Jamie Hancock and Timo Mullen both pre-entered the event but did not turn up for the on site registration and first skippers meeting. As they have pre-entered the BWA are now allowing both sailors to join the competition, Hancock as he contacted the organisers before the competition started will be placed into the double elimination and Mullen will be placed into the next round (i.e. the start of the second single).

There has been much discussion about whether or not this should be allowed. At other UKWA events competitors must fully register and be at the first skippers meeting to be allowed to take part in the event.

Was this made clear to all competitors before the event? Mullen and Hancock were planning to attend the event and were unaware that they were required to attend the first briefing and registration.

Now sailors who were knocked out relatively early in the single elimination will now face the reigning champion in the first round of the double, instead of fighting against similar placed sailors. The BWA have now said that in future they will use the same rule as the rest of the UKWA, meaning all sailors will have to be present at the first briefing of the event to be part of the competition.

Do you think the BWA have made the correct decision? Should the BWA allow competitors that have pre-entered but not attended the event from the beginning to join the competition?

Have your say below in the comments…

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The first day in Ireland kicked off with some competition for the pros in tricky, light conditions. They are down to the final four, whilst the other fleets are yet to get any heats in the bag. Check out all the action from the first day of competition here. 

Skippers meeting will take place at 10am this morning, conditions are looking as predicted, a little lighter but with a bit more ground swell running. Today looks like there is a small chance of competition, but we could be looking at some surfing or SUPing action instead of windsurfing. However, you never know with Ireland, there’s always the potential of the west coast delivering!