PWA Alacati World Cup – Day 4

The waiting game continues as light winds halt the proceedings

The fourth day of the PWA Pegasus Airlines World Cup proved to be a largely frustrating affair as teasing winds kept the competitors on standby for much of the day. After a very quiet start to the day at 12pm the wind swung 180 degrees and began to rapidly pickup causing a flurry of action on the beach. However the wind remained gusty for much of the afternoon meaning that only a further two heats were completed – one men’s and one women’s semifinal.

In the men’s semifinal – Heat 13 – Pierre Mortefon (Fanatic / North) showed good speed again to win the heat, whilst Ben van der Steen (Starboard / Gaastra / Mystic / Different), Julien Quentel (RRD / NeilPryde) and Alberto Menegatti (Starboard / Point-7) all qualified for their first winners’ final of the week.

In the women’s semifinal – Heat 5 – Marion Mortefon (Starboard / Severne) made the best start to the heat and safely qualified for the final with a proficient display, whilst Lena Erdil (Patrik / Loft Sails / Mystic / AL360) claimed second place. The remaining qualifying places were clinched by Karin Jaggi (Patrik / Severne) and Ayako Suzuki (Starboard / Gaastra / Mystic) meaning that local hero Cagla Kubat (Starboard / Loft Sails) misses out on a place in the winners’ final.