Dan Ellis Reports from PWA Korea

The wind came through late evening for some racing in Korea, Dan Ellis reports on some shock exits.

Today’s report was going to give you the low down on the PWA sailors views on the recent Olympic disaster, but then at around four o’clock the wind suddenly build and set up for a windy evening of racing that saw us get through one semi final of the second round. 

I’m clearly still a little rusty from my year off PWA racing and got rolled at the start of my heat and knocked out. The conditions were really rough with a combination of swell and chop. The wind was also pretty gusty with 12-18 knots, the most common kit choice was around 7.8 and the medium boards, the smaller than normal sail choice for the wind was due to the sea state

There were some big upsets in the second round, the unluckiest of whom was Finian Maynard. After breaking a fin in the first elimination, he broke his inhaul rope with four minutes to go before his start and never even made it across the line.

Finian Maynard in Korea. Image courtesy PWA/JC.

Speaking with him afterwards, he really felt like he‘d been taking the punches recently and was hoping for a full day of racing tomorrow to put it behind him.

Steve Allen also went out in the second round after hitting a rope, it’s like a mine field out there, with all sorts floating around the course. 

Moving into the semi finals we only managed to finish the first one, after three general recalls which saw the departure of Antoine, his prodigy Julien Quentel and the Italian racing machine Alberto Menegatti, who all have to settle for the losers final.

Some close racing at PWA Korea. Image courtesy PWA/JC.

Of the remaining five sailors, it was another Frenchman, Pascal Toselli who got the dreaded fifth place. Ross booked himself a spot in the final alongside Bjorn, Antoine Questel and Ludo Jossin.

The remaining semi final will be a fierce battle to book the last four spots and will kick of what should be a full day of racing tomorrow, if the forecast holds true.

We’ll have to save the Olympic views for another day!

Dan’s previous reports…