RS-X Windsurfing World Championships - Dempsey takes the win

by Rory Ramsden on 11 Sep 2009 RS:X Windsurfing Worlds. It has been a long time coming. The last Olympic windsurfing world champion from Great Britain was Barry Edgington and that was back in 1992. Barry just happens to be Nick Dempsey’s [GBR1] coach. Nick is the 2009 RS:X Windsurfing World Champion. An emphatic win. The final scorboard shows Nick a full 18 points clear of second placed Nimrod Mashiah [ISR21].

Going out to the medal race Nick said that he was not bothered about the weather forecast. He would just sail in the conditions that existed at the time. He had a great start having caught Nimrod unawares seconds before the gun. As a result, Nimrod fell into the water and was forced to take a flyer out to the right hand lay line with Ivan Pastor [ESP7].

Nick went left with the bulk of the fleet. Tacked first and lead into the top mark for the first time by an astonishing margin of close to 200 metres. Just behind him, Dorian van Rijsselberge [NED8] was in hot persuit in second place.Nick shot through the gate taking the left hand buoy and set off towards the right hand lay line.

When he rounded the top mark for the last time, Nick’s lead had been cut to just 50 or 60 metre. Dorian still had the pedal to the metal but he was making no gains. It was all down to the slalom end. Nick’s jibes were faultless. The zone behind the finish line was packed with RIBs. An armada of press and TV were waiting for a British World Champion.

Barry’s reign as the sole British Olympic Windsurfing World Champion is finally over. He is happy that his protege is the man to do it.

Over in the women’s medal race, the battle was for the bronze medal. Marina Alabau [ESP5] just had to sail conservatively and not make any uncharacteristic mistakes. Blanca Manchon [ESP1] had to ensure that Agata Brygola [POL20] and Charline Picon [FRA4] did not get away from her. It was Charline’s opportunity to attack and take a large bite out of Agata’s slender points lead.

The fleet split just after the start and this time it was Marine Rambaud [FRA50] who took the lead. Bryony Shaw [GBR94] and Charline Picon [FRA4] were in the chasing pack with the Sapnish Dream Team in close attendance.

Second time round the top mark and Bryony came out of the right side a clear leader. Marine Rambaud [FRA50] was in second and Flavia Tartaglini [ITA46] was third. Charline Picon [FRA4] crushed the Polish challenge from Agata Brygola and took he bronze medal.

This has been a great championship. For once the god of wind has been co-operative in terms of windspeed but has thrown a variety of directions at us to keep us interested. There has been no out and out displacement conditions, Marginal at times but no full on pumpathons in 4 – 6 knots.

Shahar Zubari [ISR11], the 2008 Olympic bronze medallist, will be the first to admit that his world championship campaign was misfiring from day 1. He may have read the Weymouth playbook but he certainly has not been able to put the lessons into practice. Ricardo Santos [BRA1] blew a hole in hopes on Finals Day 1 with a disasterous pair of 44s. Joao Rodrigues [POR75] threatened to make a rush for the podium but killed his chances on the penultimate day by posting a 14 and an 18.

Marina Alabau {ESP5] is almost invincible. Teamed up with Blanca Manchon [ESP1] they really do become the dream team.

Nick Dempsey [GBR1] has bounced back from his fourth place in Quing Dao. A result that must have been a major disappointment to say the least. He has been threatening to take hold of a major championship for a while and stand alone at the very top of the sport. Finally he has done it and in the process demonstrated that he will not be denied on his home waters in 2012.

Results click here