©SSM / Dan Atkins

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Fuerteventura is historically a very important event on the PWA World Tour and this year, the granting of Grand Slam status for Race and Freestyle makes it even more so.

In racing, the Fuerteventura is the second of the 'big 4' race events of 1998 which will have the most effect on the PWA World Title this year. For the Freestyle discipline, this is the second event of 1998 and will allow sailors to challenge Matt Pritchard for the lead in the 1998 Freestyle World Ranking, a title which is especially sought after in the discipline's first year.

The fleet in Fuerteventura, as in Gran Canaria, is very strong, reflecting both the size of the $120,000 prize purse and the maximum world tour points available. All of the current top 40 sailors are here, headed up by current championship leader Matt Pritchard US-93. Challenging Matt to move into the number 1 position are E-11 Bjorn Dunkerbeck, the current world champion; Matt's bother Kevin, US-933, who narrowly lost the Gran Canaria overall victory to Dunkerbeck and the numbers 2 and 3 in the world, US-34 Micah Buzianis and S-10 Anders Bringdal.

The black flag is back !

The Fuerteventura event is also the first event to be run under the new PWA direct refereeing rules. The new rule completely alters the previous role of the protest committee, effectively converting judges into referees with the powers to make instant disqualification/redress decisions. The referees simply judge using three rules: Port/Starboard, Dangerous Sailing and Team Sailing.

The new rule requires a radical re-think by both sailors and protest judges as all but one of the previous right of way rules are abandoned.

Sailors adapted well to the new school of sailing which has been introduced gradually over a period of 18 months. Initially, the system was introduced, in conjunction wit a protest committee on the beach. The beach based committee has been abandoned for 98 and all decisions taken on the water have become instant and unappeallable.

Britt returns

The PWA women's fleet saw a surprise female entry for the Fuerteventura event. Britt Dunkerbeck returned to competitive competition after several years of retirement.

The Results:

FINAL RACING RESULTS AFTER 9 RACES AND 2 DISCARDS

Men:

1 DUNKERBECK, Bjoern   E-11 Neil Pryde, F2, Red Bull,VW,Rip Curl
2 PRITCHARD, Kevin  US-933 Neil Pryde,Bic, Team O'Neill,Oakley
3 ALBEAU, Antoine F-192 Neil Pryde,AHD,, Select,ATAN,G-Shock
4 MAYNARD, Finian KV-11Gaastra,ACE,Sunfan, Tectonics,Fiberspar
5 BUZIANIS, Micah US-34 North Sails,Drops,Nifty, Tectonics,Pro-Limit
6 MCGAIN, Phil KA-7 Neil Pryde, Bare,
7 PRITCHARD, Matt US-93 Neil Pryde, AHD, Oakley,Team O'Neill
8 BRINGDAL, Anders S-10 Simmer,RRD,Liberty, Fiberspar,Perf. Fins
9 BELLINI, Eduardo E-9 ART,Fanatic,Abora, Sola,Oakley,Red Bull
10 PEDERSEN, Mark KA-6 North Sails,Drops,RipCurl, Gorrila Grip,Da Kine
11 ALLEN, Steve KA-0 ART, Fanatic, RipCurl, Driz-a-bone
12 FENTON, Scott KZ-1 Neil Pryde,ACE,DSL55, CoronaExtra,Maui Fin
13 FLESSNER, Bernd G-16 Neil Pryde ,F2, Team, O'Neill, Norderney
14 BAKER, Nicholas K-66 Gaastra,Mistral, TOYOTA, Fiberspar
15 BELBEOC'H, Patrice F-81 Neil Pryd, Oxbow, Crozon
16 BAKER, Antony K-77 Arrows, F2, O'Neill,N.Shore Fins
17 HUART, Xavier F-33 North Sails, Mistral, Oxbow
18 OLAUSSON, Nicklas S-24 Simmer, RRD,Top Oil,
19 TERIITEHAU, Robert F-2000 North Sails, Bic, Quiksilver, Waiti
20 RAPPE, Christoffer S-39 North Sails, Mistral,
21 LANDMAN, Ramses H-72 Arrows, F2, Oxbow, North Shore
22 HAWKINS, Jamie K-96 Neil Pryde,AHD, Animal,Bolle,Gul
23 VOLWATER, Peter H-24Arrows,F2,Quiksilver, NorthShore Fins,Reef
24 ROEGILD, Brian D-173 North Sails, RRD, Quiksiver, Well Ware
25 MAUFFRET, Bieuzy F-112 Lee Cooper, Fin's,
26 IRELAND, Sam KC-1 Gaastra,Nifty, Fiberspar,Techtonics
27 DIAZ, Jimmy VI-11 North Sails,System B, Visual Speed
28 THIEME, Erik F-808 Neil Pryde,Drops,M&S, Rip Curl,Tocco
29 MOUSSILMANI, Cyril F-229 North Sails,Mistral,Alan, Island Feeling,Oxbow
30 LARSEN, Thomas D-68 Neil Pryde, Mistral, No Fear

Women:

1 JAGGI, Karin Z-14 Arrows, F2, Sohard AG, O'Neill
2 MUELLER, Jutta G-680 F2, Pro-Limit
3 ERNST, Lucienne H-444 Gaastra, Mistral, Oxbow
4 GUBELMANN, Sandra Z-3 Neil Pryde, Subaru, Red Bull, Chiemsee
5 LOCKWOOD, Emily AUS-74 Neil Pryde, F2, Daily Juice
6 FREY, Antonia GR-1 Arrows,F2,Oakley, Mamidakis,Dodoni
7 HOEPPNER, Andrea G-54 North Sails,Mistral, Jogging-Brot
8 RUANO MORENO, Daida E-64 Simmer,Mistral,Sola, Oakley,Volkswagen
9 STASZEWSKA, Dorota POL-1 North Sails, Drops, Suntex, Red Bull
10 DUNKERBECK, Britt E-7
11 WAHL, Steffi G-303 North Sails, Mistral, Domicil, Dethleffs
12 BENEDICTE HEIBER, Nina N-10 ,
13 GHIBAUDO, Valerie F-44

FREESTYLE RESULTS AFTER 2 ELIMINATIONS

1 DUNKERBECK, Bjoern E-11Neil Pryde, F2, Red Bull,VW,Rip Curl
2 STONE, Josh USA-6 Neil Pryde, F2, Jet Set, Oakley
2 SEEGER, Robby G-307 Simmer Style,RRD,, Pro-Limit
4 JENSEN, Vidar N-44 North Sails, Drops, Team O'Neill
5 NAISH, Robby US-1111 Naish Sails,Mistral, Quiksilver,Robinson