| MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA-(8-1-2004) Formula Windsurfing World champion, Steve Allen, rocked in to Melbourne last night ready to lead the charge at the Formula Windsurfer Oceanic Continental Championships (FWOCC), starting at Elwood Sailing Club this afternoon as part of the Sail Melbourne International Regatta.
An Aussie by birthright and nature, Allen spends most his time in Europe with his Polish wife and their four month old daughter, following the European-based major Windsurfing events.
Arriving with him was Vester Strom (DEN), one of the top Scandinavian Windsurfers on the world circuit. ‘I am proud of my Viking blood,’ said the attractive sometime model on his arrival.
Allen, whose daughter was born within days of his winning the World Championship, will take on 21international and Australian entrants in his quest to win yet another title.
Those he will compete against on Port Phillip Bay include Burkhard ‘Boogie’ Vierth (NZL). A German now living in New Zealand. Vierth’s company, ‘C3’ is one of the major manufacturers of specialist Formula Windsurfing fins in the world, so he should know what he’s doing on a board.
The only woman in this male dominated fleet, Anna Davis, comes from Victoria and is rumoured to be the fittest of all the competitors. The 30 something year old is a personal trainer, and what she lacks in size, she makes up for in strength and endurance.
She is, unsurprisingly, the reigning Australian Woman’s Formula Windsurfing champion and last year represented at the ISAF Worlds. Watch out for this pocket-rocket, she is expected to finish at least mid field.
Dave Morehead is the only Tasmanian on the entry list, a top five nationally ranked boarder, he is number one in Tasmania.
Sam Parker and Mike Nelson are the two New South Welshman to keep an eye on. Extremely talented, both are regular top five placers at events, Nelson the owner of two previous National titles.
Queensland has sent a former Windsurfing Youth champion in Sean O’Brien. The new kid on the block is definitely worth watching, he is now racing on the European circuit in the Open class.
Peter Ciesa is the only South Australian on the National circuit and is looking forward to racing in Melbourne, whilst one of Victoria’s hopes is James Cooper, the present leader of the 2003 Victorian Championships.
Up for grabs at the FWOCC are the five places into the 2004 Formula Windsurfing World Championships to be sailed later in the year, of which Steve Allen has already qualified, being the defending World Champion.Elwood Sailing Club is ‘home’ of the Formula Windsurfers, having hosted multiple Nationals and other events, with a name as having some of best on water Officials in the world, which competitors are grateful for.
Competitors in this event are allowed one board only and the choice of three sails and three fins, which they must nominate and register prior to the start of the series. The boards these days are nearly as wide as they are long – just over two metres long by one wide!
With varying sail sizes, the largest is 12sqm in area, much larger than your typical dinghy sail, with an average fin length of 70cms. Rig structures are high-tech carbon fibre.
As per the class rules, competitors race in a minimum of seven knots of breeze, with an upper limit of a whopping 35 knots, making for scintillating and breath-catching racing at times – some call it ‘kamikaze’ sailing.
Racing Officials are to get racing underway on Port Phillip Bay this afternoon, weather permitting.
To follow the action and for race results, go to the official site: www.sailmelbourne.com.au
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