What a difference a day makes or, in this case, one final race! [more]
After the midday skippers meeting every competitor was presented with a commemorative plate from the Mayor of Santa Pola and the Consellera de Deportes. Then there was a tense few hours as the wind kept coming and going and changing direction until finally “the wind has stabilised – 11 to 13 knots has just been recorded at the windward mark; 9 to 10 knots at the start; 6 knots at finish. We could be racing soon!” But 15 minutes later, “the wind is playing games with us – just when it seemed to be stabilising – a wind shift.” The tension was almost unbearable!
Eventually at 15.40, the last possible chance for a final race in this championship with 12-15 knots on the course, the warning signal was given for race 12 for the men, then 15 minutes later the warning signal for the ladies’ race 12. Both clean starts.
With a finishing order of GBR 83, ISR 1, ESP 7, POL 126, AUS 0 . . . was this enough for AUS 0 to clinch the championship? Where was POL 10? This race was to be one of Wojtek’s discards! Steve Allen took the FW World Championship title with a final total of 26 points over Wojtek Brzozowski’s 29.5 points and fellow countryman Przemkek Miarczynski POL 126 took third place with 32 points.
And in the women’s fleet, could Allison make this an Aussie double? Alas, she came third after Marta took the bullet and Agnieszka Pietrasik came second. The final result couldn’t have been closer – equal points, both on 13 – but Marta Hlavaty POL 111 takes the title of Formula Windsurfing Women’s World Champion 2009. Allison Shreeve AUS 911 is second and Morane Demont FRA 59 a well deserved third place.
For full reports, results, photos and more, go to Formula Windsurfing Class website
List of competitors: Men (81 men from 18 countries) Women (17 women from 8 countries)
Equipment list
Web Cam
Weather Station
Event gallery
More event photos
Even more photos from Santa Pola
Thunderstorm over Santa Pola
windsurf-fotoalive.blogspot.com
Day 01 photos
AUS911 pre worlds preparation
AUS 911 World Video part 2
AUS 911 World Video part 3
Info for competitors from jury
Race report Day 1
Race report Day 2
Race report Day 3
