The PWA received an extremely warm welcome upon their return to Japan for the first time in 24 years and while the wind wasn’t always on our side during the last six days – the Fly! ANA PWA World Cup was extremely well supported by the locals, who clearly loved having their windsurfing idols on their home beach – while showing that windsurfing is alive and well in Japan.
Thankfully, there was just enough wind to gain results in both the men’s and women’s fleets, which saw Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) and Julien Quentel (Patrik / Avanti) claim their places on the top of the prestigious podium after winning the sole elimination completed in each division.
When the wind remained too light for slalom, foiling took centre stage and over the last 6 days, 7 races were completed and after showing an unbelievable level of consistency, Antoine Questel (Starboard / S2Maui) walks away from the foil exhibition with top honours after recording counting results of 2 victories and three, 2nd’s. Although he was fortunate that the 8th race couldn’t be completed as the 32-year-old was disqualified for a premature start, which would’ve opened the door for Sebastian Kornum (JP / NeilPryde), Antoine Albeau(RRD / NeilPryde) and Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (Starboard / Severne / Chopper Fins), who finished second, third and fourth respectively.
Women’s
Sarah-Quita Offringa consolidates her place at the top of the rankings after producing another dominant performance to preserve her perfect record so far this season, which has seen her win every heat she has sailed in 2017. Offringa is the reigning world champion and it looks as though it’s going to be very hard for anyone to stop her now with two events to go.
Sarah-Quita Offringa on her perfect start to the year: “I’m feeling good. I’m happy to have won the second event. Even though we’ve only had two races overall because there’s really been no room for error as if you make a mistake it’s immediately over. So, in that regard, I’m very happy to have won the opening two events. After this, we only have two more events – Denmark and New Caledonia – which I’m looking forward to. I just really want to get on the water and race more because it’s really challenging now to be on the water with all the girls, which makes it so much fun to race. For now, though I’ll switch my focus to wave and freestyle.”
Lena Erdil (Starboard / Point-7 / AL360) remains Offringa’s closest rival after backing up her solid second place in South Korea by securing the final place on the podium here in Japan, but the 28-year-old will have her work cut out if she wants to stop Offringa this season with the Aruban gem opening a 3.6 point advantage at the top of the rankings.
Esther de Geus (JP / Point-7) will have breathed a sigh of relief that the second elimination couldn’t be completed after missing out on the winners’ final for the first time this season, but as a result, she walks away with 5th place, which sees her rise to 3rd overall. The 25-year-old has made a huge amount of progress over the winter and looks set to be battling it out for the podium places.
Delphine Cousin Questel (Starboard / S2Maui) produced an almost perfect response, after missing out on the winners’ final in South Korea, as she bounced back to claim second place to kick start her season. The former two-time world champion still has no room for error in the remaining two events, but she has at least giving herself a fighting chance of being involved at the business end of the season. After her second place in Japan, Cousin Questel rises to 5th overall.
Meanwhile, Maëlle Guilbaud (Patrik / LoftSails) continued her excellent start to the season and the 20-year-old is showing the kind of consistency necessary to challenge for the overall podium, while also emerging as one of the most exciting young talents on the tour. After the opening two events, Guilbaud is tied with Esther de Geus in 3rd.
Men’s
Last year’s world No.4 – Julien Quentel (Patrik / Avanti) – makes a flying start to the year with the man from Saint Maarten claiming the opening bullet of the season and with just the one race so far in 2017, Quentel takes the early season lead. The 30-year-old has been training hard over the winter, while consciously trying to be more aggressive on the water and added: “I’m very happy because in the past I’ve made okay starts to the season, but nothing exceptional, so to start the season with a win is brilliant. Now I hope that Costa Brava is windy and we can get more racing in.
I’ve been training hard over the winter so it’s nice to see it pay off with the result here. I spent one month in South Africa training wave and slalom and then one month in Tenerife with Jordy [Vonk] training with the TWS – where I focused on starts.”
When asked about if he is sailing more aggressively while competing Quentel said: “Yes, for sure. Before I wasn’t pushing 100% as hard as I can, but I’ve realised that if I want to win, then I need to treat it like a job and understand that on the water friendships are put aside for a moment while competing , but once back on the beach I’m friends with everyone.”
