2014 Azores Formula Windsurfing World Championship

05.03 | Saturday

16:07 | bull fight at 18:30 ( or more like bull run !) and the official dinner, closing ceremony and prize giving at 20:00

16:06 | of course, thanks to all the competitors for their participation in a sportive way, and congratulations to the podium winners: Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (3rd), Steve Allen (2nd), and new world champion Ross Williams.

16:02 | many thanks also to race director Bruno de Wannemaeker and his race committee - maximum races in the conditions experienced over 5 racing days.

16:01 | many thanks to Carlos Borges and his event committee and very efficient and friendly group

16:00 | No more racing in this championship - AP over A

15:59 | decision time soon

14:29 | It is looking increasingly unlikely that we will have any racing today - of course the race committee are on standby until 16:00

13:43 | still no improvement in the conditions - the wind has dropped to average 4.5 knots at 12.45hrs

12:44 | the race committee are monitoring the wind every 15 minutes - recording the average and the spikes

12:11 | we are still waiting - no improvement in wind conditions

11:13 | however, the wind is also very patchy all over the course - we are waiting for conditions to improve

11:13 | the wind is still too light for competition with the wind hovering around 6.5 knots average

09:47 | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iglY9YdV1hY

09:44 | it is lead on ropes through the streets and the idea is to chase the people that encourage it to chase them ...

09:43 | the bull does not get killed or injured - no harm comes to the animal...

09:42 | before that we hear there may be a bull fight - with a difference - in Praia da Vitoria!

09:42 | later today - after racing is finished - we have the prize giving and dinner at the event site starting at 20:00

09:28 | the windspeed is average 6 knots - so we are postponed at the beach

09:12 | lets see if the wind follows the plan

09:12 | the schedule is for 2 races "back to back" followed by the minimum of 30m rest ashore for the last finisher and ASAP a final race

09:10 | the race committee are going out on the water - the wind is still light, but definitely more than there was one hour ago

08:48 | little or no wind at the moment and a poor forecast - but the conditions can change so fast here - we could still be racing later , with last possible warning signal at 17:00hrs

08:46 | skippers meeting in 15 minutes - on this the last day of the Azores Formula World Championship

05.02 | Friday

15:44 | a maximum of 3 races are possible on the final day.

15:43 | We revert to the NoR schedule for the final day with skippers meeting at 09:00 and first possible warning signal at 10:00

15:15 | 3 final races tomorrow could change everything

15:15 | that leaves the title race wide open with only 1 point separating the top 2 - GBR83 from AUS0 , and ARG has closed the gap on these two,

15:12 | FRA531, DEN24,

15:11 | at the finish - AUS0, ISR1, POL16, ARG3, NED52,GBR83, BRA50,

15:10 | no readings from mark 1

15:06 | now its upwind again to the mark 1 gate for the final time today

15:05 | POL16, GBR83

15:05 | at the downwind gate its - ISR1, AUS0, ARG3

15:04 | the wind is playing havoc with the radio messages

15:03 | leading sailor is ISR1 from AUS0

15:01 | back upwind to the gate at mark 1

14:58 | at mark 2 - ISR1, AUS0, ARG3, GBR83

14:56 | mark 1 -ARG3, AUS0 ......, ISR1, BRA50

14:53 | start - clean start

14:52 | 1 minute to start of race 12

14:48 | 5 mins to start

14:46 | wind is now averaging 18knots gusting 28!

14:44 | 10 minutes to the start

14:31 | wind in the middle of the course , at the start boat, is averaging 17knots, but with gust of 28knots recorded

14:30 | After race 11 I think ARG3 has the most improved position in the top of the rankings

14:27 | one more race for today, race 12 - with race 11 the sailors get another discard and we should get a clearer picture of how the overall rankings are shaping up

14:24 | the winning time was 17m.08s

14:24 | at the finish - ARG3, AUS0, NED52, DEN24, GBR83, ISR1, FRA531

14:22 | ARG3, AUS0,

14:18 | one more time to mark1

14:17 | followed by DEN24 , NED52, FRA531, GBR83

14:16 | back to the downwind leg - and it is ARG3 fighting with AUS0, and just ahead of steve

14:14 | at mark 1 for the second time - SORRY CANNOT HEAR THE NUMBERS

14:10 | at mark 2 - ARG3, AUS0, BRA767, NED52, ISR1 - sorry we missed first mark 1 roundings

14:05 | start of race 11 - clean start

14:04 | one minute to the start -

14:00 | warning signal - 5 minutes to the start

13:55 | orange flag up - 10 minutes to the start of race 11

13:37 | sailors are getting ready for race 11 - some are already out on the course

