / Duotone / LOKEFOIL) made a flying start in the Women’s Foil to seize the early initiative.
Women’s
Slalom
Sarah-Quita Offringa continued her perfect start to the event as the Aruban claimed another decisive victory in the second elimination. The 4-time Slalom world champion did well to hold off a stern challenge from Delphine Cousin Questel (FMX Racing / S2Maui) on the first reach, but once safely round the opening buoy Offringa never looked back with Cousin Questel left in Offringa’s dirty wind on the exit of the first gybe. At the close of play, Offringa has opened up a 3.6 point lead.
Cousin Questel looked much quicker today, compared to yesterday, and her second place sees her leapfrog Marion Mortefon (Fanatic / Duotone) into the top two. However, the two women are currently tied on 5 points each with all still to play for.
Elsewhere, Sarah Jackson (Fanatic / Duotone) remains in 4th place after a 6th today, but the Brit is now joined by Blanca Alabau (Starboard / Severne Sails) on 10 points.
After jumping the gun in one of yesterday’s rerun finals, Oda Brødholt (Starboard / Severne Sails) bounced back with a solid 4th to climb two places into 6th.
Foil
Marion Mortefon (Fanatic / Duotone / LOKEFOIL) just held on to claim the first bullet of the week in the foiling after a scintillating late challenge by Blanca Alabau (Starboard / Severne Sails / Starboard Foils) down the final reach. In the end, though it wasn’t quite enough with Mortefon leading from start to finish and looking very comfortable on the foil.
Delphine Cousin Questel (FMX Racing / S2Maui) had been prominently placed in second after the opening gybe, but upon rounding the next mark she dropped off of the foil to allow her rivals to go flying past her. That led to Cousin Questel having to settle for a disappointing 7th place to start the event.
Linoy Geva - claimed an excellent 3rd place to give the locals plenty to cheer about, whilst Sara Wennekes secured 4th ahead of Daniela Peleg and Helle Oppedal (Fanatic / Duotone).
Men’s
Slalom
Nicolas Goyard was in a world of his own again as the 25-year-old continues to lay down the gauntlet to the rest of the slalom fleet by winning every heat he sailed today. At no point did the reigning Foil world champion look under any sort of pressure as he again showed off excellent speed and flawless, fluid gybes to continually pull away from his rivals. It’s still early days in the event, but the nature of his opening two bullets makes it very hard to see him being caught. At the end of day two, Goyard has now raced into a 7.6 point lead, whilst still boasting a perfect record.
Maciek Rutkowski (FMX Racing / Challenger Sails) is Goyard’s closest challenger after another solid 5th to back up a 4th from yesterday. The Pole looks incredibly consistent and is well in contention as he attempts to earn his second Slalom PWA podium.
Reigning Slalom world champion - Pierre Mortefon (Fanatic / Duotone / Chopper Fins / LOKEFOIL) - put in a battling display to climb into the top 3 - gaining 3 places - 6th to 3rd from the overnight rankings. The Frenchman found himself in some difficult spots today but dug deep to fight his way into the Winners’ Final where he finished 4th, and he is now just one point behind Rutkowski.
Enrico Marotti (JP / NeilPryde) started the day in second place, but will be kicking himself for dropping his third gybe in the opening semifinal when holding a clear lead and looking set for a spot in the Winners’ Final. The Croat managed to put that disappointment behind him by securing 9th place in the second elimination, but it was a slight opportunity missed, which means he drops to 4th in the event rankings.
Having missed out on the Winners’ Final yesterday after being disqualified for a premature start in the semifinals, Matteo Iachino (Starboard / Severne Sails / Starboard Foil), bounced back today by securing 3rd place in Elimination 2. That result sees the vice-world champion gain 4 places as he rises to 5th in the event rankings and now just two points outside of the podium positions.
William Huppert (Fanatic / Duotone / LOKEFOIL) is the joint biggest mover alongside - Sebastian Kördel (Starboard / Severne Sails / Starboard Foil) - after the Frenchman earned his best result to date on the world tour by claiming a superb second place in Elimination 2. Huppert was the only other man to stay on the foil in yesterday’s windier conditions and he looks a real threat. The 26-year-old should be delighted with his start to the event and he finishes day two in 7th place - having started the day in 12th.
