Drama and excitement prevailed over the final two days of the Raceboard World Championships in Blanes. Ivan Pastor (ESP-7), dominating the final series of races by taking the bullet each time ahead of defending champion, Maksymillian Wojcik (POL-7), was forced to retire from the third race of the penultimate day with a broken boom. [more]The two Latvian ladies, Vita Matise and Ilona Grinberga, were certain to take the gold and silver places but in the end it came down to the discard to separate the two.
As every other day, patience was a virtue, as everyone waited for the wind to appear on the final day. However, Ivan Pastor knew he could not afford a slip-up today since he was carrying a DNF into his final results. Eventually race 13 was under way in 11 knots . . . POL-7 was leading by 5 seconds . . . and Wojcik took the win! Game on and into race 14! Pastor pulled one back, finishing ahead of Wojcik . . . And then it appeared the wind was dropping, the wind gods were packing up and going home – no more racing.
Ivan Pastor (ESP-7) is declared the Raceboard Men’s World Champion, Maksymillian Wojcik (POL-7) is second and Nicolas Huguet (FRA-8) takes a well-deserved third place, also first Master. First Grand Master is Franck Loup (FRA-58), 10th overall, First Veteran is Rafael Ros-Pardo (ESP-91), First Youth is Fernando Lamadrid-Trueba (ESP-211).
In the women’s fleet, Ilona Grinberga had an amazing finish to the championship with two bullets to add to her arsenal, and ending on equal points with her team mate Vita Matise. However, she lost out on the top spot with her DNC in race 11 coming into play. Vita Matise (LAT-1) is declared Raceboard Women’s World Champion, Ilona Grinberga (LAT-18)second and Joanna Sterling AUS-254 consolidated her position in third place.
This competition has favoured the lightweights but it has been an excellent championship with 14 races and the Raceboard Class are pleased to thank everyone at Club Vela Blanes for being wonderful hosts at Bella Terra.
