The last day of Hyeres is only reserved for the Medalraces. From my point of view this is a missed chance to keep all the sailors in the event and let the rest of the fleet do a final race as well. Because of this situation many sailors will leave straight after racing and are not motivated to stay for the last day. It's a pity and it feels like a lack of respect for the majority of sailors who didn't make the Medalrace. Anyway the last day made some differences in the results. In the mensfleet it was Frenchman Julien Bontemps (FRA-6) who won the last 2 races of the Goldfleet and also managed to win the Medalrace. Great performance and he's definately getting in shape for the Olympics 2012. Pont (POL-126) Couldn't beat Bontemps and finished 2nd in the last races becoming second overall. Toni Wilhelm (GER-3) was the whole event in the Top 5 and finally managed to get on the podum as 3rd. In the womensfleet there's was a surprising performance of Moana Delle (GER-369). She sailed really consistent in the last four fleetraces and won the Medalrace as well. Besides of Kiel, this is her first victory in a Worldcup event. Well done!!! Maja Dziarnowski (POL-7) was leading the event a couple of days and finally had to settle for 2nd place just ahead of Charline Picon (FRA-4) who had some trouble in the really strong winds.

In general the conditions have been great this year. One day of lighter winds and some races with a really strong breeze. A good preparation for the upcoming Olympics.

Final results women

Final results men 

Today finally since long time we had some lighter conditions. In the upwind it was railing and in the downwind the men could go planing and the women had to work hard, sometimes planing but most of the time pumping. In the womensfleet it was Charline Picon (FRA-4), see photo, who showed that she still very good in these conditions. If we have these conditions during the Olympics she's for sure someone to watch. Charline won both races with a descent margin and is leading the fleet now with 23 points. Moana Delle (GER-369) finished second in both races but just missed out in the down winds to make it Picon really difficult. Delle made up her drop back in the results from yesterday and is currently on 3rd place now. The next sailor showing consistency in these conditions was Hayley Chan (HGK-5) with 3 and 7. In the beginning of the event she had some difficulties with the conditions but she is moving up the ranking now. With another good day tomorrow she still can make it into the medalrace. The biggest problems in these conditions were obviously for the Polish girls. Overnight leader Maja Dziarnowska (POL-7) posted a 15 and a 20 being not able to get on speed in the upwinds. She's still inside the medals, currently 2nd but 11 points behind Picon. The young Agnieszka Bilska (POL-9) collected even more points with a 30 and 28 which currently puts her outside the top 10.

Today the Race Committee decided to start early in the morning at 09.00 hrs because there was strong wind expected around noon. And I have to say that this was a good call. The first races were in unstable shifty conditions with winds between 12 - 20kn. Just before the last race of the women the breeze finally reall came trhugh, going up to 20 - 27kn. Later on the day it looks like the wind has even picked up more. So besides of the early wake up I think the majority of the sailors can live with this decision.

Jannicke Stalstrom (NOR-3) is getting all the credits for being the first one on the water today. Although age wise she's on the upperside of the spectrum, she's still keen on going out and race. And sailing steady today with a 9th and 8th place she finds herself back on the 11th place. So still enough chances to get into the medalrace.

The men were starting first today and it was a the last day of the fleets. It was a cat - mouse race bewteen 4 guys trying to make low scores before going into the Goldfleet tomorrow. Overnight leader Piotr Myszka (POL-82), Julien Bontemps (FRA-6), Shahar Zubari (ISR-11) and Pont (POL-126) all scored a first and second in their fleet so nothing changed. However the discard kicked into today which helped Bontemps (8) and Pont (7) to move closer to Myszka. In the meanwhile also Toni Wilhlem (GER-3) stayed close to the top with a steady 5th and 3rd place. In the overall now it's still Myszka leading but Bontemps is only 1 point away, Wilhelm on 3 points and Pont 4 points. So as expected a low scoring event sofar for them. From tomorrow on they can start racing all together and then we'll see who can push the hardest. Another flyer of today is Kiran Badloe (NED-194). Again he showed that he likes the breeze and is able to keep up with the Top guys. He moved on to 11th place overall. I'm curious to see how he will do in the Goldfleet and if he's maybe able to get into the Medalrace on friday.

Today the racing in Hyeres was a little bit different from yesterday. The wind was more shifty but not as strong as yesterday. The men were starting first at 11.00 hrs. It was Piotr Myszka (POL-82) who was on fire today winning both races in his group. He's now leading the overall results. In the other group there was more to play. In their first upwind the wind shifted a lot to the right which did some damage to Julien Bontemps (FRA-6) and Pont (POL-126). They were trying hard to get back in the race but finally finished 7th (Pont) and 8th (Bontemps). It was Olympic bronze medal winner Shahar Zubari, who showed his improving planing skills, to win the race. In the second race of this group another close fight was going on and this time it was Aron Gadorfalvi (HUN-1) who managed to win. After his 4th place in the first race he had a great day.

It seems that the RSX class is followed by the wind the last couple of events. As the RSX Worlds 2012 in Cadiz were really windy so was the first day here in Hyeres. The women fleet was sent out first and the conditions were around 15 kn but picking up quickly. By the time the second race started the breeze was average 22kn gusting up to 30 kn. It was the Chinese sailor Li Ling (CHN-7) winning both races although it was Olga Maslivets (UKR-9) who was leading in both races. In the first race she just missed out on the upwind mark and had to double tack which took a lot of time. In the second race the Race Committee changed the course and while Olga was leading and going into the "outerloop" the rest of the fleet went straight downwind doing the "innerloop"!!

Day 7

Dim lights

Day 6 - Speedcontest!!!!

Dim lights

As the new season starts up for the Techno's it's more then great to see that the numbers of this class are still growing.

Finally this year the Worlds will be in Medemblik which of course is a great happening since it has been a long time that there was a big International Junior / Youth Windsurfing Worlds in The Netherlands.

To start up the season here's a nice video:

Dim lights

Round 1 of the RSX Worlds 2012 has come to an end today. Thursday 3 races have been sailed in nice planing conditions. Yesterday the wind has been to strong, the Levante was bringing up to 40kn in the bay. Today on the reserve day luckily the wind slowed down a bit in the morning and the women were sent out at 12.00 hrs. One race was on the schedule to finalize round 1. The Levante was giving winds between 14 and 27kn with an average of 20kn. So great conditions.

The RSX Worlds 2012 finally started. Although slow today while it was just the arrival day. However many competitors have been here already quiet some time. Especially the windsurfers from overseas need a bit more time to get used to the time difference.

Tomorrow we will have the Practice race and then finally on the 22nd at 12.00 hrs the first start will take place.

There's a lot at stake during this RSX Worlds. The last available spots for the Olympics will be decided this event and then there's the US$ 45.000 prize money!!!!!!!!

I try to keep you updated everyday, so keep following the action.

The forecast for today showed already some difficulties with the wind. But having the experience from last week it was clear that the forecasts are not always correct for this island. Unfortunately today it was. The Race Committee sent the fleets twice outside but asoons as they arrived outside the wind was gone again. So it was a long day of waiting!!!!

Hopefully tomorrow it will be better.