EURO CUP, SILVAPLANA
+++ Kiel / Silvaplana (SWITZERLAND), August 17th 2006.
The second day of the Windsurfing Euro-Cup Silvaplana brought another two
races. The British hotshot Ross Williams (GBR-83, Tabou, Gaastra) won both
of them and was therefore able to extend his lead in the result list.
In the first race of the day it seemed as if the Argentinian Gonzalo Costa
Hoevel (ARG-3, F2, Neil Pryde) would be able to score his first victory in
the regatta. At the first time at the upwind mark and after the first lap he
was leading the fleet. But on the second lap Ross Williams was able to pass
Gonzalo and defended the lead until the finish. Gonzalo Costa Hoevel
defended his second place against Arnon Dagan (ISR-1, Fanatic, Neil Pryde).
Keith Atkinson (GBR-56, Starboard, Neil Pryde) was getting better and better
and sailed a brilliant race giving him position four with Robert Baldyga
(POL-18, Starboard, Naish Sails), the current Formula Windsurfing Youth
World Champion on his heals.
The second race of the day brought a thrilling fight between the so far
dominating Ross Williams and the Italian Youngster Alberto Menegatti
(ITA-456, F2, North Sails). After the first lap Ross Williams was leading
but he had Alberto right on his heals almost feeling the Italians breath on
his neck. After a brilliant second upwind Alberto Menegatti was leading the
race. But Ross Williams didn¹t give up. In a tremendous fight he was able to
pump himself closer and closer and finally attacked the Italian at the
second mark from the end. Having the inside position after the jibe the
British dominator was able to cover his opponent and dragged away granting
him the third victory in the fourth race. Menegatti ensured his second
place. The Dutch youngster Adriaan van Rijsselberge (NED-2, JP, Neil Pryde)
scored a third place in front of Oliver Bijlman (CRO-7, Starboard, North
Sails) from Croatia and Kuba Guzdek (POL-13, Starboard, Naish Sails) from
Poland.
After the second day and four races done the competitors have the first
discard so that each of them they can throw out his worst result. Ross
Williams was able to extend his lead at the Windsurfing Euro-Cup Silvaplana.
With three victories he has the optimum of 3.00 points. There is a tough
fight for the second place between Kuba Guzdek and Arnon Dagan. Both riders
have 9.00 points. But due to his better discard the Polish racer wins the
tie and can defend the second place. Arnon Dagan sits on the third position
hoping to get more races in in the next days to be able to attack Kuba
Guzdek. Gonzalo Costa Hoevel is also strong, only one point behind the top
three and raising the pressure even more. The top five are completed by
Keith Atkinson who is already a little bit more in the back with 17.00
points.
Tomorrow the skippers meeting is scheduled for 11:00 with the first possible
start at 12:00. The forecasts expect more or less the same weather in the
two remaining days of the Windsurfing Euro-Cup Silvaplana. So we expect more
racing action. But the Engadin has surprised its guests already several
times and therefore everything is possible. Hopefully it will even be
possible to run the discipline slalom which will finally put the brand new
IFCA Slalom World Champion Finian Maynard (KV-11, F2, Neil Pryde) into
action. The ENGADINWIND.COM will last until Saturday, August 19th.
+++++
The official website of the event is www.engadinwind.com
http://www.engadinwind.com. The official website of the Windsurfing
Euro-Cup series with more information is www.euro-cup.org
http://www.euro-cup.org/ . Besides the reports and the results you will
also find a live ticker on http://www.euro-cup.org/