Fellow Frenchman - Alexandre Cousin (Patrik / Phantom Sails / Chopper Fins / Phantom Foils) - qualified for the Winners’ Final again before finishing 6th, which sees the Foil vice-world champion gain one place from the overnight rankings into 6th.
Ingmar Daldorf (Tabou / GA Sails) and Basile Jacquin (FMX Racing / Point-7) started the day 3rd and 5th respectively, but both lose some ground after missing out on the Winners’ Final today. Daldorf drops to 8th, whilst Jacquin currently occupies 9th.
As previously mentioned, Sebastian Kördel, was the joint biggest mover of the day, which sees the German complete the current top 10 - having started the day in 15th. Kördel didn’t get any sleep before the opening day of the competition due to some complications with immigration, so should only get stronger from here.
It’s rare that you see 25-time world champion - Antoine Albeau (JP / NeilPryde) - getting angry on the beach, but the Frenchman cut an animated figure this afternoon after his semifinal heat started without him. Things then went from bad to worse for Albeau as he was later disqualified from the entire elimination for interfering with Heat 7 as they attempted to round the first mark, which caused a resail of the second semifinal. Albeau was already upset that the first final yesterday was cancelled after finishing in second and this won’t make him feel any better as he drops from 8th to 22nd with a sour taste in his mouth.
Amado Vrieswijk (Future Fly / Severne Sails) remains 11th, whilst Ethan Westera (Tabou / GA Sails), gains a few places to 12th ahead of Jordy Vonk (Fanatic / Duotone / LOKEFOIL) and Nicolas Prien (JP / NeilPryde), who sit 13th and 14th respectively, but they will be disappointed to not be slightly higher as Prien looked set to finish 10th in Elimination 2 before dropping his final gybe, which in turn took out Vonk. Thankfully, both men survived unscathed from a potentially nasty incident. Antoine Questel (FMX Racing / S2Maui) and Rytis Jasiunas (Future Fly / Point-7) complete the top 16.
The third Elimination has already been whittled down to the top 16, so tomorrow should hopefully see at least two more races completed for the men.
The forecast looks similar for tomorrow, so the skippers’ meeting has once again been called for 1pm on Wednesday with the action commencing from 2pm (GMT+3) onwards.
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Current Ranking 2021 Tiberias PWA World Cup - Women’s Slalom
*After Two Eliminations
1st Sarah-Quita Offringa (ARU | Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)
2nd Delphine Cousin Questel (FRA | FMX Racing / S2Maui)
3rd Marion Mortefon (FRA | Fanatic / Duotone)
4th Sarah Jackson (GBR | Fanatic / Duotone)
5th Blanca Alabau (ESP | Starboard / Severne Sails)
Current Ranking 2021 Tiberias PWA World Cup - Women’s Foil
*After One Elimination
1st Marion Mortefon (FRA | Fanatic / Duotone / LOKEFOIL)
2nd Blanca Alabau (ESP | Starboard / Severne Sails / Starboard Foil)
3rd Linoy Geva
4th Sara Wennekes
5th Daniela Peleg
Current Ranking 2021 Tiberias PWA World Cup - Men’s Slalom
*After Two Eliminations
1st Nicolas Goyard (FRA | Phantom Boards / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils)
2nd Maciek Rutkowski (POL | FMX Racing / Challenger Sails)
3rd Pierre Mortefon (FRA | Fanatic / Duotone / Chopper Fins / LOKEFOIL)
4th Enrico Marotti (CRO | JP / NeilPryde)
5th Matteo Iachino (ITA | Starboard / Severne Sails / Starboard Foil)
6th Alexandre Cousin (FRA | Patrik / Phantom Sails / Chopper Fins / Phantom Foils)
7th William Huppert (FRA | Fanatic / Duotone / LOKEFOIL)
8th Ingmar Daldorf (NED | Tabou / GA Sails)
9th Basile Jacquin (FRA | FMX Racing / Point-7)
10th Sebastian Kördel (GER | Starboard / Severne Sails / Starboard Foil)