Michal Polanowski and Valerie Ghibaudo take the lead
The wind teased the competitors and the organisation of the IFCA Slalom World Championships almost the whole day. Several times the riders were sent out when the race crew was sure that the conditions are stable. And as often the competitions needed to be abandoned as the wind dropped under the limit of 11 knots again. But in the evening the conditions finally improved and allowed one slalom for the men and even two for the women in wind speeds between 14 and 20 knots.
The Polish hotshot Michal Polanowski (POL 16, Starboard, Neil Pryde) was able to win the first slalom elimination of the IFCA Slalom World
Championships 2008 in Almanarre, Hyeres (France). In second place followed the French hotshot Florent Renard (FRA 5, JP, Neil Pryde). Pascal Toselli (FRA 916, JP, Neil Pryde) managed to defend the third place against Hubert Mokrizyki (POL 25, Tabou, Gaastra) from Poland and Carlo Rotelli (ITA 44, Starboard, North Sails) from Italy. The Italian Slalom Champion Andrea Cucchi (ITA 1, Starboard, Point 7) positioned himself in front of the British slalom expert Dan Ellis (GBR 52, Fanatic, Naish Sails) and Adriaan van Rijsselberghe (NED 2, JP, Neil Pryde) from the Netherlands. The top 10 are completed by Antoine Questel (FRA 99, Tabou, Gaastra) and Damien Le Guen (FRA 86, JP, Neil Pryde), both from France.
Valerie Ghibaudo (FRA 444, Tabou, Loft Sails) was not able to compete on the first day and missed one race. But now she had a brilliant entry into the regatta. With two bullets she took the lead straight away with the optimum of 1,4 points as the third race brings the first discard. In second place follows Verena Fauster (ITA 31, F2, Gaastra) from Italy with 4,0 points. After a fifth place on the first day she improved and scored two seconds today. Fanny Aubet (FRA 808, Fanatic, Neil Pryde), the surprise winner of the opening day confirmed her great performance with a fourth and a fifth place today and is currently third with 4,7 points in front of Olivia Piana (FRA 51, Tabou, Neil Pryde, 7,0 points) and Marion Raisi (FRA 213, Exocet, Gaastra, 9,0 points).
For tomorrow morning the forecasts predict strong wind that should go down in the afternoon. To achieve the maximum output the Skippers meeting will be already at 7:30 and the first possible start at 8:00. So it will be a short night for riders and organisation!
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