Never ceases to amaze me the footage of this event. I'd like to know how they manage that many windsurfers and their gear - do people rig up a couple k's up and down the coastline and just sail up to the start or is the event area big enough to manage the incredible numbers.
(I know Vando has attended so he might be able to shed some light)
Two new cal's in the top ten (and they're teens...) :-)
I checked the list, no aussies but a couple of kiwis.
There was a tandem and tonight a guy is giving it a go on a foil... in 30 knts...
The guy in the middle must feel like a motocross racer who after getting the holeshot falls in the first corner.
Here are few pics of the 2013 Defi Wind. I stumbled across it by accident in Gruissan when I was on a cycling holiday. No shots of the windsurfing, but some to set the scene. It's as big and organised as a rock concert with a similar atmosphere. I would love to do this race one day. Note the 3.3 sail in one pic! Strong and offshore. For the SA guys, the conditions are remarkably similar to Sellicks in a summer SE. Not sure how they handle the boat cover and stuff like that. Philip Koster was handing out the prizes when I was there.
If you are DSQ or give up a race you get 1001 points... That might be hard to come back at the general classification after that
That's just 1000.3 points difference when you win a race.
With that wind, big waves and large numbers of sailors it reminds me of a NSWWA comp at Gerroa...
I'll be passing Gruissan in August, is it windy then?
Ditto!
Was there ten days and got one magical hour of sailing. Thankfully the forecast was so bad that there was never any hope of racing, so rather than wait around the beach the missus and I got to check out the local vineyards, Toulouse, Carcasonne, Marseilles etc. It's hard to have a bad time in France.
wow the start must be so hard...the footage for the leaders heading back looks awesome.. what an inspirational event...the only place I can imagine this working in Australia is WA, Shark Bay...
Definitely !!! If only it wasn't so far away (+ travelling with gear) it would really be worth having a go !!!!