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Day 2: The waiting game continues as attention turns towards tomorrow

The waiting game continued on Day 2 of the Airwaves Noumea Dream Cup PWA event, but the competitors patience wasn’t rewarded on this occasion as the wind remained too light for racing. A few sailors were tempted out onto the water, but apart from a few reaches of sporadic planing, the wind wasn’t enough and soon dropped back after showing promise in the early afternoon. Eventually the competitors were released from the second day at 4 PM.

Earlier in the day we caught up with a few sailors. First up local girl Sarah Hauser:

PWA: What are the normal conditions for New Caledonia?

SH: “November is the beginning of the summer here in New Caledonia, and that start of our windy season. The trades should blow between about 20-25 knots on a good day with the wind from the Southeast.”

PWA: We saw you competing at the recent Starboard Severne PWA Aloha Classic. Do you do much slalom sailing as well?

SH: “I actually started windsurfing on slalom and freestyle gear because the waves here are miles away, so that was the easiest thing to do when learning.”

PWA: Aim for the competition?

SH: “Just to have fun really, I’m not focusing on the overall result.”

Pascal Toselli who currently sits in fifth place in the overall rankings:

“I’ve been here for five days: on the opening couple of days we had great conditions for 7.8m² and 8.6m². The wind here is really steady and it’s a really beautiful place to sail. The forecast looks as though it should be good from Thursday onwards, but it looks as though there might be a big of rain. On the first couple of days we had weather like today [perfect sunshine] and then the wind worked really well.”

Attention now turns to tomorrow which should see the competition begin with a promising looking forecast, which predicts winds of 14 to 16 knots from the East-Southeast. The skippers’ meeting has been called for 10 AM with the action commencing from 10:30 AM. Get ready for what should be an action packed day and to find out who takes the initiative in the title race. Don’t miss any of the action by tuning into PWA World Tour - here you’ll be able to follow the event as it happens via the PWA live stream and live ticker.

On the opening day of the Airwaves Noumea Dream Cup PWA, which is the final event on the 2014 PWA World Tour, the competitors registered for the upcoming six days of contest, which will see 57 men and 12 women battling it out over Noumea’s pristine waters. The sun shined all day, but unfortunately the wind didn’t cooperate, meaning the sailors were released at 4:30 PM, before the spectacular official opening ceremony was held at the Chateau Royal Beach Resort and Spa at 6 PM to conclude the first day.

Over the course of the day we caught up with a few of the competitors for a quick chat. Event Ambassador Robert Teriitehau – who last competed on the PWA eleven years ago had this to say:

“I’m feeling good ahead of the event – it’s sunny and it looks like it should be windy. On the first day of the Royal Contest we had wind, so everyone has already been on the water to try their stuff.

I have no idea how I’m feeling about competing again. I just put my feet back in the straps for the first time two days ago and it is not easy at all. I was quite lost, my footstraps weren’t the right positions and my feet the next day were so sore as well as my back and all my muscles. It was super hard work and that wasn’t even racing. That was just sailing up and down - practicing. It was like another world.”

Territehau on the title race:

“Do you know what? I’ve only seen a bit of the result, but it looks pretty close between the three remaining guys, so I think either of them has a good shot at it.

I think even for the young guy [Mortefon] who is slightly further behind, I think it would be really good thing for him and the sport if he could win. It would give a new name at the top, which I think would be a boost for windsurfing and giving the young guys on the tour more motivation to make it. I think the title will be decided by whoever is seeing the start line more clearly and who is able to keep their concentration for the whole time.”

We also caught up with Björn Dunkerbeck who will be participating in his final event here in New Caledonia, bringing down the curtain on a star studded career:

PWA: How are you feeling ahead of your final event on the PWA World Tour?

BD: “I’ve been here a couple of times 20 to 25 years ago, so I’ve had many hours on the water here and when the trade wind blows it’s a really nice slalom venue. The weather forecast looks good too, so I think we’re going to windsurf more here this week than the whole year. I’m looking forward to it and it should be a good one.”

PWA: Are you pleased to be back here?

BD: “Absolutely pleased to be back in New Caledonia, it’s a shame it’s been twenty years since the last one, but hopefully the forecast will come through and you guys will be back for many years to come.”

PWA: Thanks, Björn and good luck in your final contest.

The forecast for tomorrow looks similar today, so there may be one more day to wait before the racing begins. However, the forecast from Thursday onwards looks as though the trades will return guaranteeing plenty of warp speed slalom. Skippers’ meeting will be held at 10 AM tomorrow morning with the action commencing from 10:30 AM. Don’t miss any of the action by tuning into PWA World Tour where you’ll be able to follow the event as it happens via the PWA live stream and live ticker.

The crystal blue waters of Noumea’s AnseVata Bay, where over the next few days the exciting final chapter of PWA racing for 2014 will see a champion decided, and a legend make his final event under PWA conditions. Far from the European regions, New Caledonia is a Pacific jewel in the French territories and the host location for the final chapter of the 2014 series. Massive local enthusiasm and support has gone into making this event a great one, and the coming days will provide some excellent racing in one of the most idyllic locations possible.

Looking Forward

As one chapter ends, another begins. The PWA's most awarded competitor arrives in New Caledonia with a positive spirit and has been an absolute hero with the crowds at the beach, especially the large and enthusiastic group of young watermen (and women!) in Noumea. Bjorn Dunkerbeck last competed in Noumea in World Cup events around 1995, and was impressed to see the conditions, location and atmosphere every bit as good as it was back then.

The powerhouse behind the powerhouse, Bjorn’s caddy and friend Victor Couto has for so long been a part of the PWA race scene in his own right he has almost developed legend status in his own right. Place won't quite be the same without the Terminator and his team, but they won’t be far away either. Watch out for them in the long distance classics and Dunkerbeck Speed Series.

Quietly Confident

Cyril Moussilmani maintains a positive and focused outlook, enjoying some great warm up sailing ahead of his biggest ever title showdown. The conditions forecast in New Caledonia for this year don’t present any disadvantage to him and his speed and smoothness are apparent. Can this be the year Cyril claims the crown?

No Sitting Down on the Job

Antoine Albeau arrives with a powerhouse of style and carrying the legendary status of a French sporting hero in the very French province. The opening long distance race of the Chateau Royale Cup pre-event was the perfect warm up and Antoine lost no time in showing his class in overpowered offshore conditions. But those blue boards?

Well of course, those blue boards are the weapons of Fred Morin, not only the hot local racer but also Noumea's regular PWA tour representative and the number one windsurf dealer in New Caledonia. Fred’s father Patrice is a sensational surf photographer and responsible for so many of the excellent windsurf pictures and videos from New Caledonia in recent years...

No one really knows what to make of Julien Ventalon, as French as they come and originally Remi Vila’s [Starboard's R&D manager] neighbor from Martinique, who now calls Australia home but knows his way round New Caledonia like a local… He might then be an odd identity for this super popular guy but one thing is for sure, here’s here fitter than ever and really committed to giving it his best shot… Wanna lay down gibe expose? Check this guy when he’s on fire!

- Text and pictures are courtesy of John Carter & Ian Fox / PWA World Tour & Starboard Windsurfing -