Day three: The women’s fleet was un-leashed onto Pozo’s rough waters, seeing them fight through the first three heats of the single elimination.
The judges opted for a late start for the third day of competition, in the hope that the turning off the tide would bring with it larger waves. Pozo didn’t disappoint, a few hours after low tide, the wind was blowing twenty knots and the waves were rolling in between waist and shoulder height.
Having not yet had the opportunity to compete, the judges’ let the ladies loose onto the competition area, allowing the first few heats of the single elimination to be completed.
First up was multi-talented Laure Treboux (Fanatic / North) verses new girl to the tour Sarah Bibby (Simmer) and on the other side of the heat Silvia Alba Orozco verses Karin Jaggi (Patrik / Severne). Treboux made the best out of the tough conditions and quickly collected her wave scores, whilst Bibby went hunting for aerials. Treboux caught a lucky gust and boosted into a forward loop, securing her win. Jaggi and Alba Orozco sailed a particularly close heat, with both sailors landing clean forward loops and working the waves for all they were worth. When the judges totted up the score sheets Alba Orozco won the vote over Jaggi with her superior wave scores.
Eva Oude Ophius (Naish / Naish) and Iballa Ruano Moreno (Starboard / Severne) dominated the second heat of the day, against their opponents Fanny Aubet (JP / NeilPryde) and Andrea Geierspichler. The women launched into action when the green flag went up, Iballa went for an enormous forward loop in front of the judges whilst Oude Ophius landed a backloop. The sailors managed to hunt down the few waves in the heat and milk them for all they were worth, whilst Aubet and Geierspichler looked to be under powered.
Newlywed Nayra Alonso (Fanatic / Severne) came into her own in the third heat, taking down Evi Tsape (F2 / North) with her stylish riding utilizing her local knowledge to pick the largest waves. Alice Arutkin (Starboard / North) chose a volume approach in her heat against Amanda Beenen (Dakine). Arutkin charged from wave to wave with forward loops in between, guaranteeing her victory.
The final heat of the first round in the women’s single elimination had to be cancelled due to the retreating wind and waves, and with no signs of the conditions improving the sailors were released at 4pm.
