RS:X YOUTH WORLDS 2016 | World of Windsurf | The Digital Magazine

DAY 1 | A SIGH OF RELIEF FOR PICON

RS:X SAILORS AT THE RIO OPENING CEREMONY

The Opening series started today with nice planing conditions for the men and the women fleets.
A quite morning shifted in to a back to back racing day with sunny skies, choppy waters and winds from 15 up to 18knots. 3 Races were completed for the men and women divisions with some intense action for some of the youth competitors.

The men division is split into a Yellow fleet and a Blue fleet in the Qualifying series, except the women who do compete in a single fleet.

The leaders in the Youth men fleet are Yoav Omer from Israel – the defending Champion -who is in great shape, with a confident attitude and charisma and Mack van den Eerenbeemt from the Caribbean island of Aruba with a stable performance. Both competitors won the 3 races in their fleets just in front of the Limassol Nautical Club.

The first race of the women fleet was an exciting one, as Noy Drihan from Israel – also the defending Champion- blasted away from the pack at ease, but unfortunately a little mistake made, caused for her to slip to second place and making room for Maria-Belen Bazo from Peru to take the lead and also winning the first race. The following 2 races were dominated by Noy Drihan who quickly learned from her earlier mistake and is one to keep an eye on in the next racing days.

A successful first competition day at the 2016 RS:X Youth World Windsurfing Championship
Tomorrow should be another great day as the forecast predicts a bit stronger winds then today.

RS:X Class

More Images by Robert Hajduk – ShutterSail.com

ALL PREPPED

DAY 0

The Day started with late Registrations & Equipment Check.
A Practice Race was scheduled and sailed around mid day, the conditions were great for training with winds from 15 to 18 knots, choppy water and bright sunshine, temperatures somewhat around 23C°.

Coaches Meeting also took place later in the afternoon with some important announcement from the race committee and the Organizing committee.

Tomorrow is D Day at the RS:X Youth World Championship in Limassol, Cyprus

RS:X Class

More Images by Robert Hajduk – ShutterSail.com

OPENING

The Opening Ceremony took place on the 19^th of November at the Evagoras & Kathleen Lanitis Foundation – Carob Mill Limassol after a Flag parade with marching competitors trough the streets near the Limassol Marina.

The event was officially announced open with Opening speeches from:

rsx_youth_worlds2016_cyprus_wow-_dr-panayiotis-kontides — Dr. Panayiotis Kontides, President of the Organizing committee on behalf of Limaasol Nautical Club

michaelis-michaelides2 — Dr. Michaelis Michaelides on behalf of Cyprus Sports Organization

rsx_youth_worlds2016_cyprus_andreas-christou — Mr. Andreas Christou, the Mayor of Limassol

rsx_youth_worlds2016_cyprus_carlo-dalla-vedova — Mr. Carlo Dalla Vedova, President of the International RS:X Olympic Windsurfing Class Association

Traditional Cyprus dance performances and a cozy dinner followed at the end of the evening for all invited guests.

Facts and Numbers:

73 men
25 women
A total of 98 Sailors registered from 19 Countries and 5 continents

The Defending Champions
Women Division: NOY DRIHAN | ISR 20
Men Division: YOAV OMER | ISR 24

RS:X Class

More Images by Robert Hajduk - ShutterSail.com

THE EVENT PREVIEW

The International RS:X Olympic Windsurfing Class Association, A step ahead of all Olympic Sailing Classes with its first Major event after the successful 2016 RIO Olympics, now looking forward to a week of exciting racing, where the youths- the next generation, our future Windsurfing Olympic sailors from around the World take on the challenge in waters of the Eastern Mediterranean at this scheduled World Championship. The races will be a one design full fleet racing format held from the 21^st trough the 25^th of November at the Limassol Nautical Club on the island of Cyprus.