Defi Wind Japan 2020

Il primo appuntamento con la “saga” delle Defi Wind 2020, si è appena svolto in Giappone… dopo un inizio “lento”, il vento è finalmente arrivato a Miyako nell’ultimo giorno dell’evento aperto a tutti i riders.
Una gara ufficiale e tre funny races si sono svolte di fronte alla spiaggia di Maheama.
Alex Cousin e Ayako Suzuki hanno vinto la classifica ufficiale, mentre Pierre Mortefon e Delphine Cousin hanno vinto la classifica delle funny races.
Ora tutto è pronto per la Defi Wind Superstars che inizia giovedì con previsioni di vento abbastanza buone…

Official races
With a slightly more favorable wind forecast for this morning, the Skipper’s meeting had been brought forward to 8:00 AM. This decision proved to be crucial in validating this Defi Wind Japan 2020 since it was the very first race of the day which was the right one. With a wind around 12 knots punctuated by a few gusts on flat water, it still glided quite well with sails of more than 8m2. With a very good low end speed, Alex Cousin flew to victory, far ahead of Jordy Vonk and Julien Quentel. Among the girls, it was the Japanese Ayako Suzuki who slipped the best, paying for the luxury of getting ahead of the slalom world champion: Delphine Cousin. Anamya Mio completed the podium. A second official race was then attempted, but the race management decided not to let it go to the end due to insufficient planing conditions. A difficult decision to pass on to some Japanese participants who are used to validating races regardless of the strength of the wind.

Funny races
The following races were then run in « Funny » race mode, so that the foils could be allowed. With the World Cup turning into a Slalom foil this year, the pros expected nothing else than to compete with those tools and the fight was intense over three new races. Antoine Albeau showed good speed, Alex Cousin was always in the game too and Antoine Questel was never far away. But Pierre Mortefon was unstoppable and he won this overall Funny Race classification. Delphine Cousin achieved a solid top 10 finish overall, thus putting several top men behind her. She finished first female in front of her friend Marion Mortefon (12th) for only a small point difference. Yuki Sunaga completes the women’s podium.

Great wind forecast for the upcoming Defi Wind Superstars
Among week end racers, this last day, a little more windy, made it possible to conclude the event in style. Born in Brittany (France) but expatriate in Tokyo, Romain Barba « has no regret having made the trip. This morning’s race was cool. I was in 8.4 and it was gliding well. Of course I would have preferred more wind, but the water and the island are magnificent. I discovered a spot that I didn’t know and I would definitely come back, maybe even with the family!”. The pros will have a break tomorrow before switching to the Défi Wind Superstars which promises to be much windier !!

Defi Wind japan 2020 Overall Ranking
1. Cousin Alexandre (FRA)
2. Vonk Jordy (NED)
3. Quentel Julien (SXM)
4. Warembourg Nicolas (FRA)
5. Vrieswijk Amado (BON)
6. Questel Antoine (FRA)
7. Mortefon Pierre (FRA)
8. Yamada Akihiko (JAP)
9. Goshi Akinori (JAP)
10. Anami Tomonori (JAP)
…
16. Ayak Suzuki (JAP) 1st woman
21. Cousin Delphine (FRA) 2nd woman
24. Anayama Mio (JAP) 3rd Woman
…
30. Ethan Ellie (FRA) 1st youth
…
60. Ouallet Michel (FRA) 1st Master

See the general classification Défi Wind Japan 2020

See the general classification Défi Wind Japan Funny races 2020