The 2015 Slake Downunder Pro - Oceanic and Australian Formula Windsurfing Championships concluded on Saturday with an action packed 7 races taking place over the three-day regatta at picturesque Belmont on Lake Macquarie. The field included 3x World Champion from Australia, Steve Allen who took the event win by one point ahead of current #1 from Latvia, Janis Priess with defending Australian & Oceanic title champion Sean O’Brien in 3rd.

The final day of competition produced no valid races keeping Steve Allen just 1 point ahead of Priess after seven races over the 3 day event. Steve Allen made his move on Thursday’s racing after dropping back down the fleet after some gear failure on the first day, by posting 2 seconds and 2 firsts for the day as he battled with Latvian Janis Priess who posted 2 firsts and 2 seconds giving Steve Allen the edge by 1 point overall.

Sean O’Brien fought his way back on to the podium beating Danish Christian Justesen after a count-back when both sailors finished the event on equal points. Sean O’Brien finished the final race in third place with Justesen in 4th which solidified the tie-break split.

Sean O’Brien said about the event:

“That was a pretty challenging event! We had some very shifty and tricky conditions but I like the feel of my Formula 167 in light winds and now on our second season on this board I’ve really got the fins dialed in and what’s working. It came down to the final race with Christian [Justesen] and I so I’m happy I could pass him on the last downwind to get the tie-break win. Having a few of the top racers like Steve [Allen] and Janis [Priess] down here to race this year is a really good eye-opener before we go to the World Championships in April.”

Brett Morris won the the Grand Masters division finishing in 5th position overall ahead of Tibor Ferenczy and Rick Murray in 8th and 9th overall. Bruce Healey took out the Free-Formula division winning 5 out of the 7 races so far, over the 7 races of the event.

The event finished with a prize-giving ceremony on the foreshore of the lake with the top 3 overall event winners taking home the coveted prizes of new Slake masts donated by the title sponsor. Windsurf’N’Snow store in Sydney donated a large bulk of exciting prizes for the winners of the Grand Masters and Free Formula division as well to event organizer Adam Craven to round up the event.

Further information about the FW Oceanic & Australian Championships as well as a media service with press releases,results, rankings, background information and photo downloads can be found here.

- Pictures by Rob Plim Photography -