600 of the worlds best windsurfers came to Fremantle, Western Australia for the ISAF Sol World Windsurfing Championships in December. Two weeks of competition, saw 43 world, international and class titles awarded.
The first week saw the battle of the two big fleets, IMCO and IFCA.
The IMCO racing came right down to the wire, with Lai-Shan Lee of Hong Kong snatching victory from the all dominant Alessandra Sensini on the last race of the day. In the men's championship, consistency proved to be the key for New Zealand's Aaron McIntosh.
In the IFCA Championship, protests by racers saw the finals decided in the jury room. Australia's Steve Allen took the men's crown, and Switzerland's Karin Jaggi the women's.
The following series of media releases were produced during the first week of racing:
Note: Text files of the results tables will be available
for email in a few days.
DAY1, 10 December 1997
Racing in day one of one of the International Sailing Federation's Sol World Windsurfing Championship, the biggest windsurfing competition in the history of the sport, got underway late this afternoon when the "Fremantle Doctor" afternoon sea breeze finally arrived-late.
With a high pressure trough over Fremantle, Western Australia, 600 of the world's best windsurfers had spent the morning and early afternoon on the beach sweltering in humid conditions with temperatures soaring into the high 30s Centigrade.
Not wanting to disappoint, the Fremantle Doctor began to blow a light sea breeze at around 3.00pm (Western Australian time).
The Olympic Mistral Class fleet were the first to take to the water, with dual world and Olympic Champions, Nikos Kaklamanakis of Greece and Lai-Shan Lee of Hong Kong, both looking to defend their titles.
In the Production Board world championship, Britain's Jamie Hawkins began the defence of his crown, and was expecting tough competition from local Australian windsurfers Steve Allen of Queensland, Scott McKercher of Western Australia, and Mark Pedersen from New South Wales.
In the women's division, Switzerland's Karin Jaggi and Germany's Andrea Hoeppner will be looking to settle an old score-who is the best in the world. At last year's production board world championship, the pair shared the crown. However, the title is expected to be open wide this year and one Western Australian windsurfer who will be looking to make an impact is the four times Australian women's windsurfing champion, Emily Lockwood.
"Over the last few days the sailors have been getting blown off the water with the strong afternoon sea breezes," said event director, Quentin Little.
"I'm glad the sea breeze didn't let us down today," said Quentin.
In the men's Olympic Mistral Class world championship, defending champions are:
1. Nikos Kaklamanakis of Greece
2. Carlos Espinola of Argentina
3. Gal Friedman of Israel
In the women's Olympic Mistral Class world championship, defending champions are:
1. Lai-Shan Lee of Hong Kong
2. Barbara Kendall of New Zealand
3. Alessandra Sensini of Italy.
In the men's Production board world championship, the defending champions are:
1. Jamie Hawkins of England
2. Peter Slate of South Africa
In the women's Production board world championship, the defending champions are:
1 = Andrea Hoeppner of Germany
1 = Karin Jaggi of Switzerland
RESULTS: DAY1, 10 December 1997
Only two races were completed on day one of the Sol World Windsurfing Championship: One Mistral Olympic Class men's race and one Mistral Olympic Class women's race.
In the Women's race, reigning world champion, Lai-Shan Lee of Hong Kong crossed the line first, ahead of debut world championship windsurfer Annalee Lux of Germany.
Atlanta bronze medallist, Alessandra Sensini of Italy, crossed the line in third place. Australia's former world champion, Jessica Crisp, finished in eighth spot.
In the men's race, defending world champion, Nikos Kaklamanakis of Greece finished down the pack in 23rd spot, leaving France's Stephan Jaouen in first place and current world number one, Jaoa Rodrigues of Portugal, in second place.
Organisers are expecting a full days racing to be completed today, with the weather bureau predicting an early morning sea breeze.
DAY 2, 11 December 1997
The number one men's Mistral Olympic Class windsurfer, Joao Rodrigues of Portugal, has taken the lead on day two of the International Sailing Federation's Sol World Windsurfing Championship in Fremantle, Western Australia today.
With only one race completed today, Rodrigues added to his second place yesterday with a win to become the overall leader in the men's Mistral Division.
Australia's Brendan Todd placed 35th.
In the women's Mistral Olympic Class, Hong Kong's Lai-Shan Lee and Italy's Alessandra Sensini continued their battle at the top, with Sensini placing second and Lai-Shan placing third. That leaves Lai-Shan first overall in the championship with just two races completed in two days.
