Formula Windsurfing Youth and Master Worlds overall

by International Windsurfing Association on 9 Jul 2014 At the end of five days of a great championship with 15 competition races, Janis Preiss (LAT-23) is declared the 2014 Formula Windsurfing Masters World Champion and also the 2014 Gallipoli Formula European Cup Champion. Karl-Erik Saarm (EST-228) is 2014 Formula Windsurfing Youth World Champion.

In third place overall in the Masters fleet, Marco Begalli (ITA-415) is 2014 Formula Windsurfing Grandmasters Champion and Giovanni Franchini (ITA-92) is First Veteran. Lars van Someren (NED-800) is 2014 Formula Windsurfing Junior Champion with a very creditable fourth place overall in the youth fleet.

On the final championship day, the Race Committee took up their customary position on the water, AP flying while they waited for the wind to settle after it changed direction from NE to SE. On the beach Janis Preiss and Miguel Martinho prepared themselves for the final battle ahead with just the one point separating them, both eager to claim the title.

Competitors were to experience quite different conditions from previous days - some took it in their stride, particularly those more experienced in the Masters fleet, others relished the stronger winds whilst others fell by the wayside.

Janis Preiss was on fire, taking three of the four bullets, whilst for Miguel Martinho, two of his races today ended up being two of his three series discards. Thus they ended the day, and the championship, with Janis five points clear ahead. First Grandmaster Marco Begalli clung on to his third place on the podium by a mere two points as Latvian Maris Birzulis rounded off a good day, taking the last bullet of the championship. Local sailor, Luciano Treggiari, dropped to 15th overall relinquishing the First Veteran status, and coincidentally 12th position overall, to fellow Italian Giovanni Franchini.

In the Youth Fleet, it wasn't Karl-Erik Saarm's best day either. He started off well with a win but then was OCS in the next race. However, he finished the championship top of the leaderboard with a healthy five point lead over Brazilian Leonardo Venturini who took two bullets on this final day. Jan Orsatti (SUI-27) claimed the third podium spot.

First Junior Lars Van Someren moved up to fourth place overall, faring better than Artur Kaikull who had entered the final day with equal points but ended up discarding three of his final four races. He finished on equal points with fellow Estonian Tristen Erik Kivi who enjoyed his best day of the championship.

Conditions had been tricky during the week, shifting winds making it 'interesting' for both the on-water crew and competitors alike. Nevertheless, thanks to the Race Committee, officials and jury, 15 races were provided for a full series.

In addition to the racing, the Sail Section of the Istituto Nautico 'A. Vespucci' in Gallipoli, together with the sponsors and all their helpers and supporters provided a well organised event and an excellent social programme at a great venue. Many thanks to all involved.

Three Races on Day One of the Gallipoli Y&M Worlds

40 competitors representing 14 countries and three continents had gathered for the 2014 Gallipoli Youth and Masters World Championships taking place in Southern Italy. The race area was directly in front of the Caroli Hotel's le Sirene Resort, it was hot, it was sunny, beautiful blue water meeting nice sandy beaches . . . what more could you want?

A little more wind maybe? Three back-to-back races were completed on day one in winds just above the lowest limit for Formula racing. The course was a standard trapezoid with leeward gates for this first round.

At the end of the day Estonian Karl-Erik Saarm had a perfect score at the top of the youth leaderboard and this was mirrored by Latvian Janis Preiss with a perfect score at the top of the Master’s leaderboard.

Wednesday looked like another light wind day but hopes were that the winds would pick up Thursday into Friday
Results after three races Gallipoli Day Two - Will It or Won't It?

With a forecast for variable winds, a familiar windward/leeward course was laid with the intention of running two 'back to back' races followed by a break ashore then two further races 'back to back'. Perhaps this was a little optimistic.

Shortly before noon, wind readings showed 8-10 knots, AP was lowered and competitors busied themselves to get to the start line as the breeze gently increased . . . but then the wind shifted direction, dropped to five knots, sailors were sent back to the beach and AP was raised once again.

