Day 4 of the Catalunya PWA World Cup produced the most racing of the week thus far with three more eliminations being completed in light winds - 6-13 knots. The opening race saw the fleet split in half, while the next two eliminations were run as a full fleet, but the usual suspects still prevailed. While the top sailors, so far this week. were generally still battling for top honours, each race produced a different winner, while the long courses today meant to field were well strung out.

Men’s

Foil

For the first time this week there’s a different name at the top of the leader board with long time leader - Julien Bontemps (JP / NeilPryde) - being replaced by Thomas Goyard (FMX Racing / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils) at the top of the event rankings. The 27-year-old secured back-to-back bullets by winning the opening race of the day, which allowed Goyard to discard a 24th place from the second elimination. Goyard started the day in 6th place, but ends it with a 11.3 point advantage over Bontemps and his brother Nicolas Goyard (Tabou / GA Sails / Phantom Foils - who are tied on 22.7 points.

Nicolas Goyard surprisingly missed out on the opening winners’ final, but bounced back with a third before going on to win the last race of the day, which potentially brings him back into contention for the event tile as after the completion of the next race, the second discard comes into play, which means he could potentially discard a 13th place and make significant inroads to his brothers’ lead.

For a while, Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (Starboard / Severne / Starboard Foil) moved up into the top 3 after the reigning world champion claimed his first bullet of the season in Elimination 5. However, a 13th place in the next means the Argentine drops to 5th for now, while Mateus Isaac (JP / NeilPryde), who started the day in second, falls two places to 4th - after a 19th and a 3rd today.

Elsewhere, Alexandre Cousin (Patrik / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils), drops one place to 6th, while Amado Vrieswijk (JP / Severne / Starboard Foil) rises into 7th from 10th after recording his best result of the week - 2nd - in the opener, followed by two more top 10 finishes - 8th and 9th - as the Bonairean continues to show why he is one of the best all round windsurfers in the world.

Sebastian Kornum retains his place in the top 10 - 8th - with the Dane enjoying an excellent day after recording a 9th, 6th and a 5th from the 3 eliminations completed today.

Matteo Iachino (Starboard / Severne / Shamal Sunglasses / Starboard Foil) and Kiran Badloe (Starboard / Severne / Starboard Foil) move into the top 10 with both men enjoying two excellent races (a second and a 5th for the Italian & a second and a 4th for Badloe) and one mediocre result, while both stand to gain plenty from the completion of the seventh elimination.

Tomorrow looks very promising on the latest forecast with 11 to 19 knot southwesterly winds and clear skies predicted for Saturday, which should ensure an action packed day of racing. The sailors will meet again tomorrow morning at 10am for the skippers’ meeting with a first possible start at 11am. 

You can stay up to date with all the latest developments from Costa Brava — including elimination ladders, entry list, images and live ticker simply click HERE and scroll to the bottom of the page.

Current Ranking 2019 Catalunya PWA World Cup - Men’s Foil *After 6 Eliminations

1st Thomas Goyard (FRA - FMX Racing / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils)  2nd Julien Bontemps (FRA - JP / NeilPryde) 3rd Nicolas Goyard (FRA - Tabou / GA Sails / Phantom Foils) 4th Mateus Isaac (BRA - JP / NeilPryde) 5th  Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (ARG - Starboard / Severne / Starboard Foil) 6th Alexandre Cousin (FRA - Patrik / Phantom Sails / Phantom Foils) 7th Amado Vrieswijk (NB - JP / Severne / Starboard Foil)  8th Sebastian Kornum (DEN - JP / NeilPryde) 9th Matteo Iachino (ITA - Starboard / Severne / Starboard Foil) 10th Kiran Badloe (NED - Starboard / Severne / Starboard Foil)