Two Australian women placed in the top ten today, former world champion, Jessica Crisp, in 6th place and Natasha Sturgess in 7th.
IMCO's (International Mistral Class Organisation) Rory Ramsden, says Lai Shan is looking on form.
"She could be the girl to beat," Ramsden said.
In the men's division, Ramsden said the team to watch closely was the Chinese team. With China's Ming Dong Li placing third in the light wind conditions, Ramsden said that the whole team were renown for their light wind sailing.
"They've also been training in high winds for the last month to prepare for Fremantle. So they could still produce the results when the afternoon sea breeze returns."
Event Director, Quentin Little of EventsCorp, said the weather outlook for tomorrow looked much better.
"The four day forecast is predicting fresh sea breezes tomorrow, so we should be in for a good weekend of racing," said Quentin.
No racing was completed in the Production Funboard world championship today.
Results from day 2:
Men's Olympic Mistral Class world championship:
1. Joao Rodrigues, Portugal
2. Miroslaw Malek, Poland
3. Ming Dong Li, China
Women's Olympic Mistral Class world championship:
1. Faustine Merret, France
2. Alessandra Sensini, Italy
3. Lai-Shan Lee, Hong Kong
Under 23s
1. Phanuthat Ruamsap, Thailand
2. Pablo Wohlgemuth, Argentina
3. Yuichi Hirose, Japan
DAY 3, 12 December 1997 - 12 noon
The third round of the Mistral Olympic Class windsurfing competition got under way this morning with an excellent early result for Australia.
In the women's competition, Sydney's Natasha Sturgess crossed the line in second place, to Canada's Carol-Anne Alie. Former world champion Barbara Kendall of New Zealand finished third.
In the men's competition, Poland's Miroslaw Malek added to his second place yesterday with a third place in this morning's race, putting him in contention for the championship.
With the wind steadily picking up, racing is now about to get under way in the Production Funboard world championship, with WA windsurfers Emily Lockwood, Luke Matthews and Scott McKercher beginning their world title campaigns.
DAY 3, 12 December 1997 -- 4.00 pm
The afternoon sea breeze arrived with a vengeance today, with races completed in both the Olympic Mistral and Production Funboard world championships.
The windsurfers were revelling in the excellent conditions off Fremantle leaping over the swells at speeds reaching 30 knots (60 kph). In the strong conditions equipment was taking a pounding, with a lot of competitors needing to be rescued with shattered masts and booms.
"With conditions like these we will have all the races back on track by Sunday," said event director, Quentin Little of EventsCorp.
"There are a lot of happy windsurfers out there today."
Mistral racing got underway in the morning with 11 to 12 knots of wind. By late morning the wind was reaching 18 knots and the Production Funboard windsurfers got their first taste of action.
France's number one sailor, Antoine Albeau took out the first Funboard race of the day, with America's Kevin Pritchard second and Finland's Jaanne Rauhansuu ain third. Hot Australian favourite, Queensland's Steve Allen, came in fourth.
During the second men's Funboard race, the wind had picked up to 25 knots. This meant that despite attempts to recall the start, the judges' boats couldn't catch the sailors on the water to tell them the race was void. Bitter luck for Albeau who crossed the line first. Good luck for Pritchard who broke his mast at the start and had to struggle back to shore.
The men's Funboards have just completed their second race of the day (3.30pm) with Pritchard taking first place, Albeau second and reigning European champion, Christophe Rappe of Sweden in third.
Defending world champion, Jamie Hawkins of Great Britain, crossed the line in fourth place and Queensland's Steve Allen in fifth.
Pritchard and Albeau will definitely be the men to beat.
In the women's division, Germany's Andrea Hoeppner, pipped arch rival, Karin Jaggi of Switzerland for first place.
In the third round of the Mistral Olympic Class windsurfing, there was an excellent early result for Australia.
In the women's competition, Sydney's Natasha Sturgess crossed the line in second place, to Canada's Carol-Anne Alie. Former world champion Barbara Kendall of New Zealand finished third.
This left Sturgess placed 6th overall after three races.
In the men's competition, Poland's Miroslaw Malek added to his second place yesterday with a third place in this morning's race. Olympic Silver medallist Carlos Espinola of Argentina came in fourth, just ahead of reigning world and Olympic champions, Nikos Kaklamanakis of Greece. This moved Kaklamanakis into the top 10.
Australia's Brendan Todd placed sixth.
