FORMULA WINDSURFING EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2005 AT FORUM BEACH HOTEL –
IALISOS BEACH / Rhodes


On the fourth day of the Formula Windsurfing European Championships in
Ialisos/Rhodes (Greece) the competitors were brought to their physical
limits. Race director Bruno de Wannemaeker from Belgium ran four races for
each of the fleets. The French Antoine Albeau (FRA-192, AHD, Neil Pryde)
took the chance to attack the leader Wojtek Brzozowski (POL-10, Starboard,
Neil Pryde) but the reigning European Champion managed to defend the lead.
In the women’s fleet the opponents of Allison Shreeve (AUS-911, F2, Neil
Pryde) moved closer in striking distance.

Today the qualification series ended after eight races and the men’s fleet
was divided into the Gold Fleet and the Silver Fleet. In the Gold Fleet the
competitors are fighting for the positions 1 to 58, the prize money and the
official Formula Windsurfing European title while the Silver Fleet was
fighting for the positions 59 to 113. In the first race it seemed as if
Wojtek Brzozowski would be able to move away from his biggest opponent
Antoine Albeau: The reigning European Champion from Poland dominated while
Albeau only scored a 11th place. But in the next two races the French
windsurfing giant dominated and won in front of Brzozowski.

In the final race of the day it got even worse for the current leader of the
event. Brzozowski thought to be over early and returned to the starting line
to start another time round the ends. Therefore he was the last after the
start and was forced to fight his way through the fleet. He ended up on the
9th place. But Antoine Albeau was not able to take a full advantage out of
his opponents mistake. The Dutch youngster Dennis Little (NED-13, F2, Maui
Sails) scored his first victory at an international regatta and won the race
in front of Albeau.

In the women’s fleet Lucy Horwood (GBR-95, North Sails) and Verena Fauster
(ITA-31, F2, Gaastra) presented the best performance today. Verena scored
two victories, a second and a third while Lucy achieved one victory and
three second places. Before the final day Allison Shreeve is still in the
lead with 13,8 points. But Lucy (15,4 points) and Verena (18,4 points)
passed the French Sarah Hebert (FRA-61, Starboard, Naish) and moved closer
to Allison. They are now in striking distance to fight for the European
title on the final day.

In the men’s fleet Wojtek Brzozowski is still in the lead with 8,9 points
but his biggest opponent Antoine Albeau is only 1,3 points behind him with
10,2 point and he has the better discards than Wojtek. It seems as if the
decision for the European title will take place between these two racing
heroes. The fight for place three is full on: Last years Rhodes event winner
Ross Williams (GBR-83, Starboard, Gaastra) and the reigning Formula
Windsurfing World Champion Micah Buzianis (USA-34, F2, North Sails) are
fighting head to head both with 21,4 points. And on position five the
Formula Windsurfing World Champion 2003 Steve Allen (AUS-0, Fanatic, Neil
Pryde) from Australia is waiting with 26 points for any mistakes of the
racers in front of him.  

Before the final day of the Formula Windsurfing European Championships the
situation couldn’t be more exciting as nothing is decided yet and the focus
is put on fascinating duels for the positions on the podium in the men’s
fleet and the women’s fleet. The meteorologists predict again good wind. So
the race committee hopes to be able to achieve the full 15 race series in
the men’s fleet with three final races. The skippers meeting is set for
10:00 with the first start at 11:00. The prize giving of the Formula
Windsurfing European Championships will take place in the Forum Beach hotel
on the evening of Saturday, June 11th.

The event is covered on www.euro-cup.org, www.rwa.grand
www.formulawindsurfing.org. Besides the reports and the results you will
also find a live ticker on www.euro-cup.organd a live cam on www.rwa.gr. So
check out the internet!

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Hosted by: Municipality of Ialisos, Island of Rhodes
Organized by: Rhodes Windsurfing Academy (RWA)
Supported by: Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Aegean, Southern Aegean
Region, Prefecture of Dodecanese (D.O.T.), T.E.D.K. – PRO.TOUR
Main Sponsors: CONN-X, Hyundai, Oxbow, Bollé, Water Park
Sponsors: Rodos Palace Hotel, Motorola, GA Ferries, Shandy Rock, Rodos Tour,
Colorado Entertainment Center, Naftilos, E.N.AK, Extreme Sports Shops

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Comments:

Antoine Albeau (FRA-192, AHD, Neil Pryde): “Tomorrow we will have the
showdown between Wojtek and me. Mistakes are not allowed. But I am well
prepared.”

Wojtek Brzozowski (POL-10, Starboard, Neil Pryde): “I thought to be over
early in the last race today. So I returned to the start to do a
round-the-ends. This has cost me the race. Unfortunately I wasn’t even over
early. Now I am hungry for tomorrow!”

Lucy Horwood (GBR-95, North Sails): “We did four races today and I scored
quite well. I hope to move up one position tomorrow with three more good
races.”