After a break of little over 5 months, the world’s fastest sailors battled once again in Tsukuihama Beach,Yokosuka City, which is situated approximately 80km southwest of Japan’s capital Tokyo. As Tsukuihama Beach is almost completely protected it provided great flat water racing conditions and an exciting start of the new season.
The 2018 Fly! ANA Yokosuka PWA World Cup saw a one round slalom shootout, which saw Delphine Cousin Questel and Antoine Albeau come out on top in the opening event of the year, while Gonzalo Costa Hoevel dominated the first official foil event to claim top spot on the podium followed by Antoine Albeau.
Slalom Just like in the women’s fleet, the top seeds in the men’s draw also dominated proceedings in Japan with last year’s top 3 - Antoine Albeau, Matteo Iachino and Pierre Mortefon finishing 1-2-3. Arnon Dagan finished in 5th here. That means Albeau takes the early season lead into South Korea after leading the final from start to finish, but it looks as though it is going to be an extremely competitive year, which should make for a thrilling title race.
Foil
Antoine Albeau won the opening foil race and was well placed in the second until he dropped a tack at the first mark, opening the season with a second place, Gonzalo Costa Hoevel produced a near perfect performance in the first official foil event as the Argentine recorded counting results of two 1sts and a second to dominate in Japan. Sebastian Kördel finished in 3rd. In fourth position Julien Bontemps.
Result 2018 Fly! ANA Yokosuka PWA World Cup - Men’s Slalom
1st Antoine Albeau (FRA - RRD / NeilPryde)
2nd Matteo Iachino (ITA - Starboard / Severne / Shamal Sunglasses)
3rd Pierre Mortefon (FRA - Fanatic / NorthSails / Chopper Fins)
4th Tristan Algret (GPE - Starboard / Severne / Chopper Fins)
5th Pascal Toselli (FRA - JP / Loftsails / Chopper Fins)
6th Arnon Dagan (ISR - RRD / NeilPryde)
Result 2018 Fly! ANA Yokosuka PWA World Cup - Men’s Foil
1st Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (ARG - Starboard / Severne/ Chopper Fins)
2nd Antoine Albeau (FRA - RRD / NeilPryde)
3rd Sebastian Kördel (GER - Starboard / GA Sails)
4th Julien Bontemps (FRA - JP / NeilPryde)
5th Alexandre Cousin (FRA - Patrik / GA Sails / Chopper Fins)
6th Mateus Isaac (BRA - JP / NeilPryde)
Text and photos adapted from PWA.
