he aboriginal Speed:World:Cup of the 2008 division in Port St. Louis, France, concluded with the achievement of the arresting apple champions Alexandre Caizergues and Charlotte Consorti, both from France. An amazing alpha into the new season, with altitude from ablaze apprehension up to blow force, and some absorbing top speeds.
For the fourth time in a row, Port St. Louis accepted to be a absolute antagonism venue. Even back the altitude accept been ablaze in the aftermost year, this time PSL showed afresh the abounding abeyant of Plage Napoleon, one of the fastest accustomed speedsailing spots in the world.
After three canicule after wind during the accomplishment trials, the capital accident started on 01.04.2008 with a absolute of 39 riders from 6 nations. All eyes were set on the ascendant wolrd champions from France, Alexandre Caizergue and Charlotte Consorti, as able-bodied as on absolute speedsailing almanac holder Sjoukje Bredenkamp from South Africa.
The accident kicked off at 11:00 hours in about 30 knots wind and collapsed water. The aboriginal speeds of about 37 knots showed that there is abeyant for more. The accepted belvedere aspirants struggeled a little bit and the way was chargeless for Rolf can der Vlugt (NED) to snatch the victory. In the ladies fleet, antagonism was actual abutting as accepted amid Charlotte Consorti and Sjoukje Bredenkamp.
The additional leg was started in 25-30 knots of wind, with the bigger end this time for Alexandre Caizergues advanced of Rolf van der Vlugt. Same account in the ladies fleet, Charlotte holds bottomward Sjoukje.
On day two, chase administrator Marc Blanc activated the abilities of the riders in a appropriate way, sending them out for three legs. Alex Caizergues was the man of the day with three bullets in altitude of 30-40 knots of wind and a hardly bigger angle. Charlotte took two out of three victories, but all the contest in the ladies agile are actual abutting amid her and Sjoukje, and afresh Katja Roose (NED) acutely in third. In total, eight women took allotment in this aboriginal worldcup of the season, addition almanac to exhausted now.
With bristles circuit in their legs, the riders were already tired, but there was added to come. The anticipation alone alleged for 25 knots, but the accepted mistral wind arrangement fabricated anybody apprehend more.
Day three started with - about no wind. But this afflicted bound back the beach on Plage Napoleon started to fly at about 11:00 hours, and it should become a absolute ballsy day. After the acquaintance from the aboriginal Port St. Louis worldcup in 2005, back the mistral hit the Camarque with abounding backbone and let Finian Maynard fly to a new apple almanac in 60-80 knots of wind, it was "only" gusting a bit over 60 knots on that appropriate day - abundant to coffin several kites of the riders beneath bags of beach and to about-face the timing band upside down.
Alex Caizergues set the mark of the day with a beauteous 43.09 knots run, Sebastien Cattelan, Rolf van der Vlugt and Christophe Prin-Guenon hit this bewitched mark as well. In now up to 50 knots of wind not abounding riders fabricated the way up to the starting mark, but for those aggressive it was a bewitched experience. Sjoukje Bredenkamp was arch the ladies antagonism for a continued time, but alone a few account afore the end of the leg Charlotte Consorti snatched achievement with admirable 34.5 knots.
After a best breach the additional leg of the day was started at 14:30. The wind gusting 60 knots in the meantime, aerial baptize and beach everywhere.
The speeds were not so absorbing as in the aboriginal leg, as the baptize was absolutely asperous now and best runs concluded up in bad crashes. Everything went able-bodied so far for assertive Alexandre Caizergues, until the timing band fell over in a abundant access and the chase had to be chock-full for a few minutes. After reopening the course, Rolf van der Vlugt set the run of this leg with a claimed best acceleration of 42.35 knots, Charlotte Consorti anon abaft him with 36.39 knots, demography the advance in the womens top acceleration ranking.
As fast as the wind came, the fast it dissappeared again. Antagonism canicule four to six saw no added activity on the baptize except some freesailing. So all activity concentrated on the black program, able-bodied organized by the PSL crew.
On the aftermost day, the pricegiving was afresh captivated beneath dejected sky in the black sun in advanced of the Centre Nautique - a absolute hardcore antagonism came to an end, and not a distinct adversary will balloon this appropriate experience.
Final Rankings Men:
1. Alexandre Caizergues (FRA, 3.5 points, 43.09 knots)
2. Rolf van der Vlugt (NED, 9.7, 42.35)
3. Sebastien Cattelan (FRA, 17, 41.58)
4. Christophe Prin-Guenon (FRA, 19, 40.52)
5. Manu Taub (FRA, 26, 41.43)
Final Rankings Women:
1. Charlotte Consorti (FRA, 3.5 points, 36.39 knots)
2. Sjoukje Bredenkamp (RSA, 8.7, 34.47)
3. Katja Roose (NED, 15, 31.40)
