The wind refused to play ball here on the final day of the Costa Brava 2002 PWA qualifier but did fill in enough to allow an unofficial freestyle expression session this afternoon. In a thrilling final held right in front of the crowds Tati Frans (Gaastra, AHD) took first place followed by his brother Tonki (Gaastra, AHD) in second with Andrea Rosati (Neil Pryde, RRD) of Italy finishing in third.
Despite the lack of an official result, organizers and competitors are still heralding this years event as a major success. Sailors have been out on the water everyday and the hospitality and festival feel of the event has been received well by the crowds.
Gusty winds were the reason for race director Frank Roeget’s decision not to allow official competition to start this afternoon. With time running out he opted to run an un-official freestyle expression session and which was run as two semi finals followed by a ten man fifteen minute final. The occasional 15-knot gust was enough for sailors to pump up onto the plane and scram in towards the waters edge to bust out some incredible moves.
Todays winner, Tati Frans (Gaastra, AHD) amazed the crowds with a dynamic display of slick freestyle manoeuvres and won the final despite fierce opposition from the likes of his brother Tonki (Gaastra, AHD), Andrea Rosati (Neil Pryde, RRD), Josh Stone (JP, Neil Pryde) Vidar Jensen (North) and Bruno Andre (Gaastra, AHD). Amongst the moves, which earned him victory here today Tati pulled of a smooth willy skipper back wind gibe, a scintillating one handed spock 540 and lots of push tacks and tricky transitions. Tati just managed to squeeze ahead of his brother Tonki who was also nailing a wide variety of moves. Andrea Rosati Rosati of Italy who took third place here today was out to impress the judges and pulled off some sick Swazzies, smooth grubby’s and sensational spock 540’s.
The PWA world tour will now move onto Lake Garda in Italy for a freestyle special where 58,000 Euro., will be up for grabs.
Sotavento once again delivered the goods for the 37th edition of the Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam, as we were treated to some of the best racing on the World Tour over the opening five days in Slalom X, while the Freestyle fleets continued to raise the bar on what is possible on flatwater over two intense days of competition.
The 2025 iQFOiL World Championship wrapped up in Aarhus with a spectacular Medal Series showdown that saw Emma Wilson (GBR 7) and Andy Brown (GBR 360) rise to the top and secure World Championship titles. In the Women’s fleet, Tamar Steinberg (ISR 216) claimed silver, with Theresa Steinlein (GER 799) completing the podium with bronze. On the (…)
The #1 iQFOiL International Games in Lanzarote came to an exciting conclusion with the Medal Series crowning Johan Søe (DEN 37) and Emma Wilson (GBR 7) as the first champions of the 2025 season. Hosted by Marina Rubicón, the event brought together 100 of the world’s best iQFOiL athletes from 26 nations, kicking off the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic (…)
The iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championship concluded in Sa Ràpita, Mallorca, crowing its new talented champions among 375 young sailors from 35 nations. These athletes displayed skill and resilience both on and off the water, when the weather conditions put forced stops on their way, earning their places on the 2024 iQFOiL Youth & (…)
The 2024 iQFOiL European Championship in Cagliari, Sardinia, came to a spectacular close today as Daniela Peleg (ISR) and Pawel Tarnowski (POL) were crowned the new European Champions after a week of intense competition. The championship, hosted by Windsurfing Club Cagliari, saw 120 athletes from 28 nations push their limits in varying (…)
Tom Reuveny picked up a gold medal for Israel in the Men’s Windsurfing with a phenomenal performance in the Final.
Reuveny had not won a race in the Opening Series, but saved his best for last by crossing the line ahead of the pack.
Pour sa première épreuve de la saison, l’équipage francilien emmené par Jimmy Pahun et Laurent Pagès a terminé à la 7e place (sur 79 inscrits) du Championnat du Monde de Melges 24 couru à Key West (USA).
With a score line that included five bullets Italian Flavio Favini won the 2001 Melges 24 World Championship in true style after the final day of racing eventually had to be cancelled due to lack of wind. Although disappointed that no more racing was possible the fleet were in full agreement with the Race Committee’s decision that sailing in (…)
Arrivée de Bilou aux Sables d’Olonne. Photo : Ch.Guigueno
L’IMOCA, classe grandissante, a décerné jeudi 24 janvier le titre de champion du monde 60 pieds Open à Roland Jourdain. Thierry Dubois prend la suite de Christophe Auguin à la présidence de l’association.
Les étudiants de l’ENST Bretagne et de l’ENSIETA, soutenus par la Ville de Brest et leurs écoles, tentent de mener un projet en commun pour participer au prochain Tour de France à la Voile.
If you’ve ever wanted to watch a master class in Melges 24 sailing today was the day to be out on the water. Italian Flavio Favini and his Swiss team, headed by owner Franco Rossini, led the fleet from start to finish in all three races taking him into a comfortable lead.
Les skippers réunis devant le YC de France. Photo : Ch.Guigueno
Voici la nouvelle course océanique réservée aux seuls monocoques IMOCA : La Regata de Rubicon. L’épreuve est organisée par Gérard Petitpas, déjà organisateur de la Transat Jacques Vabre, et reprend le principe du Challenge Mondial Assistance des multicoques en 2001.
"Nous allons réduire la voilure dans nos partenariats avec les équipes de Saint Étienne et de Limoge". Daniel Sicard, directeur général des hypermarchés Géant, avoue ne rien connaître à la voile, mais il en a bien compris les termes. Au détriment des footballeurs et basketteurs, éloignés de la philosophie du groupe.
La décoration du nouveau Géant est signée Jean-Baptiste Epron.
Michel Desjoyeaux a présenté lors d’une conférence de presse tenue ce jour à Paris, son nouveau voilier. Le successeur du monocoque PRB avec lequel le Finistérien a remporté le Vendée Globe est un trimaran dessiné par le tandem Marc Van Peteghem et Vincent Lauriot-Prévost. Un voilier dans la lignée des multicoques de la nouvelle génération.
Results from ongoing and extensive media research in specific territories, confirm that the Volvo Ocean Race is reaching a wider audience than ever before.