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.
Pendant que la concurrence s’entraîne à Auckland, les membres du Défi Français pour la Coupe de l’America poursuivent leur préparation à Lorient dans le Morbihan. La nouvelle base, créée entre les deux bases sous-marines, vestiges de la dernière guerre mondiale, va être inaugurée ce soir en présence de Jean-Yves Le Drian. Le président de la (…)
Après 14 ans d’absence dans la première épreuve sportive du monde créée dans leurs eaux, les Anglais viennent de concrétiser leur retour dans la Coupe de l’America en ouvrant leur base à Auckland.
GBR Challenge Chairman Peter Harrison today officially opened the base from which the syndicate will mount its tilt at the world’s oldest sporting trophy, the America’s Cup. The internet entrepreneur informed his guests that Great Britain had last been part of the America’s Cup in 1987 and, in its historic return to the event, intended to go (…)
The British/Aussie pair, Alex Bennett & Paul Larsen, on board One Dream One Mission, arrived as victors of the Transat Jacques Vabre Open 50 division in Bahia, Brazil, at 0424hrs 45s GMT on Thursday 22nd November 2001. Their ‘yellow boat’, none other than the ex-Aqua Quorum of Pete Goss from the 1996 Vendée, and the ex-Kingfisher on which (…)
C’est à 2h24 heure locale soit à 5h24 heure française que One Dream, One Mission skippé par Alex Bennett et Paul Larsen a franchi la ligne d’arrivée de cette cinquième Transat Jacques Vabre, Le Havre/ Salvador de Bahia. Ce 50 pieds au palmarès incroyable a avalé les 4 340 milles du parcours en 18 jours, 16 heures, 34 minutes et 45 secondes. Un (…)
At last, out of this night will come the first two Open 50’s, both of whom are due to finish from 0200hrs GMT in Bahia. Leading by 40 miles in the ‘yellow boat’ One Dream One Mission is Brit/Aussie pair Alex Bennett & Paul Larsen. They are feeling more than just the Brazilian heat on their backs, but also the heat from the close competition (…)
Ce mardi, les arrivées se sont poursuivies à Salvador de Bahia. Nous avons pu joindre ceux qui n’allaient pas tarder à conclure, et d’autres pour qui la course n’est pas encore terminée. Certains se battent pour revenir sur le concurrent devant ou pour préserver leur place, tandis que d’autres poursuivent leur route vers le Brésil sans d’autre (…)
Volvo Ocean Race records have been tumbling over the last 48 hours, but what is required to sail a 24-hour record ? On Sunday News Corp first beat Silk Cut’s record from the previous race and shortly after, SEB moved the benchmark to 459 miles. Now just 9 more miles are needed to establish a new 24-hour world monohull speed record.
Vainqueur de la Transat Jacques Vabre avec son compère Steve Ravussin, Franck Cammas remporte son deuxième titre de Champion 9 TELECOM ORMA sur le fil ! En effet, à l’issue de six épreuves de la saison, le skipper de Groupama marque 78 points, à égalité parfaite avec Alain Gautier (Foncia) !
Sill Plein Fruit, skippered by Roland Jourdain and Gael Le Cleac’h, crossed the line at 2313hrs local time in Bahia on Monday night, or 0113hrs GMT, Tuesday 20th November. The red boat takes sweet victory in the Open 60 Monohull class, after spending 16 days, 13 hours, 23 mins & 41 seconds on course. An flawless race for this (…)