PWA – Fly! ANA Yokosuka, Japan – 2017 – DAY 4

485 5

Published on May 15, 2017 by Windsurfing.TV

Day 4: Julien Quentel bites the bullet to take pole position

The wind eventually delivered on day four of the 2017 Fly! ANA Yokosuka PWA World Cup – allowing the first men’s elimination of the season to be completed and it was Julien Quentel (Patrik / Avanti), who struck to claim the opening bullet, to sit proudly at the top of the event rankings with two days to go.

Earlier in the day, the first exhibition foil races of the week were completed, which saw Antoine Albeau (RRD / NeilPryde) deliver a masterclass with two victories and a narrow second place in the three races completed. Antoine Questel (Starboard / S2Maui) won the third race to prevent Albeau from completing a quickfire hat-trick, but AA still holds a comprehensive lead at the top.

Women’s

Elimination Two

In the first women’s semifinal the top seeds made no mistakes as Lena Erdil (Starboard / Point-7 / AL360), Delphine Cousin Questel (Starboard / S2Maui), and Marion Mortefon (Fanatic / NorthSails) safely navigated their way into the winners’ final along with Yuki Sunaga (LoftSails), who did well to battle back and grab 4th place ahead of Fulya Ünlü (Starboard / Point-7 / Mystic), who grabbed the last place qualifying place after finishing 5th.

Current event and world tour leader – Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) – made no mistakes in the second semifinal as she went on to win the heat ahead of Maëlle Guilbaud (Patrik / LoftSails), Fujiko Onishi (99NoveNove / Point-7), Oda Johanne (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) and Marianne Rautelin (Patrik / LoftSail), but there was disappointment for Esther de Geus (JP / Point-7) as the 25-year-old missed out on a place in the winners’ final for the first time this season.

Men’s

Elimination One

Winners’ Final

The first attempt to run the winners’ final today resulted in a cancellation due to the wind dropping below 7 knots when Jordy Vonk (Fanatic / NorthSails) was leading the heat. Upon the restart, Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (Starboard / Severne / Chopper Fins) timed his start perfectly, just as he had done in the previous effort, but the Argentine’s hopes were then dashed with weed around his fin, all but ending his chances of winning the final.

Instead, it was Quentel and Finian Maynard (99NoveNove / Gun Sails), who were left to fight it out as the fleet headed to the opening mark, but it was Quentel who seized the initiative as the man from Saint Maarten produced a textbook gybe to dive down the inside of Maynard to break into the lead. Quentel had been leading the winners’ final yesterday before it was cancelled, but there was no cancellation this time around as the 30-year-old held tight to secure the first bullet of the season.

Behind him, Vonk managed to manoeuvre himself into the top two and the flying Dutchman, who has looked dangerous both here and South Korea, deservedly earned himself his best result in an elimination so far as he secured a brilliant second place.

Meanwhile, Maynard, was desperately unlucky as the seaweed caused more havoc, which resulted in him losing out on 3rd place to Antoine Albeau (RRD / NeilPryde) just before the finish line with Maynard completing the course sideways. The 42-year-old was bitterly disappointed, but fourth still marks an excellent result.

Andrea Rosati (RRD / Loft Sails) secured 5th place while reigning world champion and vice-world champion – Matteo Iachino (Starboard / Point-7 / Shamal Windsurfing Sunglasses) and Pierre Mortefon (Fanatic / NorthSails / Chopper Fins) – had to settle for 6th and 7th place respectively.

Julien Quentel after winning the opening race: “The conditions were very hard, so I’m super happy to get the win. I went down the first reach with Finian [Maynard] and there was only a small gap but I managed to gybe inside, maybe last year I wouldn’t have gone for it, but this year I’m going for it. I’m feeling more confident on my gear this year as it’s my second year with Patrik and Avanti and now I have the boards and sails that I want, so I’d like to say thanks for them both and of course thanks to my friends and family and everyone supporting me.“

Flying Dutchman – Jordy Vonk : “I had a pretty bad start, but I caught a gust and I think I had some advantage because I was on 8.4m, when the other guys were on 9.0m or 9.4m, so I was able to go between Antoine [Albeau] and Gonzalo [Costa Hoevel] and I took the first mark in third place and then I was trying to chase down Julien, but I couldn’t quite do that. But second is sick. I’m super happy – especially after leading the last winners’ final until the final mark and then having it cancelled. I was just trying to stay calm. Thanks to my family, my girlfriend, friends and sponsors.”

In the losers’ final, Ross Williams (Tabou / GA Sails / Mystic / Shamal Windsurfing Sunglasses) and Sebastian Kördel (Starboard / GA Sails) secured the remaining places in the top 10 – with the Brit holding off a stern challenge from the German to finish 9th and 10th, respectively, while Cyril Moussilmani (99NoveNove / Severne) and Antoine Questel (Starboard / S2Maui) were the next closest challengers.

Elimination Two

The opening round of the second elimination was also completed and so far there has been no major upsets. The local Japanese sailors enjoyed an excellent first round though with Akihiko Yamada (Patrik / LoftSails), Tomohiko Suzuki (Fanatic / NorthSails) and Tomohiko Komai (Starboard / GA Sails) all advancing from Heat 1, while Norio Asano (Fanatic / S2Maui) was also able to book his place in the next round.

The forecast currently predicts moderate to strong winds for tomorrow afternoon, so hopefully, there will be the opportunity to complete further eliminations. The skippers’ meeting has been called for 9:30am with the action commencing from 10am (GMT+9)

Current Event Ranking 2017 Fly! ANA Yokosuka PWA World Cup – Women’s Slalom
*After One Elimination

1st Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)

2nd Delphine Cousin (Starboard / S2Maui)

3rd Lena Erdil (Starboard / Point-7 / AL360)

4th Maëlle Guilbaud (Patrik / LoftSails)

5th Esther de Geus (JP / Point-7)

6th Fulya Ünlü (Starboard / Point-7 / Mystic)

7th Çağla Kubat (Starboard / Point-7)

8th Ayako Suzuki (Tabou / GA Sails / Mystic)

9th Fujiko Onishi (99NoveNove / Point-7)

10th Mio Anayama (Starboard / MauiSails)

Current Event Ranking 2017 Fly! ANA Yokosuka PWA World Cup – Men’s Slalom
*After One Elimination