13:00 | top 10 boards after 10 races - GBR83, AUS0, ARG3, ISR1, LAT23, NED52, POL16, BRA50, DEN24, FRA531

12:19 | we now take a break and return with race 11 at 1400hrs

12:18 | next finishers in race 10 - NED52, BRA50, POR5, POL23

12:17 | The time for first finisher was 17m27s - winds average 16knots gusting 25

12:16 | first to finish - GBR83 , ARG 3, AUS0, ISR1

12:15 | very close rave to the finish between ross and gonzalo - they rounded the gate in different directions

12:14 | and the leading boards are - GBR83, ARG3, AUS0, ISR1

12:10 | now to mark 1 for the final time in this race

12:09 | At mark 2 - GBR83, ARG3, AUS0, ISR1

12:08 | at mark 1 for second time - ARG3,

12:03 | at mark 2 - ARG3, AUS0, GBR83

12:00 | aT MARK 1 - ARG3, AUS0

11:58 | start for race 10 - some over early I think

11:53 | warning signal for race 10

11:24 | at the finish - GBR83 in time of 17m.22s followed by NED52, ISR1, DEN24,

11:20 | at mark 1 for the last time in this race - GBR83, NED52

11:17 | followed by - ISR1, DEN24, POL16 - something strange with the last two infos ...

11:16 | at mark 2 for the second time - GBR83, NED52,

11:15 | followed by - BRA50, GER1, FRA531, AUS0

11:14 | at mark 1 for second time - NED52, GBR83,

11:11 | followed by POL25 and AUS0

11:10 | already heading to mark 2 - NED52 ahead of GBR83 and ISR1

11:08 | individual recall - FRA531 over early

11:05 | start for race 9

11:00 | 5 mins to the start

10:56 | warning signal at 1100

10:56 | orange flag is up

10:37 | the wind is average 15 knots with gusts to 22 knots - very similar to yesterday afternoon

10:19 | first possible warning signal at 1100hrs and no reason to suppose we will not have a prompt start!

10:18 | strong winds also forecast for today ; it has blown strong all night , moderated a little at the moment , but expected to be strong again this afternoon

10:16 | same course as yesterday; same schedule except for an extra half hour in the lunch break

10:15 | Skippers meeting was short and sweet - very little info to add that was not already posted on the ONB

05.01 | Thursday

17:57 | AGM at 1800 - mainly an opportunity to discus rules and events - there are no proposals to vote on and no elections

14:50 | The Race Director is thinking a similar schedule to today

14:49 | Notice amending the schedule will be published - first possible warning signal on Friday 2nd will be at 11.00hrs

14:47 | that is the last race for today - full results as soon as possible

14:46 | that was another windy race , with a time of 18mins + for steve allen

14:45 | and it is - AUS0, ARG3, POL16, GER1, ISR1, LAT23,

14:43 | now we wait for the arrivals at the finish line

14:42 | mark 1 for the final time in this race, and last for today, it is - AUS0, ARG3, LAT23, GER1, ISR1,

14:38 | heading to mark 2 - AUS0, GER1, POL 16, ARG 3, ISR1, LAT23, NED52, GBR83, POL23

14:36 | gust of 25 knots just recorded in middle of the course

14:35 | AT MARK 1 - AUS0, GER1, POL16, ARG3, LAT23, ISR1, NED52, POL23, GBGR83,

14:34 | big fight on the next upwind between GER1 and AUS0

14:33 | incident after the start with GBR83 - who took a penalty turn

14:31 | next news after the 1st downwind at mark 2 -AUS0, ... GER1 all coming very fast - try to get more at the next upwind

14:29 | at mark 1 it is - LAT23, AUS0, ISR1, POL16, ARG3

14:26 | no OCS - sailors make their way to mark 1 - ARG3, AUS0, ISR1, GBR83 all started at the pin end

14:25 | clear start

14:24 | one minute to the start

14:19 | warning signal up - that is the class flag- 5 mins to the start

14:15 | orange flag up - 5 mins to warning signal / 10 minutes to the start

13:55 | AUS0 finished in a time of 18m31s

13:55 | now we are at the finish - AUS0 just ahead of ISR1, followed by ARG3, GER1, GBR83, LAT23, NED 52, POL16, DEN24, FRA531

13:53 | sorry - we missed a call at mark 2

13:52 | at the windward mark we have - ISR1, AUS0, ARG3, GER1, GBR83, POL16, NED52, DEN24

13:47 | now down to mark 2 for the second and last time in this race

13:45 | at mark 1 gate it is ARG3 ahead of ISR1, AUS0, GBR83,

13:45 | at mark 1 gate it is ARG3 ahead of ISR1, AUS0, GBR83,

13:42 | now we see the leading sailors coming to mark one for the second time

13:42 | BRA50 has a problem with his rig

13:40 | we need to wait to the mark 2 to see the group thin out - it looks like ARG3, AUS0, GBR83, DEN24

