5 races in building winds allowed the competitors for the Downunder Pro, Formula
Windsurfing Oceanic & Australian Championships a chance to warmup during the
Official Warmup Event before the Championships begin on Wednesday.

As an
important tune-up event for the 2013 Downunder Pro Oceanic & Australian
Championships this week, 46 competitors from all over Australia and the world
arrived at Hawks Nest for the two day competition which served as Heat 5 of the
NSW Windsurf Tour.

The talent included Jesper Vesterstrøm from Denmark,
who had previously won this event and placed 7th at the 2011 Formula Windsurfing
World Championships, multiple-time Downunder Pro champion Wilhelm Schurmann from
Brazil, 6-time defending Australian Champion Sean O’Brien from Australia, in
form Youth Champion Christian Justesen from Denmark as well as a bunch of
sailors from as far as France, Belgium, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, as
well as multiple contenders from Australia.

Greeted with a forecast of
15-25 knots the sailors were eager to get out on the water on the first day of
racing with 5 races being run over the day as the winds increased over 25 knots
by late in the afternoon. Schurmann led from the start taking the first race win
before battling with Vesterstrøm to finish with 2 wins and 3 seconds, with
Vesterstrøm taking 3 wins, 1 second and a 6th to win the overall event by a
point. O’Brien battled most of the day with young Justesen, finishing in 3rd
overall with 4 thirds after the drop and Justesen 3 fourths and a 3rd to finish
in 4th overall behind O’Brien.

On the Saturday evening, sailors were
treated to an ‘Aussie style’ beach BBQ with all competitors across all the
windsurfing classes at this championship (over 100 competitors) attending the
beach festivities.

Sunday looked more promising to have even stronger
winds with the forecast showing strong wind warnings over 30 knots for the
Hunter Coast area following the destructive path of ex-tropical cyclone Oswald
which is currently travelling down the east-coast of Australia north of Brisbane
and leaving devastating floods, tornadoes and gale-force winds in its path.

Sadly, all the sailors were able to receive from the cyclone was
torrential rain and racing was called off for the day with no starts on Sunday
as the forecasts 25-35 knots did not produce and once again the Hawks Nest
carpark was flooded after 100mm of rain overnight and during the day.

With the new 2013 rules 5 races are allowed each day, with the race
committee taking advantage of this completing 5 races on Saturday to give the
sailors one drop for the event. Vesterstrøm (Gaastra/Gaastra) took the event win
1 point clear of Schurmann (Neilpryde/Starboard) and O’Brien
(Severne/Starboard). Vesterstrøm, who has recently become an Australian
resident, had been training and preparing for the event in Sydney since December
and had definitely acclimatised to the warm temperatures and strong winds
Australia has to offer through the summer.

Winners

Results-FW-Warmup.pdf

Another fantastic event at
beautiful Hawks Nest and a great chance for everyone to tune up before the 2013
Downunder Pro Oceanics & Australian Championships start this Wednesday.

________________________________________
Further information about
the FW Oceanic & Australian Championships as well as a media service with
press releases, results, rankings, background information and photo/video
downloads can be found on the official website www.fw-australia.com.

Contact and further information:

Sean O’Brien
Organising
Committee / Media Relations
AUSTRALIAN WINDSURFING ASSOCIATION
Phone:
0402 467 857
E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Internet:
www.fw-australia.com