Kona Worlds 2019 at Lake Garda - Overall
by Daniel Nordlund 19 Aug 2019 16:15 AEST
15-18 August 2019
Huig-Jan Tak - 2019 Kona World Championships at Lake Garda © Elena Giolai
After four days of intense racing at Lake Garda, Huig-Jan Tak (NED) from Zuidzijde is crowned new World champion in the Kona One class. He secured the title after consistent sailing in demanding conditions. Second was the Danish veteran Tim Aagesen. Last year's champion, 18-year-old Alex Temko (USA), secured the bronze medal.
I am very happy. I did accomplish my goal for the championship, says Huig-Jan Tak, the new World champion.
The Championship took place at Circolo Surf Torbole, on the northern shore of Lake Garda in Italy. The racing waters in Torbole are known the world over for having hosted many international sailing and windsurfing events over the years. It is a spot with a strong reputation for stable and strong winds. Nobody complained about the winds during the championship: over the four racing days, the wind moved between 14-30 knots.
Huig-Jan Tak proved to master all conditions, but he was especially masterful in the strong breeze where he secured eight out to nine possible bullets. His net score after 13 races was 16 points with a total record: 4-2-2-(13)-1-1-1-1-1-1-(7)-1.
It was quite tricky sailing, tactically and strategically, with conditions changing all the time and even some light wind sailing in the mix. The key to my victory was consistent sailing and particularly strong down winds, says Huig-Jan Tak.
The silver medalist Tim Aagesen's (DEN) score was 28. He has conquered World titles in Mistral, Kona One and Formula classes over three decades, and even won the course race World Cup in 1985 as a professional.
Last year's Kona One World champion Alex Temko (USA) secured the bronze medal with a total score of 40 points.
It's Huig-Jan Tak's second World title in the Kona Class. The 24-year-old from Zuidzijde won his first title in 2016 in Islamorada, Florida. The same year he also won the U23 Kona Worlds in Malmö, Sweden. In 2017 he won the silver medal at the Kona World Championship in Båstad, Sweden.
Altogether 72 racers from five continents and 14 countries competed in the championship at Lake Garda this year.
It's been a pleasure to see the Kona racers on the water here in Italy. The level of competition keeps climbing, but the camaraderie stays the same, and that's what makes the class such a joy to be around. Huig-Jan Tak delivered some impressive results and is a well-deserved champion, says Michael Fox, president of the Kona Class Association.
Sanctioned by World Sailing, Kona One is a fast-growing windsurfing class, attracting both young talents and experienced sailors with long windsurfing careers. It is a one-design class where all sailors use identical boards. One sail is used in all conditions, and its size is a function of the sailor's body weight—making it possible for everyone to race together. Pumping is not allowed in this class of windsurfing, placing the emphasis on true sailing skills and tactics.
More information visit 2019worlds.konaone.com