A couple of long hours later, the wind direction settled, averaging nine maybe 10 knots, and sailors were once again called to the start line. First the masters were away with a good clean start, followed by the youths, also with a clear start. Championship race 4 was completed just as the wind dropped and all were sent ashore.

Miguel Martinho (POR-5) was the first master over the finish line, beating Latvian Janis Preiss into second place, and Vassilis Solidakis (GRE-19) crossed the line in third place.

AP came down an hour later and sailors took to the water, only to find the wind dropping yet again and the only wake being produced by the support boats - very frustrating for competitors and race crew alike. But it wasn't long until there was enough breeze, the youths started race five and then the masters were also away. Although the race was completed it was abandoned after some deliberation by the race committee because the wind had dropped during the final stages of the race.

And so, after four counting races, on the overall scoreboard today's result and first discard coming into play meant there was no change in the ranking order of the top three (Preiss, Martinho, Solidakis) but the chasing pack had narrowed the points gaps. Peter Eliens (NED-538) dropped his DNC and shot up into fourth place, knocking first Grandmaster Marco Begalli (ITA-415) into fifth overall.

Meanwhile in the youth fleet, we had almost the same scenario except that there was no change anywhere in the ranking order. Brazilian Leonardo Venturini took the bullet in front of Estonian Karl-Erik Saarm and Swiss Jan Orsatti crossed in third place. At the top of the leaderboard Karl-Erik was just two points ahead of Leonardo who, in turn, was four points clear of Jan.

In both fleets there was all to play for and everyone prayed for Results after four races

Four Championship Races on day three in Gallipoli

17 year-old Estonian Karl-Erik Saarm had every intention of claiming the youth title, top of the leaderboard with a perfect score after nine races, two discards. Brazilian Leonardo Venturini had picked up the two bullets that slipped from Karl-Erik's grasp but was now seven points behind. Ten points behind, currently in third place on the podium, was Jan Orsatt from Switzerland. Could he hold on to that position?

It was not so clear-cut in the Masters Fleet as Miguel Martinho from Portugal nudged Latvian Preiss into second position on the leaderboard, clear by just one point. These two were having a good battle for the Masters title. Italian Grandmaster Marco Begalli had stepped on to the podium in third place, now a good ten points clear of his nearest rival.

Championship Race 5 had been abandoned by the Race Committee on Wednesday afternoon but it was later reinstated by the Jury who decided it was indeed a valid race.

The local forecast for Friday 4 July suggested 9-16 knots from the NNW and rough seas which should give good racing conditions. It looked a little less for the afternoon as the direction was set to rotate to WNW. All to play for as competitors jostled for podium Results after nine races

Two Races, Third Discard and Relief for Some in Gallipoli

Two races on the penultimate day of the Formula Windsurfing Youth and Masters World Championships in Gallipoli. Competition started late as the wind was very gusty earlier in the day - and very variable in direction - big shifts making it difficult to set a course.

The day's races, making 11 in total for the series, meant the third and last discard kicked in, much to the relief of some sailors who had suffered in the very light wind races earlier in the week.

It was same top five finishers in both Masters' races - in the same finishing order - which was also mirrored in the podium places in the overall rankings after 11. Janis Preiss (Latvia) took back the lead from overnight leader Miguel Martinho (Portugal) whilst Marco Begali (Italy) consolidated his third position overall - and was the leading GrandMaster.

Not such a good start for the clear leader in the Youth fleet in race 10 - Karl-Erik Saarm posted his worst finishing place in the series, coming in fourth. Consistent placings for Leonardo Venturini (Brasil) and Jan Orsatti (Switzerland) kept them in second and third respectively in the overall rankings.

Our leading Junior (ie under 17) Lars van Someren (Netherlands) posted another great finish, third in race 10. In August Lars will be representing NED in the Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China.

Local sailor, Luciano Treggiari, was first Veteran, and had moved up to 12th overall on the leaderboard.

Racing would conclude the following day, 5th July. Would it be Preiss or Martinho who took home the Masters title?

Results after race 11