Provisional Mistral Olympic championship standings after three races:
Men's Olympic Mistral Class world championship:
1. Joao Rodrigues, Portugal
2. Marcos Galvan, Argentina
3. Amit Inbar, Israel
4. M Malek, Poland
5. Aaron McIntosh, New Zealand
6. Jean-Paul Tobin, New Zealand
7. C Leroy, France
8. Stephan Jaouen, France
9. T Philip, Fiji
10. Bruce Kendall, New Zealand
11. Nikos Kaklamanakis, Greece
33. Brendan Todd, Australia
Women's Olympic Mistral Class world championship:
1. Alessandra Sensini, Italy
2. Barbara Kendall, New Zealand
3. Lai-Shan Lee, Hong Kong
4. Justine Gardahaut, France
5. Marzena Okonska, Poland
6. Natasha Sturgess, Australia
7. Faustine Merret, France
8. Y Huang, China
9. Jessica Crisp, Australia
10. S Gros, France
End of Day 3, 12 December 1997 -- 8.00 pm
After the end of day three five Mistral Olympic Class races have been completed in both the men's and women's championships. Standing's at the end of Day 3 attached.
In the Production Funboard world championship, four races were completed in the women's division, two completed in the men's division. A further two men's races were cancelled after the competitors failed to head the race recall.
In the men's division, America's Kevin Pritchard, and France's Antoine Albeau share first place.
THERE IS NO RACING ON SATURDAY 13 DECEMBER.
IT IS A REST DAY.
RACING RESUMES ON SUNDAY 14 DECEMBER.
Day 4 Preview -- 14 December 1997
Thousand's of dollars worth of windsurfing equipment is expected to take a battering again today, with the Met office forecasting a good afternoon sea breeze for the Sol World Windsurfing Championship in Fremantle, Western Australia.
After a lay day on Saturday, competitors took time
out to replace broken equipment from Friday's pounding and visit
the physiotherapist for treatment of sore and tired muscles.
On Friday, gusts reached over 30 knots and many competitors had
to be rescued after suffering equipment failure out on the course.
AUSTRALIA RIDING HIGH
With two days of racing left in the Production Funboard world championship and Mistral Olympic Class world championship, Australian windsurfers are well placed for medals.
In the women's Funboard competition, Western Australia's Emily Lockwood- in her first international competition-is currently in second place to Switzerland's Karin Jaggi. Defending world champion, Andrea Hoeppner of Germany is placed seventh.
In the men's Funboard competition, Queensland's Steve Allen is the leading Australian in Third place, behind France's Antoine Albeau and America's Kevin Pritchard.
In the women's Mistral Olympic class, Sydney's Natasha Sturgess is flying high in fourth place behind past champions Alessandra Sensini of Italy, Lai-Shan Lee of Hong Kong and Barbara Kendall of New Zealand.
In the men's division, New Zealand's Aaron McIntosh
leads the event.
Day 4 -- 14 December 1997 -- 4.00pm
Italy's Alessandra Sensini has cemented her lead at the top of the women's Mistral Olympic Class competition, with a win in the first of two back to back races this afternoon.
With one more day left to race in the Women's Mistral Olympic class competition, Sensini looks set to go into the decider on Monday with a the title in her sights.
In the Men's division, the event leader, New Zealand's Aaron McIntosh, crossed the line in second place, which should be enough to give him the edge on his current closest rival, Joe of Portugal.
After the competitors in the Funboard championship took a battering from Friday's high winds, conditions have been a little more forgiving today.
The first of the slalom competitions is just about to get underway in the Funboard championship.
Slalom, is short sharp and exciting action close into the beach. Crashes are common place as competitors fight for position as they round the buoys. The first four over the line in each heat go through to the next round.
All local eyes will be on Western Australia's Emily Lockwood. In her first international competition, Emily is currently lying in second place in the women's Funboard competition. As four times Australian ladies slalom champion, if anybody knows the slalom conditions in Fremantle, it's Emily.
In the men's Funboard fleet, WA's Scott McKercher
is expected to qualify in the first round, sailing against event
leader Antoine Albeau.
PREVIEW OF DAY 5 -- 15 DECEMBER 1997
Western Australia's Emily Lockwood goes into the final round of the women's Funboard world championship today in the bronze medal position.
Emily is currently the most successful Australian entrant in any of the world championships that are being contested at Fremantle's South Beach this week.
In the men's Funboard world championship, Queensland's Steve Allen is currently placed third.
In the Mistral Olympic Class competition, the leading
Australian is Sydney's Natasha Sturgess, placed fourth.
