With 10 bullets in the 15 race World Championship series, Ivan Pastor, the Spanish Olympian, took the 2016 Raceboard World title and the gold medal. On receiving his title he offered “Congratulations to the organisation for this amazing championship and thanks to all the competitors.”[more]
Max Wojcik, the defending Raceboard World Champion from Poland but now living and working in Australia, managed to cross the line ahead of his challenger just four times, one of those being a very satisfying first place in the final race, and he secured the silver medal. Max has been very instrumental in developing the Raceboard Class in Queensland.
The final place on the winners’ podium, and the bronze medal, went to New Zealander Antonio Cozzolino who found it tough to beat these two mighty titans, although he did scoop a couple of second places.
First Grandmaster Bruce Trotter, also from New Zealand, was surely in the mix for a podium place with no less than two bullets and three second places but a tenth in race 12 caused his downfall.
Bruce, happy to be able to compete at World Championship which was just three hours away for once, has been competing since 1985 as a 16 year old. He praised the organisation of this regatta for windsurfers by windsurfers, with particular thanks to Brett Morris and his team. Also Race Officer John, a windsurfer himself, who quipped that he didn’t get a chance for any black flag starts, but was happy that it was a fantastic event.
Women’s Champion, Aussie Joanna Sterling said that when she started there were so few ladies on the water so this event marked an amazing milestone.
The full 15 race series was completed over the 5 days of racing hosted at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, Manly, Brisbane. Congratulations to the local organiser, Windsurfing Queensland, for the dedication applied over a year and a half towards bringing the worlds to Australia for the first time.
Special mention to Starboard without whose support, via provision of charter equipment, it would not have been possible to bring so many foreign competitors to these championships.
To follow again the races go to Live Tracking
Other results:
1st Master – Ivan Pastor
1st Grand Master – Bruce Trotter, New Zealand
1st Heavyweight – Fernando Consorte, Argentina
1st Veteran – Tim Wood, New Zealand
Also participating in the event was a fleet limited to using 7.8 sqm sails; emphasising the all-inclusive policies of the organiser and the Raceboard Class.
1st overall and 1st Youth – Alexander Halank, Australia.
