Micah Buzianis (JP/NeilPryde), Ross Williams (Tabou/Gaastra), Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Starboard/Severne) and Josh Angulo (Angulo/MauiSails/Dakine) all took prestigious race wins here. Each of these sailors showed glimmers of excellence throughout the event. Speed was no problem, as all four often blasted through the pack, but to win an event as grueling as this, nothing but the best will ever be rewarded, and ultimately it was their consistency that let them down.Drama struck on the third day, after Josh Angulo (Angulo/MauiSails/Dakine) was catapulted on the finish line in his semi final. Angulo had led the fleet from the start boat, and was about to cross the finish when disaster struck. Just inches from the line, Angulo catapulted and crossed without his kit, and was therefore disqualified. Understandably, the Cabo Verde local was livid, and harsh words were exchanged on the beach. However, the decision stood, and he was forced into the loser’s final. This result affected his overall position quite noticeably, as Angulo otherwise looked on form here. The current number one in the waves will have to put all this behind him, as he looks ahead to the remainder of the year.
Williams entered the event in second place overall, but nerves got the better of the talented Brit in the opening races. Two poor performances mounted the pressure on him from the start, which meant that he would not have any more discards throughout the event. In the end, he did well to keep a cool head, and finish the remaining races in the top ten, setting him up with a chance for glory in the season’s remaining events.
Peter Volwater (F2/MauiSails) had another outstanding performance, as too did Patrick Diethelm (F2/North Sails), Arnon Dagan (Tabou/Gaastra) and Ben Van Der Steen (Exocet/Simmer Style). Throughout the week, these racers pushed hard, and were unlucky not to finish higher up the ranks. In every competition, luck can have a profound affect on the results, and these three all suffered from broken equipment, unintended collisions, or unforced catapults.
Greatly improved performances by Sylvain Moussilmani (Starboard/Simmer Style), Benoit Moussilmani (Starboard/Simmer Style), Robby Swift (JP/NeilPryde) and Diony Guadagnino (AHD/Hot Sails Maui/MFC) saw all three young flyers making it through to the finals. All four of these sailors looked solid in both Pozo and in Fuerteventura, and they will be glad to have another events experience under their belt.
The slalom contest came to an end on a dramatic high. In the final race of the event, the wind switched to an intense off shore gale, allowing a new course to be raced. In the new layout, the start line and opening reach was set just meters off the shoreline, so the spectators could see every ounce of action on the water incredibly close to the beach.
This set-up provided an astonishing spectacle, and Albeau’s 15ft victory jump over the boat was a fitting end to the racing. The intimacy of the racecourse, and the style in which the Champion claimed his victory, will have sealed the race in the minds of all the spectators who were lucky enough to be there.
text and photos from PWA |