World Sailing | Riding The Rodeo Bull At ISAF Sailing World Cup Mallorca

 

French Nacra 17 World Champion Billy Besson described racing at ISAF Sailing World Cup Mallorca - Trofeo Princesa Sofia like riding a rodeo bull as 20-25 knots meant the limits of sailors' were tested.

 

Southerly breeze whipping up wild winds and five metre swells pushed the nine fleets that got out racing to the max.

Fleets in the 2.4mR, 49er, 49erFX, Finn, Laser, Laser Radial, Nacra 17 and Men's and Women's RS:X got out racing with only the 470 fleets unable to hit the race course.

World Sailing | Greece's Skarlatou Gets Back On The Trail In Mallorca

Angeliki Skarlatou at London 2012 ©OnEdition

 

Greek Women's RS:X sailor Angeliki Skarlatou has been a regular on the Olympic circuit since July 1994 and after a post London 2012 break she's getting back to business.

With the Santander 2014 ISAF Worlds approaching fast Skarlatou is using ISAF Sailing World Cup Mallorca - Trofeo Princesa Sofia as her comeback regatta as she aims to reach her fourth Olympic Games.

Bouvet and Mion End Belcher Win Streak | MOCR

MIAMI, Fla. (February 1, 2014) – The Miami weather saved the best for last on a special Medal Race Saturday edition of the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami. Medals were decided in 10 Olympic events on Biscayne Bay under sunny skies and enough wind for good racing. This year’s regatta offered a little bit of everything, including success from former champions, major upsets, and a glimpse into the future of Olympic level one-design sailing.

Uncooperative wind this week limited the number of series races for most of the events. This created even more significance for the medal round race(s), as many sailors and their crews were in contention Saturday. The Medal Race series included the top ten ranked sailors in each fleet competing in one race with double points applied. The 49er and 49erFX conduct a series of three short races worth single points each.  Read More; Bouvet and Mion End Belcher Win Streak | MOCR

Calema celebrates 30 years in windsurfing with the 2014 Calema Midwinters Festival

 

Just over a month away Calema celebrates 30 years in windsurfing with the 2014 Calema Midwinters Festival at Kelly Park in Merritt Island, Florida.  The 2014 Calema Midwinters Festival to be held February 27th - March 2, 2014 will continue its tradition of bringing together World Cup Pros, One-Design Competitors, Olympic Class Competitors, Beginner sailors and all other levels in between.

The Calema Midwinters Festival will have classes for all skill levels and type of equipment – A Fleet // Sport Fleet // and Youth and Juniors classes to choose from along with Masters. Whether you like racing a formula, KONA, long or short board. 

The event once again promises to be an exciting one as it was last year.  We hope to see you on the water.

 More information; http://calema.com/calema-midwinters-2014/

Pressure Builds Ahead Of ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami | MOCR

Australia’s Mat Belcher and Will Ryan will look to extend their unbeaten streak in the Men’s 470 when racing at ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami commences on Monday, January 27, 2014. Running through to February 1 over 550 sailors from 50 nations will race at the third of five 2013-2014 ISAF Sailing World Cup regattas in Biscayne Bay, Miami, Florida.

Belcher, the 2013 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year, made it 18 consecutive wins in a row when he took gold at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne and it was his tenth in a row with Ryan.

Belcher’s run stems from November 2011 and as the victories have continued to flow the Australian has coped well with the weight of expectation, “The pressure has been difficult at times with it accumulating over the years,” said Belcher. “But we are in the business of sport. Our job is to perform under pressure. It is something you just have to manage.”

The pressure will be back on Belcher and Ryan in Miami with a highly competitive and experienced 31-boat fleet.

ISAF | World Sailing | Hong Kong Sailors Relish The Breeze At RS:One Worlds

The Bay of Beylikduzu is continuing to deliver incredible, and very windy, windsurfing conditions for the gathered organizers, media and competitors.

 

"Pulsar", a compact course, racing on a downwind slalom with a reaching start, turn the event into a incredible show with racers becoming slalom gladiators with wind gusts up to 29 knots.  More; News & Features | ISAF | World Sailing | Official Site : Hong Kong Sailors Relish The Breeze At RS:One Worlds

ISAF | World Sailing | Beaumont Beats South African Pair To RS Tera World Title

Nine nations and 123 competitors converged on Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy for the 2013 RS Tera Worlds.

Fleet in the Weymouth and Portland sun ©Steve Greenwood

 

 This is the first time the RS Tera Worlds have been held in the UK and the UK Class Association were determined to make it an event to remember for the competitors and their families.

Sunday and Monday morning saw all competitors in the hangar for scrutineering under the watchful eye of Ken Kershaw, application of sponsors, ferryto.com and Zhik stickers and the magnificent personalised country flags.   More; News & Features | ISAF | World Sailing | Official Site : Beaumont Beats South African Pair To RS Tera World Title

CHAMPIONS GALORE IN BREST AT THE EUROPEAN RS:X AND RS:One WINDSURFING CHAMPIONSHIPS

It has been a week of hard racing and mental prowess at the Crocodiles de L’Elorn Club in Brest. Near 300 competitors had gathered up here hoping to bring the European title home.
 

Byron KOKKALANIS (Greece) - Gold medal RS:X Men European Championship

This was no easy feat for any of the champions as the level of all the fleets were very high and most of the windsurfers have had to give it their whole until the finish of the last race. The weather conditions kept them on their toes as the wind was shifty and there was no room for mistake.  Everyone was on edge ashore to find out who would come out first in the event’s ranking and in the European championship itself.

