FORMULA WINDSURFING GRAND PRIX, PORTIMAO

Perfect Start for the Formula Windsurfing Grand Prix Portimao 2007:
World Champion Steve Allen dominates all four races

+++ Portimao / Kiel, May 1st 2007.

The Formula Windsurfing Grand Prix Portimao had a perfect start today: 10 to
17 knots of sideshore wind transformed Alvor beach into a perfect formula
Arena. In the best possible conditions the maximum of four races was run by
Claudio Alessandrello, the race director from Italy. The current Formula
Windsurfing Worldchampion Steve Allen (AUS-0, Tabou, Gaastra) from Australia
fully dominated the day and won all four races. After day one he is leading
the regatta with the optimum of 3,00 points.

The Argentinean Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (ARG-3, F2, Neil Pryde) had a bad start
into the regatta. In the first race his mast extension broke so that he was
forced to retire from this race. But than he had a strong come back. With
three second places he managed to work his way up in the ranking race by
race to finish in the second position with a total of 6,00 points at the end
of the first day.

Fabio Melo from Brasil surprised the spectators and experts with his strong
performance. Nobody had the young guy on his list of the favourites but with
a second, a third and two fourth places he drew the attention on himself and
forced the people to modify their opinion. He is currently save in the third
position with a total of 9,00 points.

On the following positions the fight is very close between Alberto Menegatti
(ITA-456, F2, Gaastra) from Italy on the fourth place with a total of 13,00
points, Michal Polanowski (POL-16, Starboard, Gaastra) from Poland on the
fifth place with 15,00 points, Wilhelm Schurmann (BRA-999, Starboard, Neil
Pryde) from Brasil currently sixth with 16,00 points and Hubert Mokrzycki
(POL-25, Starboard, Gaastra) from Poland seventh with 17,00 points. All
these racers are well in striking distance to attack the podium positions
tomorrow.

As the racers achieved the maximum of the allowed four races today and the
forecast for the next days is again excellent, the race crew decided to give
the racers some time to recover. Therefore for tomorrow the Skippers Meeting
is set for 12:00 with the first possible start at 13:00. The forecasts
predict even stronger wind then today so the spectators at Alvor beach can
again expect a great Formula Windsurfing show. The Formula Windsurfing Grand
Prix Portimao will last until Saturday, May 5th.

 
+++++++++

Photo credit: Choppy Water / Sani

The official website of the series with more information is
www.euro-cup.org. The events are also covered on www.formulawindsurfing.org
and www.internationalwindsurfing.com. Besides the reports and the results
you will also find a live ticker on www.euro-cup.org.