| Giant fleet arrives in Turkey for Pegasus Alaçati PWA World Cup |
| Tuesday, 12 August 2008 08:49 |
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The biggest players in the PWA’s prestigious Slalom discipline have touched down in Alaçati, Turkey, joining forces with an impressive local racing contingent. The combined total of the men’s and women’s fleets comes in just short of 100 competitors, making this the biggest racing fleet in eight years. In the lower half of the draw, there wasn’t a great deal of surprise when Antoine Albeau (Starboard, NeilPryde) emerged victorious in his semi final. Sailing fast in second place, Ben Van Der Steen (Exocet, Simmer) looked hungry to continue his run of form after finishing 4th place overall in the last event in Fuerteventura. Moving into the final and predictability struck again when Albeau barged his way to the front of the fleet. Starting as he no doubt intends to go on, he claimed the first race and early event lead as his. Always consistent, Kevin Pritchard (Starboard, Gaastra, MFC, Dakine) settled into his familiar second position, and Maynard looked like he was warming up for bigger and better things in third. Toping the ranks in the losers final was Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (F2, NeilPryde, MFC), who had his work cut out to defeat Peter Bijl (Fanatic, NeilPryde), who’s more determined than ever after missing out on the start of the season due to issues with the US immigration process! In the women’s fleet the seething Turkish crowd showed their support for compatriots and PWA regulars Cagla Kubat (Starboard, North) and Lena Erdil (The Loft). In response, the pair made their way into the final and proceeded to take 8th and 7th respectively. Familiarly it was Valerie Ghibaudo (Tabou, The Loft) and Karin Jaggi (F2, North) that had the firmest grip on the finale, fuelled by an age-old rivalry that’s pushed them to another level of racing. In this instance it was Ghibaudo that took top honors, leaving Jaggi simmering in second and Verena Fauster (F2, Gaastra) in third. Polish racer Mara Hlavaty (MauiSails) put her mark on the loser’s final when she crossed the finish line in first.
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| Last Updated on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 08:59 |