A SUNNY EXCITING DAY IN BREST TODAY FOR THE RS:X EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

For the 4th day of racing, the dream combination of sunshine and wind delighted the competitors. With 10 to 12 knots, the race committee treated the fleets with three races.

 

The competitors sailed under the watchful eye of Jean-Pierre Champion, President of the French Federation of Sailing and strong advocate for the RS:X class as an Olympic class, who declared: “It is important to celebrate the return and sustainability of windsurfing in the Olympic world. Windsurf is essential to sailing as a sport. Now, we must find the right racing formula for competitors and audiences alike. Visually, the class is very attractive but the events have to be understood by a large audience. I hope that this very symbolic championship, held in legendary Brest and organised by the local sailing club, les Crocodiles de l’Elorn is the very first step to the French windsurfing come back.”

News & Features | ISAF | World Sailing | Official Site : Confused RS:X Racers Left Scratching Their Heads

Nick Dempsey (GBR) ©Christian Chardon

The second day of the 2013 RS:X European Windsurfing Championships, the RS:X Open Youth European Windsurfing Championships and the RS:One European Championships has left many 249 sailors from 38 countries feeling dazed and confused.  Read more; News & Features | ISAF | World Sailing | Official Site : Confused RS:X Racers Left Scratching Their Heads

Korzits Makes It Three In A Row

The celebrations started early for Israel's Lee Korzits at the 2013 RS:X World Championship in Buzios, Brazil as she wrapped up the honours with a day to spare.

 

Lee Korzits, the face of focus ©Vincenzo Baglione

 

Holding a 21-point advantage over compatriot Maayan Davidovich, Korzits blew the field apart throughout the week to take her third consecutive RS:X World Championship title.

"I have 21 points over Maayan, which is enough to secure the championship. I am very happy, it's my third consecutive title and now I'll have to do one more tattoo," she said showing a big star tattoo that represents each one of her victories.

The battle for the remaining podium places is on with Davidovich and Bryony Shaw (GBR) favourite to take the final spots but Charline Picon (FRA) and Tuuli Petaja (FIN) will be hot on their heels on the final day of racing in Buzios.

Nick Dempsey (GBR) overturned Dorian Van Rijsselberge's (NED) lead in the men's fleet after the Dutchman had a shocker of a day as he saw a six point lead turn into nine points off the lead.

"In the first race I went to the left side and the wind got stronger from the right," said the Olympic gold medallist. "In the second race I managed to make a good start and went to the right side, and didn't see the pressure that came from the left, which resulted again in a bad race."

Dempsey looks comfortable at the top of the fleet and will bring his experience and know-how into the final race, "Today the wind was weaker, which makes things slower. The wind was shifting again, very demanding tactically. For the Medal Race, it is good to do the right thing at the right time, without much planning."

The men's and women's Medal Races are scheduled for 12:00 local time at Búzios Vela Clube, in Maguinhos Beach.
RS:X Worlds Website

Men's Results
Women's Results

 

Soutrce;  ISAF Sailing media

3rd Day of Racing Dorian and Lee take Leadership

Gold medalist in London, Dorian Van Rijsselberghe assumes leadership of the RS:X Worlds in Brazil

Business as usual for Dorian van Rijsselberge ©Vincenzo Baglione

Among women, the Israeli Lee-El Korsiz won all three races of the day and took the lead

Búzios - The third day of competitions in the RS: X Worlds in Búzios, east of Rio de Janeiro state, was marked by the division of male competitors in gold and silver fleets. In the first half, the gold fleet, are the 33 best placed in the qualifying series, while in the second, the silver fleet, are the other sailors.

With three races completed, with gusts up to 18 knots from the northeast, Dutchman Dorian van Rijsselberghe took the lead with one victory and two second places. “The wind was good and I?m happy with my results. I?m leading now, but nothing is decided yet. We still have one more day of races before the medal race and Nick and Nimrod are doing a good job. Everything is still very tight and anyone can win”, said the gold medalist in London.

The Brazilian Ricardo ‘Bimba’ Winicki lost one position and finished the day insixth overall. Sailing at home and familiar with the conditions, Bimba had two good results this monday, but a wrong decision in the second race of the day did not make him happy. “I went to the right side when I should?ve have gone left. I finished in 16th position, which became my discard”, he said.

Girls - Among girls, the Israeli Lee El Korsiz had a perfect day. She won three races and took the lead. “I had three first places, which makes me very happy. The day was great and I?m looking forward for tomorrow?, celebrated Lee.

On Tuesday men and women will have the last three races. On Wednesday the top ten will do the medal race, with doubled score that cannot be discarded. The others are planned to make a fleet race to compensate for the lack of a race on the first day, due to the light winds.

The 7th RS:X World Championship is sponsored by the city of Búzios, ProLagos, Institute Equipav, Aegea, Institute Equipav and Aegea. Is supported by Brazilian Federal Government and has the aid of: Wöllner, Rider, Hannover Wines and Bodega Ruca Malen.

Results:
Men?s fleet after eight races and one discard
1. Dorian Van Rijsselberge, NED, 15 points
2. Nick Dempsey, GBR, 21 p
3. Piotr Myszka, POL, 28 p
4. Byron Kokkalanis, GRE, 28 p
5. Nimrod Mashiah, ISR, 29 p

Women?s fleet after eight races and one discard:
1. Lee-El Korsiz, ISR, 17 poitns
2. Bryony Shaw, GBR, 30 p
3. Maayan Davidovich, ISR, 37 p
4. Charline Picon, FRA, 51 p
5. Qiaoshan Weng, CHN, 57 p