DAY 5 -- 15 DEC, 1997: RESULTS
AARON MCINTOSH AND LAI-SHAN LEE WIN MISTRAL OLYMPIC CLASS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
The Mistral Olympic Class world championships came right down to the wire in Fremantle, Western Australia today.
Aaron McIntosh of New Zealand and Lai-Shan Lee of Hong Kong are the new Mistral Olympic Class world champions.
In an intense battle in the women's division, Lai-Shan Lee closed a 13 point gap on the morning's leader, Alessandra Sensini of Italy, to jump from the bronze medal position and snatch gold in the last race of the day.
Crossing the line in first place in all three races of the day, Lee took the title with the narrowest of margin's, beating Sensini by just one point. Olympic silver medallist, Barbara Kendall of New Zealand, took the bronze.
In the men's division, McIntosh started the day in second place, to Amit Inbar of Israel.
With Inbar blowing the second race of the day, placing 34th, McIntosh took a commanding lead. Needing to only finish in the top eleven in the last race of the day, McIntosh cruised across the line in seventh place to take the championship by a 16 point margin.
The battle for second and third places saw the most frantic battle between several top contenders.
With world number one, Joao Rodrigues of Portugal, finishing on equal points to 20 year old John-Paul Tobin of New Zealand, Rodrigues was awarded the bronze medal after a count back to decide who had achieved the best placing through the week.
Defending world champion, Nikos Kaklamanakis of Greece blew his title chances in the second race of the day. Starting the day in third position, a 35th place in the second race - his worst placing of the week - pushed him back to sixth place overall.
SYDENY'S NATASHA STURGESS ON THE PACE
Sydney's Natasha Sturgess finished the Women's Mistral Olympic Class world windsurfing championship in a very creditable fourth place. Sturgess was the only other female to even keep close to the leading three; Lee, Sensini and Kendall.
With Sturgess placing fourth on 75 points, her nearest rival was Zhang of China on 100 points.
FUNBOARD CROWN GOES INTO EXTRA DAY
With racing completed in the Mistral Olympic Class, organisers have now extended the racing in the Funboard world championship. No racing was completed in the Funboard championship today. Organisers are hoping to complete a minimum of one more race in the Funboard championship tomorrow to decide the world champions.
In the women's competition, Western Australia's Emily Lockwood is in third place to Andrea Hoeppner of Germany and Karin Jaggi of Switzerland.
In the men's competition, Queensland's Steve Allen is in third place, with France's Antoine Albeau on pole and America's Kevin Pritchard second.
DAY 6 -- 16 DEC, 1997
WA GIRL WINS WORLD TILE
At the Sol World Windsurfing Championships in Fremantle today, local girl Emily Lockwood snatched the women's Funboard world championship in a nail bitting last race of the day.
In extreme windsurfing conditions, with the afternoon sea breeze nudging 30 knots and windsurfers travelling at more than 60kmh, 22 year old Emily from South Fremantle snatched the title from the reigning world champion, Germany's Andrea Hoeppner, in the last race of the day.
Competing in her first international competition, Emily started the day in third place behind Hoeppner and Switzerland's Karin Jaggi.
She was second across the line in the first race of the day (a slalom race) and first in the next race (a course race).
A third race was planned, but with the afternoon sea breeze pounding the beach the safety committee decided to abandon racing just after 4.00pm with conditions judged to be too dangerous to continue.
That left the women with an anxious thirty minute wait as the race jury assessed the results. Barely a point separated all three. With Emily finishing on equal points to Hoeppner, she was awarded the title on a 'count back' through the week's results.
That was enough to give Emily the women's Funboard world crown, the first Australian to ever win a world title governed by the International Funboard Class Association.
Coming from a family of keen windsurfers, Emily has been the women's Australian champion for the past four years. She recently graduated from university with a degree in design.
Hoeppner was the 1995 women's champion, and shared the title in 1996 with today's third placed competitor, Karin Jaggi.
In the men's Funboard competition, the judges are still trying to establish who has taken the crown. It could go to one of three people: Queensland's Steve Allen, France's Antoine Albeau or America's Kevin Pritchard. With several protests lodged, it will still be a few hours before the results are known.
Event director, Quentin Little of EventsCorp, said Fremantle had really turned on the conditions today.
"This is what windsurfing in Western Australia is all about: Strong winds, fast racing, and exciting action.
"It's great for the sport to have a local take the crown."
DAY 7 -- 17 DEC, 1997
JURY DECISION CHANGES TITLES
Following a host of protests and queries to the international jury at the Sol World Windsurfing Championships in Fremantle yesterday, Queensland's Steve Allen has secured the men's Funboard crown, and Fremantle's Emily Lockwood has slipped to silver medal position in the women's competition.