13:40 | at mark 1 the leading boards -DEN24, FRA1642, ... all very close together a pack of sailors

13:37 | the first beat to mark 1 is short - as before - soon the leading boards will be coming to the gate

13:35 | the wind is average 16knots with gusts to 22 knots - no change from race 6

13:35 | start for race 7 - clean start

13:34 | one minute to the start

13:32 | we are in sequence - 4 minutes to the start

13:25 | orange flag up - 5 mins to the warning signal

13:10 | we expect to start the next race on schedule

13:03 | 10 different countries in the current top 10

13:01 | top 10 after 6 races and one throw out (discard) - GBR83, AUS0, LAT23, NED52, ARG3, ISR1, BRA50, POL16, DEN24, FRA531

12:21 | we are waiting now for results after 6 races - back soon

12:20 | the first possible warning signal for race 7 will be at 13.30hrs

12:17 | at the finish of race 6 - ARG3 in time of 18m.23s - ahead of AUS0, GBR83, LAT23,

12:15 | average windspeed of 16 knots with gusts of 22 knots

12:14 | eventually followed by AUS0 , GBR83 AND LAT23

12:13 | at mark 1 - ARG3, still with a big lead

12:12 | the boards now head to mark 1 for the final time - after which they finish behind the start boat after rounding the pin end boat - the start and finish are in the middle of the course

12:10 | ARG3 has a 30 second lead over AUS0

12:10 | once more to the gate at mark 2 where the leading sailors are ARG3, AUS0, GBR83, LAT23, POL16, BRA50, ISR1

12:07 | at mark 1 for the second time - ARG3, AUS0, GBR83, LAT23,

12:03 | now they have a longer beat on lap 2

12:03 | ARG 3 has a big lead

12:02 | at mark 2 it is - ARG3, AUS0, GBR83, LAT23, BRA50

12:01 | now it is a long downwind to mark 2 - both marks 1 and 2 are gates

12:00 | It is a short beat for first time at mark 1 - and leading boards are ARG3, AUS0,

11:57 | clean start for this race

11:55 | 2 mins to the start

11:51 | we are in sequence for race 6

11:37 | good news for FRA1642 - he went around the ends at the start and is nor OCS

11:33 | to Gerrit, we will try to be quicker with the online notice board

11:32 | cloudy and overcast - but here you always get wind in these conditions ... thermal breezes are not the usual offering

11:31 | we will have a short break after the last finisher before race 6

11:30 | one broken mast, at the moment not sure who .....

11:28 | NED52, FRA531, DEN24, BRA999, POL23, ? BRA50

11:26 | followed by LAT23, POL16, ARG3,

11:25 | and the first finishers in this race - GBR83, AUS0, ISR1,

11:23 | at mark 1 for the last time in this race the leading boards are GBR83, AUS0, ISR1

11:19 | followed by LAT23 and POL16

11:18 | at the mark 2 - AUS0, GBR83, ISR1,

11:15 | at mark 1 for second lap - AUS0, GBR83, ISR1

11:11 | after 1 lap - AUS0, GBR83, ISR1

11:10 | OCS - FRA1642 , GRE28

11:08 | at mark 1 - AUS0 , GBR83,

11:05 | could be an interesting start

11:04 | half the fleet on port

11:03 | we are in sequence for race 5

10:42 | Marco Begalli is fit and well enough to race today

10:34 | average wind speed of 12.5 knots - with gusts of 18

10:20 | Exact time will be posted on the ONB

10:20 | The 2014 AGM is scheduled for tonight , after racing. Class Secretary informed the sailors that it would take place at the event venue from between 2>3 hours after racing is over

10:17 | Skippers meeting completed - Race Director posted a course with the option of a shortened course ie 2 laps and not 3

09:26 | we have a good forecast, with more wind than yesterday expected. 4 races are scheduled

09:26 | good morning from Praia da Vitoria in Terceira. Skippers meeting at 10.00 hrs and first warning signal , for race 5, at 11.00 hrs

04.30 | Wednesday

16:06 | an action packed day - collisions, injury, equipment breakage .. but 4 races and a valid championship

16:04 | first possible warning signal on Thursday 1st May will be at 11.00hrs - with strong winds also forecast

16:02 | top 10 after 4 races and one discard - GBR83, AUS0, LAT23, NED52, BRA50, DEN24, DEN26, POL16, ARG3, ISR1

15:17 | AP over A on the official flag pole - no more racing today

15:08 | hopefully nothing too serious

15:07 | Marco Begalli brought ashore on jetski with an injury

15:06 | big lead for ARG 3 at the finish ahead of GBR83 and ISR 1

15:01 | The leading sailors are now ARG3, GBR83, ISR1, AUS0, NED52

14:59 | At mark 2 ARG3 with big lead ahead of GBR83

14:58 | followed by ISR1, AUS0 and BRA50

14:57 | at mark 1 - ARG3 and GBR83

14:56 | one collision at the start - BRA767 and POL25

14:54 | start with individual recall for GER1

14:53 | or maybe not - it was I flag down

14:52 | start

14:51 | one minute to start - a third of fleet on port

14:47 | However looks like they try another start

14:43 | or so the locals think ...

