After patiently waiting for the majority of the day the wind finally filled in just enough – 4-10 knots – for a short flurry of foiling in the late afternoon allowing a further 2 eliminations in the Women’s Foil and 1 elimination in the Men’s Foil to be completed. However, some sailors were happier than others with several sailors bemoaning the conditions. 

Foil

Women’s

Delphine Cousin Questel (Starboard / S2Maui / Starboard Foil) extended her lead at the top of the rankings after producing an impressive display this afternoon, which saw the 27-year-old secure back-to-back bullets on Day 4 meaning she has now won the last 3 eliminations. Cousin Questel holds a 2.6 point advantage over Marina Alabau (Starboard / Severne / Starboard Foil) in second place with two days to go.

Marina Alabau was level on points with Cousin Questel at the start of play, but she couldn’t quite match her French rival today as she lost valuable ground in the race to be crowned the champion of the first ever Women’s Foil event. Alabau finished 3rd in Elimination 5 before battling with Cousin Questel all the way to the line in Elimination 6, however, she couldn’t gain the upper hand.

Marion Mortefon (Fanatic / Duotone / LOKEFOIL) enjoyed another solid day with a 2nd and a 3rd, which sees her cement her place in 3rd over Blanca Alabau (Starboard / Severne / Starboard Foil) in 4th – who was disqualified for a premature start in Elimination 6 – and Helle Oppedal (Fanatic / Duotone), who remains in 5th. Mortefon now has a 6 point cushion heading into the last two days.

Men’s

The day began in less than ideal circumstances for Pierre Mortefon (Fanatic / Duotone / LOKEFOIL) after the Frenchman suffered a bad cut to his foot, which required medical attention. However, Mortefon was able to sail through the pain and now leads the current Foil event rankings after the previous leader – Kiran Badloe (Starboard / Severne Sails / Starboard Foil) – was disqualified for a premature start, while Mortefon secured 5th place in Elimination 3 to take pole position. Badloe, meanwhile, drops to 12th place.

Current vice-world champion – Sebastian Kördel (Starboard / GA Sails / Starboard Foil) – recorded his best result of the week in Elimination 3 – 2nd – which sees the German rise two places into second place and he is now firmly in contention for the opening event title of the year – tied on 11 points with Mortefon.

Alexandre Cousin (Patrik / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils) also gains two places after the completion of the latest race and the 30-year-old is just two points behind Mortefon and Kördel in 3rd.

Denmark’s Sebastian Kornum (JP / NeilPryde) is the biggest mover of the day within the overall top 10 as he rises from 7th to 4th, but is faced with a 12 point deficit to break into the top 3. 

Nicolas Goyard (Tabou / GA Sails / Phantom Foils) falls two places to 5th at the end of Day 4 after recording his worst result of the week so far – 19th. However, he could be quickly back in contention for the podium, and the event, once the discard comes into play (after Elimination 4)  as he already holds one victory and a 6th.

Amado Vrieswijk (JP / Severne) remains in 6th place at the close of play, while Matteo Iachino (Starboard / Severne / Shamal Sunglasses / Starboard Foils) climbs one spot to 7th. 

Elsewhere, Mateus Isaac (JP / NeilPryde) climbs into 8th place from 10th, while Germany’s Nico Prien (JP / NeilPryde) breaks into the top 10 for the first time this week after an excellent 4th place today.

The Danger Man

The man that everyone else will have to watch though is Thomas Goyard (FMX Racing / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils). The 27-year-old is in 10th place at the moment but now has back-to-back bullets after another hugely impressive victory today. Goyard is in control of his own destiny if a 4th race is completed as he would then have the opportunity to discard a 32nd from the opening race – when he was disqualified for a false start. The Frenchman looks confident, extremely quick and tactically on point, so you wouldn’t bet against Goyard holding a perfect score by the end of the next race. 

With the wind then dropping back the racing was called off for the day shortly before 5pm and the sailors will meet again tomorrow morning for the skippers’ meeting at 8am (GMT+8) with a first possible start at 9am. Tuesday offers the best forecast of the week with 14-17 knots on offer, so we are hopeful of a solid day of racing. Make sure you don’t miss any of the action by tuning into www.pwaworldtour.com.

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Current Ranking 2019 Fly! ANA Yokosuka PWA World Cup – Women’s Foil
*After 6 Eliminations

1st Delphine Cousin Questel (FRA – Starboard / S2Maui / Starboard Foil)
2nd Marina Alabau (ESP – Starboard / Severne / Starboard Foil)
3rd Marion Mortefon (FRA – Fanatic / Duotone / LOKEFOIL)
4th Blanca Alabau (ESP – Starboard / Severne / Starboard Foil)
5th Helle Oppedal (DEN – Fanatic / Duotone)

Current Ranking 2019 Fly! ANA Yokosuka PWA World Cup – Men’s Foil
*After 3 Eliminations

1st Pierre Mortefon (FRA – Fanatic / Duotone / LOKEFOIL)
2nd Sebastian Kördel (GER – Starboard / GA Sails / Starboard Foil)
3rd Alexandre Cousin (FRA – Patrik / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils)
4th Sebastian Kornum (DEN – JP / NeilPryde)
5th Nicolas Goyard (FRA – Tabou / GA Sails / Phantom Foils)
6th Amado Vrieswijk (NB – JP / Severne)
7th Matteo Iachino (ITA – Starboard / Severne / Shamal Sunglasses / Starboard Foil)
8th Mateus Isaac (BRA – JP / NeilPryde)
9th Nicolas Prien (GER – JP / NeilPryde)
10th Thomas Goyard (FRA – FMX Racing / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils)