The 2007 Ulsan PWA World Cup – Day Five

A no-show from the wind today means Kevin Pritchard (Starboard / MauiSails) preserves his event lead overnight. 2006 runner-up Micah Buzianis (JP / NeilPryde) must settle for second place until conditions improve, as must last seasons champion Antoine Albeau (Starboard / NeilPryde) who lies in third. Karin Jaggi’s (F2 / North) command is momentarily un-challenged by second-placed Sarah Hebert (Starboard / Naish) and Ayako Suzuki (Starboard / Gaastra) who keeps third position.

Morning Skipper’s Meeting

Pieter Bijl prepares his gear

Arnon plays to the audience

Last night the racers were treated to an evening of cocktails and a lavish Korean Buffet at Jinha beach’s Galaxy Hotel. After dinner there was generous entertainment from our hosts and sponsors including the top executives of S-Oil and Ulsan Broadcasting Corporation.

That was followed-up by reciprocal performances from Arnon Dagan (Fanatic / NeilPryde) and Jimmy Diaz (F2 / North) who wowed the crowds with their talents – Arnon with his piano playing skills, and both PWA board members also putting on a vocal duet.

After waiting around for wind today, the sailors were released late afternoon and sent on a tour of Ulsan and the Uldu country region. Known as the ‘Eco-polis’ national park, this unique area prides itself on its unique and sympathetic blend of nature, metropolitan, and industrial zones living side by side.

Despite the lack of wind, and the superb atmosphere the organisers have created, there is no doubt that all eyes are really focused on the battle for the event title and the 2007 tour lead.

Pritchard has made a stunning start to his season – throwing the gauntlet down in superb style to 2006 podium rivals Buzianis and Albeau. With just two days of competition left, the pressure gauge is certainly rising, and the conclusion will be fascinating.

Be sure to check in tomorrow to see how the game plays out. You can follow all the action with our live event ticker, read end-of-day summaries, view the picture galleries and check the results at www.pwaworldtour.com