Jordy Vonk (Fanatic / NorthSails) made a statement of intent before the start of the season by making it clear that he’s a man on a mission and he’s certainly lived up to it so far. The flying Dutchman looked dangerous in South Korea and he continued that blistering form here to secure second place, which is the 23-year-olds first ever podium on the PWA World Tour and he was understandably delighted saying: “Oh my god I’m super, super stoked, especially after just missing out in Costa Brava last year, so to make it now is just amazing.”
23-time-world champion – Antoine Albeau (RRD / NeilPryde) – completes the prestigious podium to make a solid start to the season. The 44-year-old shows no signs of slowing down and he looks set for another title run in and you can expect to see him heavily involved in Costa Brava as well.
Finian Maynard (99NoveNove / Gun Sails) may still be a bit disappointed that a clump of seaweed on the final reach cost him a place on the podium to Albeau, but 4th place still represents his best result since 2012. The 42-year-old shredded 10 kilos during the winter and he’ll be happy to see his hard work already paying off.
Andrea Rosati (RRD / LoftSails) also records his best result for a few seasons by kicking off the season with a super 5th place.
Meanwhile, 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, with seaweed, causing havoc, but you can be sure that in Costa Brava both of them will be gunning for the top and both remain two of the favourites for the title despite the result here.
Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (Starboard / Severne / Chopper Fins) is another sailor to have been impeded by the seaweed. The Argentine made the best start to the winners’ final, but soon saw his chances wilt away, but he still kicks off the season with an 8th place.
Last year’s world No.3 – Ross Williams (Tabou / GA Sails / Mystic / Shamal Windsurfing Sunglasses) – held off a stern challenge from Sebastian Kördel (Starboard / GA Sails) in the losers’ final, so the Brit starts the year with a 9th place, with Kördel completing the top 10.
The PWA would like to extend their thanks to all of the sponsors who made the event possible – especially Fly! ANA – and also to the Japanese people for their fantastic reception and hospitality.
Where’s Next on the PWA World Tour?
After the Asian leg of this year’s world tour, the world’s best slalom sailors will be heading back to Europe. The next installment of slalom and foiling is just a week away – as the men prepare for their third event of the year on the sunny shores of Costa Brava, Spain. Make sure you stay tuned to www.pwaworldtour.com between the 23rd-28th May to stay up to date with the all the latest developments.
Result 2017 Fly! ANA Yokosuka PWA World Cup – Women’s Slalom
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 Ranking 2017 Women’s PWA Slalom World Tour:
1st Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)
2nd Lena Erdil (Starboard / Point-7 / AL360)
=3rd Esther de Geus
=3rd Maëlle Guilbaud (Patrik / LoftSails)
5th Delphine Cousin (Starboard / S2Maui)
Result 2017 Fly! ANA Yokosuka PWA World Cup – Men’s Slalom
1st Julien Quentel (Patrik / Avanti)
2nd Jordy Vonk (Fanatic / NorthSails)
3rd Antoine Albeau (RRD / NeilPryde)
4th Finian Maynard (99NoveNove / Gun Sails)
5th Andrea Rosati (RRD / LoftSails)
6th Matteo Iachino (Starboard / Point-7 / Shamal Windsurfing Sunglasses)
7th Pierre Mortefon (Fanatic / NorthSails / Chopper Fins)
8th Gonzalo Costa Hoevel ARG3 (Starboard / Severne / Chopper Fins)
9th Ross Williams (Tabou / GA Sails / Mystic / Shamal Windsurfing Glasses)
10th Sebastian Kördel (Starboard / GA Sails)
Result 2017 Fly! ANA Yokosuka PWA World Cup – Foil Exhibition
1st Antoine Questel (Starboard / S2Maui)
2nd Sebastian Kornum (JP / NeilPryde)
3rd Antoine Albeau (RRD / NeilPryde)
4th Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (Starboard / Severne / Chopper Fins)
5th Mateus Isaac (JP / NeilPryde)
6th Malte Reuscher (JP / NeilPryde)
7th William Huppert (Fanatic / NorthSails)
8th Maciek Rutkowski (Tabou / GA Sails)
9th Nicolas Warembourg (JP / Warembourg)
10th Amado Vrieswijk (JP / Severne)