In the women's event, the points changed at the top of the table after Germany's Andrea Hoeppner, in second place, elected to retire from an earlier race (where evidence pointed to her sailing the course incorrectly). This left Lockwood and Switzerland's Karin Jaggi on equal points for gold. In the countback, Jaggi was awarded the title as she had finished in front of Lockwood in three of five races.
This means Jaggi has now taken gold, Lockwood silver, and France's Alice Honore bronze. Hoeppner finished sixth.
In the men's championship, a flurry of protests saw Allen secure the crown, after posting a second and first place in the two races completed yesterday.
America's Kevin Pritchard came second, and Sweden's Christophe Rappe third.
Event director, Quentin Little, said jury involvement was not an uncommon occurrence in windsurfing competitions.
"When you're competing at the highest level,
sailors will always look for an opportunity to contest the results
and improve their overall standing. Windsurfing is a complicated
sport, this is why we have a very experienced international committee
of jurors at this event."
DAY 8 -- 18 DEC, 1997 PREVIEW
LOCKWOOD LOOKS TO AVENGE FUNBOARD DEFEAT
FORMULA 1, FORMULA 42 AND WINDSURFER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS BEGIN
Western Australian Emily Lockwood will be looking to avenge her defeat in the Funboard world championship, as racing begins in the Formula 1 and Formula 42 world titles in Fremantle today.
Lockwood was originally believed to have won the Funboard competition at the close of racing on Tuesday. However a delayed attempted protest by Switzerland's Karin Jaggi, resulted in Germany's Andrea Hoeppner retiring from one race. This altered the scores from that race and the overall points, letting Lockwood slip to second and Jaggi take the crown.
Both Lockwood and Jaggi will compete in the Formula 42 world titles that run until Sunday.
For the next few days, the afternoon sea breeze is expected to blow at full capacity. This will give Lockwood, a high-wind specialist, the edge-In extreme conditions on Tuesday, Lockwood beat Jaggi by a clear five minute margin.
The new men's Funboard world champion, Queensland's Steve Allen, also takes to the water again today, starting as outright favourite to take the men's Formula 42 crown.
In Fremantle last night, Allen and Jaggi were presented with the gold medals in the Funboard world championship.
New Zealand's Aaron McIntosh, and Hong Kong's Lai-Shan Lee were crowned as the new Mistral Olympic Class world champions.
As well as the Formula 1 and 42 titles, competition also begins today in the International Windsurfer Class Association world championship, where sailors compete on the original Windsurfer one-design boards and sails developed in the early 80s.
Sydney couple Adam Quinn and Susan Calvert are the defending men's and women's windsurfer world champions. Fellow Sydneysider Natasha Sturgess who finished fourth in the women's Mistral Olympic Class world championship will also be competing.
DAY 9 -- Friday 19 DEC, 1997
AUSTRALIAN'S DOMINATE RACING, BUT KIWI COUPLE STAY ON TOP
Husband and wife team Shane Bright and Barbara Kendall of New Zealand will start day three of competition in the men's and women's Formula 42 world championships in first places tomorrow.
Both Kendall and Bright revelled in the fluky conditions on the first day of competition yesterday and capitalised on the variable wind this morning, taking first place each.
However, when the wind picked up this afternoon, Australia's short board specialists Emily Lockwood of Fremantle and Steve Allen of Queensland took the initiative, both crossing the line in first place in the next two races.
For Allen it was all different in the first race of the day. He gambled on using his short board in the shifting winds. It was the wrong choice. The wind died off and Allen slowed off the plane with the rest of the fleet passing him by. However, as the gusts returned, he managed to get up enough momentum to claw his way back through the pack to finish 14th.
With a very low wind minimum for Formula 42, competitors are limited to using only two boards. This means that most will opt for one long board (good in light winds conditions) and one short board (ideal for stronger wind conditions).
In the women's Formula 42 competition, the interest on the beach is still on the battle between Lockwood and Switzerland's Karin Jaggi who pipped her to the Funboard gold medal in controversial circumstances earlier in the week.
Both girls have been evenly matched during the last two days, and trail
Kendall in second (Lockwood) and third (Jaggi) places tonight
However, these positions are only provisional as yet again there is a protest on places.
SYDNEY'S QUINN SIGHTS ANOTHER WINDSURFER WORLD TITLE
For the second day in a row, Sydney's Adam Quinn crossed the finish line first in all three races in the heavyweight division (between 70 - 80 kg) of the Windsurfer Class world championships. Quinn is the reigning overall windsurfer world champion.
