PWA Alacati World Cup - Maiden world title for Delphine Cousin

by Chris Yates on 25 Aug 2013 The final day of the PWA Alacati World Cup saw two more eliminations completed for both the men and women as the Meltemi wind continued to blow for much of the day. At the end of the day Antoine Albeau (RRD / NeilPryde) battled his way back to the top of the rankings to secure the event victory, with one bullet and a second place today.

Meanwhile, in the women’s fleet Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / Gaastra / Mystic / Chris Benz / Maui Ultra Fins) continued to dominate with back-to-back elimination victories on the final day to emphatically claim the event win, but the biggest news of the day involves Delphine Cousin (JP / NeilPryde) who will remember this day forever, after clinching her maiden world title as she was crowned the 2013 PWA Women’s Slalom World Champion.

Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (Starboard / Loft Sails) made the best start of the day in the first winners’ final, but Antoine Albeau raced into the lead by the opening mark with Alberto Menegatti (Starboard / Point-7) just behind, whilst Costa Hoevel entered the first gybe in third place. By the third Albeau and Menegatti had opened up a good lead over the Argentine and Finian Maynard (RRD / Avanti), who eventually finished third and fourth respectively. In the meantime Albeau was cruising to victory on the final reach, but Menegatti hadn’t given up hope of snatching the top spot and as they crossed the line there was only half a board length in it, thankfully for the big Frenchman he’d done just enough to claim the first bullet of the day.

The main story of race four is heat twelve saw a number of upsets - the main one featuring race three winner Antoine Questel (Starboard / Loft Sails) - who finished in fifth place, whilst Arnon Dagan (RRD / NeilPryde) and Patrick Diethelm (Patrik / Loft Sails) also missed out on places in the semifinal.

The last winners’ final of the week took four attempts to be completed as a combination of premature starts, fickle winds and drifting buoys caused three re-runs. Arnon Dagan was the man to be disqualified after being a little too eager with his start, before Alberto Menegatti finally managed to claim the victory. But it was Micah Buzianis (JP / MauiSails) who timed his start to perfection to burst into the lead from the start, however Menegatti showed blistering speed to move into the lead. By the third mark the Italian had opened up a significant lead over his closest challenger Antoine Albeau, with Buzianis and van der Steen in third and fourth. However by the next mark Julien Quentel had maneuvered himself into third place with Buzianis completing the top four.

The ever-consistent Jimmy Diaz (Starboard / North) missed out on a place in the quarterfinals as did Steve Allen (Starboard / Severne), Ludovic Jossin (Patrik / Loft Sails), Finian Maynard, Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Starboard / Severne / Chris Benz / Dunkerbeck Eyewear) and Pascal Toselli (Tabou / Point-7).

Words from the winner Antoine Albeau: 'The racing was really tough today because almost every heat I was involved in required at least one restart. But I’d like to thank Kutlu, all the PWA staff, Jimmy [Diaz] and lets not forget Pegasus Airlines who give massive support to this event, I hope they continue to support us next year. I look forward to returning to this wonderful place next year and thanks again to my sponsors, my family and everyone!'

The first winners’ final started under dramatic circumstances as Fulya Unlu (Starboard / Severne) mistimed her start as she was disqualified from the proceedings. Upon the restart Sarah-Quita Offringa made a brilliant start to the final to march into the lead from the outset and the Aruban gem only extended her lead over the remainder of the course, with a combination of superb gybes and a supreme top speed.

Behind her Lena Erdil (Patrik / Loft Sails / Mystic / AL360) and Karin Jaggi (Patrik / Severne) collided at the first mark, which allowed Maria Andres (Patrik / Gun Sails / Mystic) to overtake into third place behind Delphine Cousin (JP / NeilPryde). Over the remainder of the course Cousin closed slightly on Offringa but it wasn’t enough as the French lady had to settle for second place with Andres and Dilara Uralp (JP / NeilPryde) finishing in third and fourth place respectively.

Sarah-Quita Offringa led once again into the first mark in the second winners’ final of the day in front of Karin Jaggi, Marion Mortefon (Starboard / Severne) and Valerie Ghibaudo (Tabou / Gaastra / Mystic). As she has done over the entirety of the week Offringa stepped on the gas to build a huge lead over Ghibaudo, Dilara Uralp and Cagla Kubat (Starboard / Loft). In the end Offringa claimed an accomplished victory ahead of Ghibaudo, Gelly Skarlatou - who achieved her best finish of the week - and Marion Kaplas (Starboard / Severne) in fourth place.

Words from the winner of the PWA Pegasus World Cup: 'Thanks to everyone for being here, this week was amazing, I’m really happy with the races we got it. I want to thank the organizers, the PWA crew, thank you so much. It’s been a tough week but it worked out well in the end. Thank you to everyone to all their support.'

The new world champion - Delphine Cousin shares a few words: 'I’m super happy, I don’t think I quite realize what’s going on for the moment but we made some great racing this week, I’m just so happy!'

Overall Rankings at the PWA Pegasus Airlines World Cup - Men’s Slalom

1st Antoine Albeau (RRD / NeilPryde)
2nd Alberto Menegatti (Starboard / Point-7)
3rd Julien Quentel (RRD / NeilPryde)
4th Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (Starboard / Loft Sails)
5th Cyril Moussilmani (Starboard / Severne)
6th Pierre Mortefon (Fanatic / North)
7th Antoine Questel (Starboard / Loft Sails)
8th Micah Buzianis (JP / MauiSails)
9th Ben van der Steen (Starboard / Gaastra / Mystic / Different)
10th Ross Williams (Tabou / Gaastra)

Overall Rankings at the PWA Pegasus Airlines World Cup - Women’s Slalom

1st Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / Gaastra / Mystic / Chris Benz / Maui Ultra Fins)
2nd Delphine Cousin (JP / NeilPryde)
3rd Cagla Kubat (Starboard / Loft Sails)
4th Valerie Ghibaudo (Tabou / Gaastra / Mystic)
5th Ayako Suzuki (Starboard / Gaastra / Mystic)
6th Dilara Uralp (JP / NeilPryde)
7th Lena Erdil (Patrik / Loft Sails / Mystic / AL360)
8th Karin Jaggi (Patrik / Severne)

Women's 2013 PWA Slalom Overall Standings:

1st Delphine Cousin (JP / NeilPryde)
2nd Valerie Ghibaudo (Tabou / Gaastra / Mystic)
3rd Karin Jaggi (Patrik / Severne)
4th Cagla Kubat (Starboard / Loft Sails)
5th Ayako Suzuki (Starboard / Gaastra / Mystic)
6th Dilara Uralp (JP / NeilPryde)
7th Lena Erdil (Patrik / Loft Sails / Mystic / AL360)
8th Marion Mortefon (Starboard / Severne)

PWA World Surf n Sound