Windsurfing Era PWA Formula Racing World Cup Day 1

The Heat Is On!

Devon Boulon (F2) of the British Virgin Islands was the surprise winner
here today in the opening race of the Windsurfing Era, PWA 2003 Formula
Racing World Cup. With light winds gusting between 7 and 10 knots this
afternoon here in Leba one mens and one womens race were completed before

the winds dropped below the levels required for any further official
action. Devon who is twenty one years old and hails from St John, in the
BVI took the opening race ahead of Polish sailor Aleksander Grynis
(Starboard) in second and American former PWA World Champion, Kevin
Pritchard (Gaastra, Starboard) in third. In the womens opening race Dorota

Staszewska took first blood ahead of runner up, Christine Johnson
(Gaastra, Starboard) of England and Christine Becker of Germany in third.

With temperatures hitting the eighties and wall to wall sunshine todays
weather attracted tens of thousands of spectators down to the beach to
check out the race action. By mid morning the rigging area in front of the

beach today became a mass of sails and boards all tuned and ready to race.

By 2pm the breeze started to fill in and the first race kicked off at
2.30pm in front of the huge crowds on the beach.

The women were first to hit the water and their opening race kicked off
with a major battle between Dorota Stazeswska and Karin Jaggi (F2, Arrows)

of Switzerland.

Dorota Staszewska Karin killed me on the start, I was stuck behind her.
She was pointing very high and whenever I tacked, she tacked&she was
covering me. She made the top mark no problem. But then something happened

to her sail or board or something and I took my chance and passed her. I
dont know what went wrong for Karin but then Christine Johnson, Christine

Becker and Lucy Horwood (Gaastra, Fanatic) also passed her. Up from Mark
number three to the finish the wind was super light and it was tough to
make the finish. I am really happy I won but I am very tired after the race

After three general recalls Kevin Pritchard stormed ahead off the start
line in the first official race and hit the upwind mark clear ahead of the

fleet.

Kevin Pritchard I was pretty happy to be ahead in the first race. I was
pretty surprised that is for sure. I was first to the upwind mark and
first to the bottom mark and then I went to the wrong side of the course.

I think Devon and Alek passed me. I am pretty stocked, that was my first
race in six months and I came third

When Kevin made a wrong tactical decision the door was wide open for Devon

Boulon and Alek Grynis to take advantage.

Devon Boulon I am stoked, I guess I get to lead for at least one day. At
the first upwind mark Kevin was in first and I was in third. On the second

upwind, Kevin went on the wrong side of the course. Alek and I went inside

and I had good enough board speed to pass over him as well. Kevin did not

get so lucky on the other side of the course. I am stokedAlek Grynis I am

really happy, I was not really on a big sail. I used an 11m and there was

not so much wind so I am double happy. I had a good start and was tired
after we had so many over earlies. Finally we had this one race, so it was

a good day

Other activities taking place on today included aerobics displays, bungee

jumping, swimming and sun bathing. One thing none of the male competitors

seem to be complaining about are the Polish girls. Leba carries a
reputation on the windsurfing map as a one of the top spots for hot chicks

on the beach with girls from all over Poland flocking to town for their
summer holidays.

Tomorrows forecast is looking excellent and it looks like we are going to

be in for a similar feast of action; sunshine, wind, chicks on the beach
and high level action packed racing!

MENS RESULTS AFTER ONE RACE

1. Devon Boulon (F2)
2. Aleksander Grynis (Starboard)
3. Kevin Pritchard (Gaastra, Starboard)
4. Jesper Vesterstrom (Starboard, Neil Pryde)
5. Przemek Miarczynski (Fanatic, Neil Pryde)
6. Antoine Albeau (Neil Pryde, AHD)

WOMENS RESULTS AFTER ONE RACE

1. Dorota Staszewska (Gaastra, Starboard)
2. Christine Johnson (Gaastra, Starboard)
3. Christine Becker (Starboard)
4. Lucy Horwood (Gaastra, Fanatic)
5. Karin Jaggi (F2, Arrows)