Fellow Sydneysider Mark Pedersen, has caused quite a sensation in the Windsurfer division. Pedersen, who is a Funboard specialist, is competing in the Superheavy Weight division (over 80kg) for the first time.
Thanks to a bit of coaching from Quinn, he seems to have cracked the discipline, finishing yesterday third and posting a couple of first places today.
"I've been giving him a few tips, but that all stops now," Quinn said.
In the women's Windsurfer division, Melbourne's Fiona Taylor started the day in third place, sandwiched between Sydney girls, Natasha Sturges and Susan Calvert in second and fourth respectively.
Taylor, who was the world champion in 1993, posted
two first places which should help her close the gap on Sturgess
and leading woman, Lanee Butler of the USA.
DAY 10 -- Sat 20 Dec, 1997
ALLEN EXTENDS LEAD AT FRONT OF PACK
Men's Funboard world champion, Steve Allen of Queensland, has extended his lead at the top of the table in this week's Formula 42 world championships with two wins from two races held late this afternoon.
Allen now looks set to take his second crown in as many weeks, leading the event by a clear ten point margin after winning six of the seven races of competition so far.
Local windsurfing star, Robbie Radis of Scarborough, heads the leader table in the Formula 1 competition, and is currently in second place to Allen for the overall crown.
With Allen using a new prototype sail developed in Perth, he led Robbie over the line in both of today's 45 minute courses.
In the women's competition, Fremantle's Emily Lockwood closed the gap on race leader, Barbara Kendall of New Zealand, late yesterday with a first place in the last event of the day moving her to within a point of Kendall.
However, not such a good afternoon for Lockwood today, with a third and a second. Switzerland's Karin Jaggi, who piped Lockwood to the gold medal in the Funboard competition earlier this week, took line honours in both the races. This is expected to lift her ahead of Lockwood when the scores are toted up late tonight.
AUSTRALIAN'S ON TOP IN WINDSURFER CHAMPIONSHIP
Australians dominated today's qualifying round of the Windsurfer slalom competition, with fourteen going through to Monday's final.
With a light sea breeze, the slalom competition was held on a tight course close to the shore attracting a sizeable crowd of spectators enjoying the sun and the racing.
Sydney's Adam Quinn took line honours in the men's competition, and looks on course to regain his overall Windsurfer world title.
Fellow Sydneysider, Mark Pedersen, continued to impress in the Windsurfer class also making the eight for Monday's Final.
Mark is a regular competitor on the professional Funboard circuit and has adapted to Windsurfer racing pretty quickly.
In the women's division, American Lanee Butler led the charge at the top, with China's Hong-Mei Hao being the only other non-Australian to make it into the finals.
Late in the day, the afternoon sea breeze picked up and racing in the Formula 42 class got underway.
The marginal winds made the critical equipment choice
a hard call for many competitors-competitors are limited to a
choice of two boards, one long, and one short. Many of the sailors
set off from the beach on their long boards, only to turn back
and change down to a smaller, faster board.
Men's Windsurfer slalom finalists
Adam Quinn, Aus
Lars Kleppich, Aus
Tim Gourlay, Aus
Beaudel Moulson, Aus
Mark Pedersen, Aus
Dennis Winstanley, Aus
Scott Buckingham, Aus
Stuart Gilbert, Aus
Women's Windsurfer Slalom finalists.
Lanee Butler, USA
Fiona Taylor, Aus
Hong Mei Hao, China
Natasha Sturgess, Aus
Susan Calvert, Aus
Lucy Palmer, Aus
Tania Newton, Aus
Karen Murden, Aus
DAY 11 -- Sun 21 Dec, 1997
ANOTHER PERFECT DAY FOR ALLEN
Men's Funboard world champion, Steve Allen of Queensland, is just 24 hours away from wrapping up a second world title from the Sol World Windsurfing Championships in Fremantle, Western Australia.
Allen was in a class of his own this afternoon, as he blitzed the field in the Formula 42 world championships taking two first places from two races. This brings his tally to eight wins from ten starts in the last four days.
After taking the first race of the day by nearly two clear legs, Allen cruised back into the beach and told reporters that he thought he had just sailed a near perfect race.
"I just really feel comfortable out there," said Allen.
"I'm dialled into my equipment and I like to win. When I'm out in front I also like to see how far I can win the race by."
Local WA windsurfer, Robbie Radis of Scarborough, consolidated his second position behind Allen with a third and fourth place from the day's racing.
