The inaugural RS:One World Championship in Boracay, Philippined wrapped up on Saturday following five thrilling days of action. Three world champions were decided on the final day. The 2012 Olympic Gold medalist, Marina Alabau from Spain won the women's division, Philippines' Geylord Coveta took the men's and Chun Ting Lee from Hong Kong won the Espoir men's title.
This week was a fitting finale to a fantastic year of RS:One competitions right across the globe. We now take a deserved Christmas break and will be back in 2013 for more.
More information in the daily reports below.
Day 4
Three more races were held despite a postponement until 1400 as rain and very light variable winds delayed action on day 4.
Today's format saw all divisions starting together on the "pulsar" course – short race, 8-10 minutes, reaching start followed by downwind slalom and a final beat to windward. The mass start was close to the beach, as was the finish, affording spectators a great view of an easy to follow race.
Stand out sailor today was Marina Alabau (Spain), 2012 Olympic Gold medallist, who won all three races putting her only 2 points adrift of the leader Hei Man Chan (Hong Kong) who was her usual consistent self today. Brit Bryony Shaw has been nudged down into third place but again only two points behind Marina. Quite a battle between these three girls who are way ahead of their nearest rivals on the leader board.
In the Espoirs, Chun Tin Lee is clinging on to the top spot by the narrowest of margins as Lok Yiu To has tightened the gap to just one point behind! With only one day to go with a possible three races there is no doubt that one of these two will win this competition but it will be an exciting finish.
Over in the men's division every race had a different winner - Indonesian Micah Sampeian will be stoked to take the bullet for the last race of the day - but Philippino Geylord Coveta is holding on to the top spot, still 4 points clear of Chang Hao. Yuta Nagano has managed to knock Ryutaro Kinjo off the podium but there is quite a battle going on for bronze with Kiichiro Hirata, also in contention.
Titles will be won or lost on day 5! RS:One Championship Rules dictate that scoring follows all the laws of the RRS Windsurfing Competition Rules "except there shall be no discards". So, it's critical that nobody loses their nerve and makes an error - one false start for example could mean a disastrous end to someone's championship.
Day 5 - Final day
Three races on the last day of the 2012 RS:ONE World Championships - and three new champions, all decided on the final race of the day. With no discards - all races count - no one could afford to make a mistake. And no one made a mistake!
The closest final race emerged in the women's fleet - Hei Man Chan (Hong Kong) put in a storming performance to win the race, but Marina Alabau pushed her all the way, took second place and the Women's World Title, two points ahead on the leaderboard. Bryony Shaw from Great Britain took the bronze, only one point adrift of the silver place. Despite some good scores posted by ladies further down the fleet, the gap between the top three and the rest of the fleet was huge.
In the Men's fleet Geylord Coveta (Philippines) did not have his best race of the series, but did enough to take the title, finishing a clear 8 points ahead of Chang Hao from Taiwan. Yuta Nagano from Hong Kong was third.
The overnight leaders in the Espoir Men's (under 22) fleet had mixed fortunes, particularly in the final race ; but a first and fourth in the day's other races were enough for Chun Ting Lee (Hong Kong) to take that title. Hong Kong's Lok Yiu To took silver and fellow countryman Yancy Kaibigan took bronze. Again, good scores posted by many further down the fleet - 7 different competitors took bullets at some point during the competition, and our champion only won three of the 14 races - but consistency was the key to the title.