14:43 | The wind shifted from 180 this morning to 220 this afternoon, but is now swinging back to 180 and is likely to be unstable for the rest of the afternoon

14:36 | the wind is shifting a lot

14:32 | warning signal for restart of 4th and final race today

14:31 | top 3 after 3 races - GBR83, AUS0, LAT23

14:26 | race has been abandoned

14:25 | start for race 4

14:20 | warning signal for race 4

14:11 | The course is being adjusted for the final race of today

13:51 | and BRA50, LAT23, POL25, FRA531, NED52, AUS120 - those last 3 very close together

13:48 | followed by GBR83, POL16, DEN24

13:48 | first finisher in race 3 - AUS0,

13:47 | Wind is varying quite a bit - minimum 8 knots to max 18knots

13:40 | The lead may have changed on the downwind - AUS0 ahead of GBR83

13:38 | At mark one - GBR83 is first

13:37 | start for race 3 - 2 OCS LAT 27 & EST12

13:30 | warning signal for race 3

13:26 | or orange flag would be more accurate - 5 mins to warning signal

13:26 | Orange flag down -

13:19 | wrong - AP down at 1300 - first warning signal at 13.30. two more back to back races scheduled

13:18 | AP went down at 13.30 - we have good wind across the course area

12:39 | after two races the top 10 are - GBR83, LAT23, AUS0, NED52, DEN26, BRA999, POL239, FRA531, POL23, ARG3

11:20 | There is no FRA24! we think its LAT23 ...now it is a break at the beach and lunch

11:14 | First finishers in race 2 - GBR83, NED52, ARG3, FRA24, AUS0 - time for first finisher of 17m.41s

11:07 | At the windward mark for 2nd time - GBR83, ARG3, NED52

11:03 | Leading the fleet in this race are now - ARG3, AUS0, GBR83

10:59 | first to windward gate is BRA767

10:57 | not a clean start - GER1 and LAT 27 OCS - neither have rounded the end to restart

10:56 | clean start for race 2

10:48 | It was a clear start in race 1 ... lets hope for the same in race 2

10:47 | The start line is between two masts displaying orange flags on the starting marks (boats)

10:45 | Orange flag up .

10:45 | Orange flag up .

10:44 | One unlucky sailor is Olympic expert Shahar Zubari (IST) with a broken mast in his first FW Worlds

10:42 | The orange flag alerts sailors that another race warning signal in 5 minutes

10:41 | all competitors finished within time limit - 5 mins to orange flag for race 2

10:35 | The schedule is for 2 races back to back followed by short break and 2 more races

10:31 | the windspeed during race 1 was average 10 knots with gusts to 15 - and the wind is increasing

10:28 | Sorry for the slow coverage - first finishers are GBR83, BRA50, POL239, LAT23 - time for first finisher was 16m.23s

10:18 | I made some error in that sequence - race one is underway!

10:10 | there was a problem before the warning signal could be displayed . Instead a short postponement and orange is back up

09:55 | Orange flag is up - 5 minutes to the warning signal

09:54 | the wind is average 9knots and we hope it will build during the morning. The course has a start midway between a winward gate and a leaward gate

09:52 | first warning signal is at 10.00 hrs and the sailors are out on the water or going to the racing area

09:51 | welcome to day 2 of racing at the Azores World Championship

04.29 | Tuesday

16:18 | first possible warning signal for tomorrow at 10.00

16:17 | that is it for today - with little or no prospect of racing conditions , but a favourable forecast for next days, it was decided to put AP over A - no more racing today

15:51 | there is still no wind and hopes are fading for today

14:26 | we are still on hold - no significant improvement in conditions

13:14 | The wind teased us for a while reaching 7>13 knots with a 9 knot average, but then dropped. We are postponed

10:53 | the wind that has blown constantly before racing days has failed to turn up this morning

10:53 | Skippers meeting will be at noon with first possible warning signal at 1300... but guess what?

10:51 | Registration is over at the 2014 worlds with over 40 entries from 17 nations representing 3 continents