This was enough to give Radis a clear lead in the Formula 1 championships (run alongside the Formula 42 event) and also keep him in second place overall in the fleet.
"I'm going into the Formula 1 final tomorrow in first place," said Radis. "A win in this event, following my win in the nationals last month will be great for my confidence.
"I didn't expect to be in second place for the overall championship. I don't mind coming second to this guy (Allen)."
Allen goes into the final day tomorrow with a provisional 12 point lead.
LOCKWOOD OFF WATER INJURED
In the women's Formula 42 competition, Fremantle's Emily Lockwood, collided with another competitor and was catapulted from her board, wrenching her knee.
After sailing into shore, she was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.
With Lockwood on the side lines, this left the day clear for race leader Barbara Kendall of New Zealand, and second place Karin Jaggi of Switzerland to rack up the points.
Kendall started the day on 13 points, with Jaggi on 16. Jaggi won the first race with Kendall second over the line. In the second race, Jaggi led Kendall over the line again, in second and third places.
This provisionally leaves the top of the table a close run thing with barely a point separating Kendall and Jaggi.
In the second race, America's Julie Prochaska sailing on her revolutionary new flapper board, took first place, finally getting it together after a rotten week.
An ecstatic Prochaska was relieved to have finally got the right board and fin combination.
"Just add wind and a good weed fin and it's perfect. I borrowed a new fin from a friend. It makes all the difference," Prochaska said.
CLEAN SWEEP FOR SYDNEY IN MARATHON
It was a clean sweep for Sydney in the Windsurfer class marathon this afternoon with Adam Quinn leading fellow Sydneysiders Beau Moulson, Mark Pedersen and Lars Kleppich across the line.
Competitors sailed a 30 km course, with reigning Windsurfer world champion Quinn taking line honors from fellow Sydneysiders, Beau Moulson, Mark Pedersen and Lars Kleppich.
Quinn completed the course in 1hr 50min with Moulson finishing less than a minute behind.
"I led from the start but the wind dropped off mid-race and Beau was catching me," said Quinn.
"The wind then picked up and I was able to move away from him again. He also got caught up on a mark close to the end which gave me a bit of space."
Wollongong's Natasha Sturgess was the first woman home, crossing the line in fifth place just behind Kleppich.
Sturgess had kept in touch with the leading men all the way round the course, rounding the first mark in third place before being overtaken by Pedersen and Kleppich.
The race for 19th and 20th positions kept the crowd entertained, with Australian's Mark Lloyd and Michael Lancey hitting the beach at the same time. In the race to the finish line, set 10 metres up the beach, Lancey slipped on the sand letting Lloyd through for 19th place.
Lanee Butler was the second woman, Fiona Taylor the third. The second place for Butler was enough to put her clear in the overall women's competition.
The men's competition remains a tight battle between Moulson and Quinn.
Mon 22 Dec, 1997
ALLEN AND JAGGI DO THE DOUBLE
Queensland's Steve Allen and Switzerland's Karin Jaggi have done the double, adding the Formula 42 world titles to their gold medals in the Funboard world championship last week.
At the Sol World Windsurfing Championships in Fremantle, Western Australia this afternoon, competitors sat on the beach and sweltered in 40 degree temperatures.
As the sea breeze struggled to provide cooling relief to the sailors, the race officials made the decision at 3.30 pm that there would be no chance of racing in the Formula classes today.
This meant Allen carried through his 13 point lead from Sunday to claim the men's Formula 42 crown.
Allen was in a class of his own on Sunday as he blitzed the field taking two first places from two races. That brought his tally for the competition to eight wins from ten starts.
In the Formula 1 world championship, local WA windsurfing star Robbie Radis of Scarborough took the title with a massive 50 point margin over his nearest rival.
Both the Formula 1 and Formula 42 fleets sail together. Despite Radis' disadvantage on equipment choice (he is only allowed one board and two sails for competition) he still notched up second place overall in the fleet behind Allen, an outstanding achievement.
LOCKWOOD TAKES THIRD-JAGGI WINS AGAIN
With racing also cancelled for the women's Formula 42 world championship, this left the overnight race leader Karin Jaggi of Switzerland with her second crown in two weeks.
Jaggi piped New Zealand's Barbara Kendall to the title by one point with Fremantle's Emily Lockwood miraculously holding onto third place.
Lockwood was awarded two 14th places from Sunday's racing after she failed to complete a race, crashing in the first heat of the day and being stretchered off the beach to hospital.
With Lockwood unable to sail today, Lady Luck must have finally looked kindly on her. With no more racing completed in the event, the fourth and fifth place competitors were unable to capitalise on her absence to steal third place.
WINDSURFER OVERALL TITLES DECIDED
Sydney's Beau Moulson and American Lanee Butler are the new overall Windsurfer class world champions.
Moulson piped fellow Sydneysider Adam Quinn to this year's crown, with Butler just holding the edge on Melbourne's Fiona Taylor. Quinn entered the competition as defending champion.
It was the morning's Freestyle competition, that proved to be the deciding factor. Moulson won the favour of four of the five judges to take first place with Quinn only managing third.
In the women's competition, Butler tied for first
place with Taylor in the Freestyle. Taylor's good result in Freestyle
was enough to preserve her second place overall behind the all
dominant Butler.
FINAL DAY-Tue 23 Dec, 1997
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS FINISH IN STYLE
The inaugural Sol World Windsurfing Championships finished in style in Fremantle, Western Australia this afternoon with Sydney duo Beau Moulson and Lanee Butler taking the men's and women's International Sailing Federation Freestyle championships.
21 year old Moulson, who won the overall Windsurfer crown yesterday, said he came to the event two weeks ago with no expectation of winning.
"I came here with the intention of having fun. I didn't expect to do this well.
"I actually felt pretty bad about beating Adam (Quinn) for the overall title yesterday. He's a mate."
Moulson's winning performance in the Freestyle was a combination of rail ride 360s, pirouettes and boom flips (somersaulting through the boom). His routine was enough to secure him $1,000 in prize money.
"Rail ride 360s are definitely the hardest tricks. Those and boom flips. I think I might be the only person who completed a boom flip this week."
Moulson said the secret to his success today, was to watch the routines of all the top guys who started before him.
"I made sure I put their best tricks into my routine at the start. I then added a few more tricks of my own," he said.
Moulson finsihed his acrobatic routine by performing a handstand on the Windsurfer whilst sailing it on its rail.
"It was a pretty strange way to finish the routine, seeing the crowd upside down."
Winning the women's Freestyle championship today, 27 year old Butler said the wind had been a bit light for the women's competition in the morning.
"We were sailing ion the pen, and with the light wind it made it a bit hard to do tricks, like rail rides.
"I performed a lot of sail transitions."
Like Moulson, Butler also took the overall women's Windsurfer championships yesterday.
"I used the original windsurfer board I bought when I was 16 to win this event. I had it shipped over from the States especially.
Butler moved to Sydney last year, after a ten year love affair with Australia. She first came to Australia with the American team for the Youth Windsurfing Worlds held in Botany Bay.
"I've been coming here since 87, I loved Australia the first time I visited."
"I've been to 5 windsurfer world championships, this was one of the best.
Freo's a great place.
Butler is staying in Fremantle for the 49ers competition,
where her boyfriend, Adam Beashel is competing.
MAJOR MEDAL WINNERS FORM SOL WORLD WINDSURFING CHAMPIONSHIPS
International Mistral Class Organisation (IMCO)
Men
1. Aaron McIntosh, New Zealand
2. Amit Inbar, Israel
3. Marcos Galvan, Argentina
Women
1. Lai-Shan Lee, Hong Kong
2. Alessandra Sensini, Italy
3. Barbara Kendall, New Zealand
International Funboard Class Association (IFCA)
Men
1. Steve Allen, Australia
2. Kevin Pritchard, USA
3. Christophe Rappe, Sweden
Women
1. Karin Jaggi, Switzerland
2. Emily Lockwood, Australia
3. Alice Honour, France__
International Windsurfer Class Association (IWCA)
Men
1. Beaudel Moulson, Australia
2. Adam Quinn, Australia
3. Tim Goulay, Australia
Women
1. Lanee Butler, USA
2. Fiona Taylor, Australia
3. Natasha Sturges, Australia
International Board Sailors Association (IBSA)
Men-Formula 42
1. Steve Allen, Australia
2. Robbie Radis, Australia
Women-Formula 42
1. Karin Jaggi, Switzerland
2. Barbara Kendall, New Zealand
3. Emily Lockwood, Australia
Men-Formula 1
1. Robbie Radis
__________________________________________________
Ward Holt Pty Ltd
1131 Hay Street, West Perth, Western Australia 6005
PO Box 1103, West Perth, Western Australia 6872
Phone: +61 (0)8 9321 7055
Fax: +61 (0)8 9321 7015
Email: wardholt@iinet.net.au
http://www.iinet.net.au/~wardholt/
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