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Sail-World.com : Downunder Pro Warmup Event - Starboard Teamriders dominate
Downunder Pro Warmup Event - Starboard Teamriders dominate
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'World 1 Paul dos Reis - 2012 Downunder Pro Warmup Event'
Sean O'Brien
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Downunder Pro Warmup Event - As an important tune-up event for the 2012 Downunder Pro Oceanic and Australian Championships this week, 58 competitors from all over Australia and the world arrived at Hawks Nest for the two day warmup competition which served as Heat five of the NSW Windsurf Tour.
The talent included Starboard Dream Team member Jesper Vesterstrøm from Denmark, who had previously won this event and placed seventh at the 2011 Formula Windsurfing World Championships, Downunder Pro defending champion and Dream Team member Wilhelm Schurmann from Brazil, 5-time defending Australian Champion and Dream Team member Sean O’Brien from Australia and the 1 Ranked sailor in the World, Paulo dos Reis, from Brazil, as well as a bunch of sailors from as far as Greece, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom, as well as multiple contenders from Australia.
Greeted with a forecast of 15-20 knots the sailors were eager to get out on the water on the first day of racing with four races being run over the day as the winds increased over 20 knots by late in the afternoon. Vesterstrøm led from the start taking four wins from four starts ahead of Wilhelm Schurmann with rival Brazilian Mathias Pinheiro, also on Starboard, tying with Sean O’Brien in third after the first day’s racing.
 | A beautiful beach. - 2012 Downunder Pro Warmup Event - Sean O'Brien |
On the Saturday evening, sailors were treated to an ‘Aussie style’ beach BBQ with all competitors across all the windsurfing classes at this championship (over 100 competitors) attending the beach festivities.
Sunday looked more promising to have even stronger winds with the forecast showing strong wind warnings over 30 knots for the Hunter Coast area. race one was able to get underway by midday with winds increasing from nine knots to 17 knots on the course. The World number one, Paulo Dos Reis had arrived late on Saturday evening to the race site and was ready for Sunday’s racing to give the current leader Vesterstrøm, a fight for the event win. Vesterstrøm was able to take the first race of Sunday comfortably ahead of Schurmann and O’Brien before he battled with Dos Reis in race two to claw back to first after Paulo had led for most of the first lap.
Knowing he had already won the event by a clear margin with two races left to sail, Vesterstrøm rested for the afternoon in preparation for the main event which begins on Wednesday allowing Dos Reis to win the final two races of the Warmup Event by a clear margin ahead of Schurmann and O’Brien in race three and O’Brien then Schurmann in race five.
 | The event winners. - 2012 Downunder Pro Warmup Event - Sean O'Brien |
With only three out of each four races counting for the overall score, after eight races, Vesterstrøm had a clean page of six wins to take the outright Warmup Event title ahead of Schurmann and O’Brien, the first four places being taken by Starboard riders on their first outing on the new 2012 F167 wide formula boards.
Vesterstrøm said about his event win: 'I am super happy to be so consistent, taking six bullets and being able to watch the last two races from the beach. It’s a strong fleet and my training has paid off. However when the real event starts I am sure racing will be much harder and I’m looking forward to it. On a personal note, this is one of the best events in the world… amazing racing scene, social events and just can just feel at home and relax; it’s awesome'.
Another fantastic event at beautiful Hawks Nest and a great chance for everyone to tune up before the 2012 Downunder Pro Oceanic and Australian Championships start this Wednesday.
by Sean O'Brien
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http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?nid=93492
1:25 PM Wed 1 Feb 2012 GMT
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