The Nestea PWA Hungarian World Cup Event Preview
August 31st – September 5th 2004 (Prize Fund €35,000)
After a superb race series in Gran Canaria on the windswept beaches of Playa de Ingles, the Nestea PWA world racing tour moves to the contrasting location of Lake Balaton Hungary. Commencing on the 31st of August running through until the 5th of September 2004 the world’s elite PWA racers in both men’s and women’s fleets will be competing for a €35,000 prize purse.
Lake Balaton is the largest freshwater lake in Central Europe extending nearly 80 kilometers long and six kilometers wide, with the race headquarters situated on the eastern shore at the Club Aliga resort about an hour from the capitol city, Budapest. Balaton is Hungary’s windsurfing, sailing and tourist Mecca, attracting thousands to its pristine beaches to enjoy its stunning scenery and incredible conditions. Winds are generated from frontal storms to local breezes and with the water only 10 feet deep windsurfing conditions vary from flat to choppy depending on the strength and direction. Expected wind strengths on the course are between 10 and 13 knots either blowing from the northwest or southwest direction. Water temperature at this time of year is around 21c and the Lake has no currents or sea grass likely to interfere with the conditions.
After an exciting four race series in Gran Canaria, Australian race specialist Steve Allen (Neil Pryde, Fanatic) took the victory and leads the men’s rankings ahead of American racer Micah Buzianis (F2, North) and Antoine Albeau (AHD, Neil Pryde) of France. In the women’s fleet Allison Shreeve (F2) of Australia won her first ever PWA event ahead of Britain’s Lucy Horwood (North, Fanatic) and Switzerland’s Karin Jaggi (F2, Arrows).
The opening two days of the event, the 31st and the 1st will be dedicated to practice racing and an amateur event which features €4000 prize money.
Accommodation is available in Club Aliga, which is very close to the race site and can be booked at www.clubaliga.hu .To reach the event site, take the highway M7 and take the exit number 90, after crossing the first road (Number 71) go straight until you see the front gate of Aliga.
For those wishing to hire a car there is a special offer available from Fox Auto Rent. Check their pricelist on their website. All the competitor’s have 20% discount from this list price between 31st of August and 5th of September. Sailors reserving their cars on the [email protected], mail address, should type in [email protected] mail address in the cc to ensure the deal.
