After several days of stable, clockwork like sea breezes in Costa Brava, the weather pattern on the final day changed a little with a sea mist and heavy cloud cover setting in during the morning, which raised some concerns about whether the thermal would kick in. Thankfully, after a couple of hours the sun burned through and the wind did arrive to allow two more Foil Slalom Eliminations to be completed in 7-14 knots.

Foil

Thomas Goyard (FMX Racing / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils) started the day with a 16.7 point lead, but after the completion of Elimination 9 and 10 the Frenchman saw his lead cut to just 6.6 points with Julien Bontemps (JP / NeilPryde), who led the event for the first three days, closing in once more.

After the completion of Elimination 10 the plan was to switch back to upwind/downwind Foil, but just before the start the wind started to drop which resulted in the sailors being placed on standby. Queueing a nervous wait for Goyard over the next hour and a half. However, with the wind showing no signs of returning, Goyard was put out of his misery with the event officially being called off at 4:30pm, allowing Goyard to finally bask in his glory, having being so close in Japan.

Thomas Goyard: “Can’t beliiiiieve I just WON my first foil World Cup on the PWA World Tour ever! No words for this, thanks to everyone who made it happen, sponsors, family, friends and a big shout out to my brother – Nicolas Goyard and Alexandre Cousin, who have been incredible training partners. 
I have been dreaming since I am kid to be where I am right now. It’s never easy to win and it’s one of the best feelings in the world !

Also, I truly believe I have the best and fastest equipment and I want to thanks all my sponsors once again : Phantom International, FMX Racing, Forwardwip, Baouw.Organic.Nutrition, Noerstick & Homespot Family

Now it’s time to go back on the RSX mode, I have spent an incredible month lately, had a lot fun and learned a lot, as always. Thanks for all the messages and vibes, I am fully loaded!”

Julien Bontemps can be extremely proud of how he sailed this week and walks away with second place, meaning the Frenchman has finished on the podium here for the last two years in a row. Bontemps was by far the most consistent sailor of the week with the 40-year-old only finishing outside the top 7 twice, while he never finished outside of the top 10 to complete an incredible set of results.

Matteo Iachino (Starboard / Severne / Shamal Sunglasses / Starboard Foil) started the day in 6th place, but snatched the final place on the podium after winning Elimination 9 and finishing 4th in the 10th and final race. The Italian excelled in the three Foil Slalom eliminations with results of 1st, 3rd and 4th.

Behind Bontemps, Amado Vrieswijk (JP / Severne / Starboard Foil), has been the most consistent sailor with the Bonairean only finishing outside the top 10 once – 21st. Like Iachino, Vrieswijk finished with a flurry – recording a 4th, 6th and a 3rd in the final 3 eliminations – with that 3rd involving a thrilling battle and photo finish with Iachino and the 23-year-old, who won the event last year, finishes 4th this time around.

Reigning world champion – Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (Starboard / Severne / Starboard Foil) and Nicolas Goyard (Tabou / GA Sails / Phantom Foils), who occupied 3rd place at the start of the day, just miss out on the podium with both sailors finishing the event on 48-7 points. Costa Hoevel finishes in 5th on count back while Goyard N. has to settle for 6th.

There is then a 12.3 point gap to their next closest rival – Alexandre Cousin (Patrik / Phantom Sail / Phantom Foil) – who takes home 7th place, while the top 10 is completed by Sebastian Kornum (JP / NeilPryde) – 8th – Pierre Mortefon (Fanatic / Duotone / LOKEFOIL) and Sebastian Koerdel (Starboard / GA Sails / Starboard Foil).

Elsewhere, Mateus Isaac (JP / NeilPryde), who had been ranked as high as second at one point just misses out on the top 10 – 11th – while Antoine Albeau (JP / NeilPryde) finishes the event in 12th after bouncing back with a second in Elimination 9, before signing off the event with a bullet in the final race.

We’ll take a further look at the implications of the results here on the race for the Foil PWA World Championship in the event summary of Tuesday.

Result of the 2019 Catalunya Costa Brava PWA World Cup – Men’s Foil

1st Thomas Goyard (FRA – FMX Racing / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils) 
2nd Julien Bontemps (FRA – JP / NeilPryde)
3rd Matteo Iachino (ITA – Starboard / Severne / Starboard Foil) 
4th Amado Vrieswijk (NB – JP / Severne / Starboard Foil)
5th Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (ARG – Starboard / Severne / Starboard Foil)
6th Nicolas Goyard (FRA – Tabou / GA Sails / Phantom Foils)
7th Alexandre Cousin (FRA – Patrik / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils)
8th Sebastian Kornum (DEN – JP / NeilPryde)
9th Pierre Mortefon (FRA – Fanatic / Duotone / LOKEFOIL)
10th Sebastian Koerdel (GER – Starboard / GA Sails / Starboard Foil)