Parlier unbeatable in World Hydrofoil Pro Tour Final Round

by Bernie Kaaks on 30 Nov 2016 French rider Nico Parlier wrapped up the final round of the Hydrofoil Pro Tour – Rockingham with a perfect score of 17 wins from 17 races. The Rockingham series was the final of a series of four international events conducted in Mexico, USA and Mauritius. After missing the Mexico round, Parlier won each of the following three to be crowned provisional Hydrofoil Pro Tour World Champion 2016.

The regatta was sailed in good breezes throughout and Rockingham’s Cruising Yacht Club which ran the event did a sensational job in managing it, with the support of Rockingham Apartments and the City of Rockingham.

The last day of the Rockingham regatta produced the strongest winds of the series. Race one was started in just under 20 knots, but the wind continued to build to the point where it was close to 25 knots at the end of the fourth race with gusts close to 30 knots. There were numerous crashes in the boisterous conditions, which for the first time, generated an uncomfortable chop on the water. Race officer Robbie Dean and Trevor Milton wisely decided to call off the action after the fourth race of the day, to the relief of most competitors.

On the last day though, Olly Bridges once again established an early lead, enjoying a break of almost 100 metres on the first downwind leg of the first race, but by the time he reached the top mark for the second time, Nico Parlier rounded ahead of him. The scenario was repeated a couple of races later. Parlier seemed to find that extra gear to surge into the lead, easing off on the reach to the finish. Take nothing away from the 19 year old Briton though. Bridge sailed a superb regatta and walks away with the Youth title, and was also runner up for the 2016 World Series.

Ricci Leccese finished third in the Rockingham round with a strong performance on the last day, posting a string of thirds and a fourth to snuff out the challenge put to him yesterday by Spaniard Florian Trittel, who finished fourth on the leader board.

American Daniela Moroz was brilliant in the women’s division, to coast to victory without losing a race. France’s Alexia Fancelli was next, followed by Russia’s Elena Karinina, who edged Steph Bridge into fourth place by a single point.
Britain’s Guy Bridge, Steph’s younger son, won the junior division by just one point from Croatia’s Martin Dolenc. His was a gutsy performance too, having to compete with stitches in one hand after gashing it on the foil during a crash on day 2 of the regatta.

Junior riders also featured in the Youth division. Olly Bridge set the pace with 14 points lost, to beat Martin Dolenc (39 points) and younger brother Guy (40 points).

Uruguay’s Nic Landauer took out the Masters division, while New Zealand’s Matthew Taggart won the Grand Masters (for over 45’s) from local rider Alty Frisby.

A special Sportsmanship Award was presented to Steph Bridge, who selflessly bailed out of her race to assist injured rider Theo Lhostis on day three.

So provisional placings for the 2016 World Hydrofoil Pro Tour:
First: Nico Parlier (France)
Second: Oliver Bridge (Great Britain)
Third: Nico Landauer (Uruguay)

Female
First: Daniela Moroz (USA)
Second: Elena Karinina (Russia)
Third: Alexia Francini (France)
Junior: Toni Vodisek (Slovenia)