The contest venue is situated along the beautiful beaches of the vibrant town of Leba, one of Poland’s most renowned Baltic coastline tourist destinations. It is currently peak season, which means the whole area is crammed to the brim with young Polish vacationers here to enjoy the action on the beach and of course the towns notorious nightlife!

Today was registration day and amongst the big guns entering here in Leba are Kevin Pritchard (Bic, Gaastra) Antoine Albeau (Neil Pryde, AHD) Steve Allen (Fanatic) Micah Buzianis (North, Mistral), Ross Williams (Gaastra, AHD), Phil McGain (Gaastra), Sam Ireland (North, Starboard) and Wojtek Brzozowski (Starboard, Neil Pryde).

The discipline of Formula racing is governed by the fact sailors are restricted to using one Production Board and three Production sails (typically a 12m, 11m and 10m), which they register at the beginning of the event. Races are usually commenced in wind strengths of at least 7 knots but once a race has started it will not be abandoned until pumping is the main method of propulsion. The maximum possible number of races here in Poland is fifteen with up to five races on any given race day.

PWA Chairman Phil McGain (Gaastra), better known as ‘The Captain’ was at the beach today preparing for action. Despite being labeled one of the veterans of the PWA tour McGain, who is 39 is still considered to be one of the world’s best racers.

PHIL MCGAIN (Gaastra)
“It is great for us, the PWA, to get involved with racing events again. It has been refreshing to work with the organizer here and it looks like we have the opportunity to build the PWA racing up at the very highest level again. With the PWA running Formula style racing with production boards and production sails it should lead the way to ignite interest in a continental level with the Euro cup and will also be good for the industry. Personally, I am ready to go! I am going to create some trouble on the racecourse!

Aussie race specialist Steve Allen (Fanatic) is also in town and is tipped as one of the favorites for a podium placing. Steve is originally from the Gold Coast of Australia but recently married to his Polish girlfriend and now lives in Warsaw.

STEVE ALLEN (Fanatic)
“I am stoked. I am really looking forward to the race here in Poland. I am so happy that the PWA are running this event. It is great that this is the first PWA race event of the season and hopefully there will be a few more coming onto the calendar. I have been here for a week and a half already training. Poland is my base and my home now! I just got married a few weeks ago to a beautiful Polish girl. Warsaw is kind of my home now but I still travel a lot to the coast to train. I am looking forward to some good racing. Antoine is going to be tough to beat in the strong wind…Kevin is always up at the top in every wind strength…I am not sure about Phil McGain because I have not seen him race this year and Wojtek Brzozowski is always very fast.

I am up for it and looking for a big one here. Anybody could win here depending on how many races we have. If we get a lot of races then I think the more experienced racers will come through!”

American racer Micah Buzianis (North, Mistral) has been competing on the European circuit for the last six weeks and was ecstatic when he heard that this event was raised to PWA status.

MICAH BUZIANIS (Mistral, North)
“I have really missed the PWA involvement in racing and am glad that we now have some events with the PWA name on it. It is just going to bring a lot more recognition to the Formula racing. I am pretty fired up for this event. I have been in Europe for quite a while and racing a fair amount. I am definitely more fired up now that it is PWA. Kevin and Antoine are the guys I will be watching out for…they have been winning a lot this year!”

The wind today was blowing around 13 knots allowing groups of sailors a chance to take to the water for vital last minute testing sessions. Racing will run through until the weekend with the first possible start tomorrow at 11.am.

Source: PWA Worldtour