Event Summary

This is the first racing event on the PWA world tour calendar for 1999 and seven rounds of course racing and a whole round of slalom were completed. This year's event is even more important since it is the first PWA event to adopt a new one-board ruling for upwind racing. The PWA recently voted in favour of the restriction of one board (per event) for course racing for 1999. This move was made to show support towards potential changes in the Olympic-racing format.

There is a possibility that windsurfing in the Olympics could change to 'Formula Windsurfing', which would allow sailors to use their choice of one production board and three production sails rather than the existing one design format.

The event was plagued for the first few days by torrential rain and strong
easterly winds, which made conditions tough on the racecourse. Micah
Buzianis dominated the racing on the opening day of the event and by winning
three out of four course races. Hot on his heels were Swedish sailor
Christoffer Rappe, Matt Pritchard, Antoine Albeau and Jimmy Diaz who all did
their best to close the gap on Buzianis for the remaining four rounds of
racing.

In the fifth round which was slalom, Finian Maynard the big guy from the
British Virgin Islands showed his skills in high winds by winning the final
ahead of Pritchard and Albeau.

On Saturday, the storm, which had brought the torrential rains finally,
passed over allowing the return of the regular Mistral winds and sunnier
weather.

Conditions for racing were excellent and sailors were pushed to their limits
as race director Didier Laffite decided to opt for high wind course racing
as opposed to slalom. Buzianis added another first to his string of
victories in the first of three exciting races and Antoine Albeau and Matt
Pritchard won the second and third respectively. Newcomer to the PWA, Pieter
Byle, from Holland showed that he may be a force to be reckoned with in the
future by taking a second place in race number seven. Despite heavy pressure
from the pack during the last few races Buzianis, the 28 year old American
who lives in Maui Hawaii did enough to hang on to victory.

Racing specialist, Buzianis will be pleased with a victory from his first
event of the season and Christoffer Rappe and Matt Pritchard will also both
be satisfied with podium positions when taking into consideration the
strength of the fleet. Antoine Albeau placed highest out of the French
sailors in fourth position and other notable performances making up the top
ten were from Patrice Belbioc, Jimmy Diaz, Finian Maynard, Janne
Rauhansuu, Thierry Belbioc and Charles Deleau.

The event showed without doubt that the one board rule for upwind racing can
work well and make racing more exciting for competitors and spectators
alike.

Quotes

Micah Buzianis:

"It was a successful event, we had three days of racing including some
high wind course racing that was pretty interesting. I enjoyed a little bit of it
but I did not really enjoy the 30 knot puffs, we were pushed to the limits.
I am pretty happy with victory though, I messed up in a few races and did
not do as well as I would have liked to but a win is a win! I never felt any
real pressure, I knew I had good speed and most of my mistakes were mental
and that I could come back and still post some good result"

Christoffer Rappe:

"I sure enjoyed the racing, I did not enjoy the weather around it though
but I think we had a lot of good races and a lot of different and challenging
conditions. I enjoyed it, I am very happy with second, I came here with all
new stuff and I have not been doing a lot of racing this winter so it turned
out pretty good"

Matt Pritchard:

"You are never content with not winning but I will save that for the next
race. It was intense racing, we had rain, it poured with rain, it was windy,
offshore, onshore, it was all over the place but I love it, I love it!"

Pieter Byle:

"In race number six I had a really good start and tacked at the perfect
time and was first to the upwind mark ahead of Micah Buzianis, I came second and
am totally happy since it is my first PWA event. I am hoping to do the whole
world tour now, this week was really great racing and good fun"

Christophe Piaget managing director, AHD:

"I think it is a very good idea for the Olympic format to switch to Formula
Windsurfing. We are pushing for this, it is very will be very good for
windsurfing and a lot more racers will try to do the Olympics. The racing
here at Almanarre has been perfect and has proved the one board idea works.
They were using the same board in 9 knots on the first day and then up to 25
knots yesterday, it is easy to produce a board that you can use for all
conditions. It was great for the spectators, no problem, it was perfect"

Benoit Treguilly (Bic Sport):

"Formula Windsurfing is closer to normal windsurfing than the One Design at
the Olympics. In France there have been events using the Formula Windsurfing
and they have been very popular. They proved they could race in six knots
and also in high winds on the same boards. It would be so much better for
the sport as it is more spectacular and more exciting to watch. The average
sailor does not want to sail on the One Design boards anymore, the Formula
Windsurfing would get more people and more money into the sport for sure, it
is something I am watching very closely"

The Almanarre Hyeres 1999 PWA World Cup
Men's Racing Results after 2 Discards

1  BUZIANIS, Micah US-34 North,Drops,Nifty, Tectonics,Pro-Limit
2  RAPPE, Christoffer S-39 North Sails, Mistral
3  PRITCHARD, Matt US-10 AHD,FIBERSPAR, Oakley, O'Neill,Tectonics
4  ALBEAU, Antoine F-192 Neil Pryde,AHD,, Quiksilver,Select
5  DIAZ, Jimmy VI-11 Neil Pryde
6  BELBEOC'H, Patrice F-81 Neil Pryde, Exocet,Oxbow, Select
7  MAYNARD, Finian KV-11 Camaro, Tectonics,Fiberspar
8  RAUHANSUU, Janne FIN-24 AHD, Billabong, Da Kine
9  BELBEOC'H, Thierry F-39 Naish Sails, AHD, Quiksilver
10  DELEAU, Charles F-7 Neil Pryde, Nautix
11  HUART, Xavier F-33 North Sails, Mistral, Oxbow,Gruissan Wsurf
12  LANDMAN, Ramses H-72 Arrows, F2, Oxbow, North Shore
13  BRZOZOWSKI, Wojtek PZ-10 Neil Pryde, RRD, Red Bull, Intersport
14  TERIITEHAU, Robert F-2000 North Sails, Bic, Quiksilver
15  THIEME, Erik F-808 Neil Pryde,Drops,, Rip Curl,Vaurnet
16  MAUFFRET, Bieuzy F-112 Rip Curl, Fin's
17  BYL, Pieter H-280 Neil Pryde, AHD, Zembla, Simple
18  GODET, Pierre F-53 DDP, Aquaman, ATAN
19  LARSEN, Thomas D-68 Neil Pryde, Mistral, Baadmagasnet
20  ROEGILD, Brian D-173 North Sails, Quiksilver

Formula Windsurfing

Formula Windsurfing is the name of the proposed new format for Olympic
windsurfing. Formula Windsurfing is supported by the Professional
Windsurfers Association, the International Funboard Class Association and
the International Boardsailors Association, who would run the format. At the
moment, sailors have to use the Mistral One Design board: Formula
Windsurfing would give greater flexibility by allowing sailors to choose any
one production board and three production sails.

©SSM Freesports unless credited as source: SSM/Dan Atkins 

Last updated: 16.05.99