La prima edizione di questa tappa italiana di World cup, non troppo fortunata dal punto di vista vento, si chiude però con un tabellone degli uomini e due delle donne conclusi e quindi, tutto sommato, ci sono vincitori e vinti finali… Dunkerbeck e Jaggi mettono il loro sigillo al primo appuntamento della stagione.
Foto © PWA - More info: http://www.pwaworldtour.com
Dedicated event website http://www.pwaworldtourrc.com/

Ecco il report dell’ultima giornata scritto da Matteo Iachino ed attinto a piene mani dal suo blog.
«Sebbene le previsioni fossero ottime per l’ultimo giorno di gara, purtroppo il vento ha stentato ad entrare rimanendo da sud fino a pomeriggio inoltrato. E quando alle 5 del pomeriggio ormai sembrava che il PWA di Reggio Calabria fosse finito così, come il giorno precedente il vento ruota di colpo da nord ed entra, bello teso, davanti al lungomare della cittadina. Ormai è troppo tardi per aver tempo di fare un secondo tabellone, ma riescono a finire il primo e a fare un altro turno per le donne. Ottimo il risultato di Laura Linares che chiude 4° dopo le due prove. Alberto in finale vincenti forse sbaglia partenza forse dell’altro e finisce 6°, un grande risultato sicuramente ma poteva fare meglio se fosse andato come il giorno precedente. Io concludo quindi il PWA di Reggio in 17° posizione e che dire se non che sono contento. Mi trovo benissimo con i nuovi materiali e sembra che l’allenamento assiduo a qualcosa serva e per me è la prima volta nei top 20. A parimerito con me finisce anche Tine Slabe, il forte atleta sloveno motorizzato anche lui Challenger Sails. Finita la competizione partiamo subito alla volta di Albisola con Roberto Actis che è felice di aver assistito ad una tappa PWA anche se sperava di fare qualche altra heat invece che solo una batteria. Arriviamo abbastanza tranquilli ad albisola in 13 ore contando che ci siamo fermati anche a mangiare. Infine questa sera, dopo essermi riposato mi sono fatto anche un’uscitina in wave con il libeccio e shorebreak a Savona con altri amici, niente di speciale ma cosa c’è di meglio di questo per chiudere in bellezza una giornata. Mercoledì riparto per la Korea e vedremo come andrà anche li!»

DAY 6: DUNKERBECK AND JAGGI CLAIM THE FIRST VICTORIES OF THE SEASON.
The final day in Reggio Calabria delivered wind late in the day, as it had the previous evening. It wasn’t until 17:30 that the north wind kicked in to allow the conclusion of the men’s first elimination, and the completion of the women’s second elimination. It was a great way to end the event with dramatic finishes for both divisions.
 Men
The second semi-final was the first heat of the day to be sailed. Josh Angulo (Angulo / Point-7) got away to the best start but he couldn’t hold onto the lead for the duration of the course. In the end it was Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Starboard / Severne / Dunkerbeck Eyewear, Mystic) who came out on top, followed by Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (Fanatic / North), Antoine Questel (Starboard / The Loft ) and Angulo, all qualifying for the first final of 2012.
 Losers Final
 The losers final instantly lost two sailors as both Ben Van Der Steen (Starboard / The Loft, Mystic) and Steve Allen (Starboard / Severne) were a little too enthusiastic and were disqualified for crossing the line early. On the restart it was Taty Frans (Starboard / MauiSails / Mystic / Maui Ultra Fins) who burst into the lead after a perfect start. Frans was chased by Pascal Toselli (RRD / Point-7) and Julien Quentel (RRD / NeilPryde) as the race quickly became a three way battle. As they rounded the third gybe mark it was Toselli who managed to break into the lead after a superior turn. Toselli then wasted no time in stepping back on the power to storm home to victory. Frans eventually finished in third place, with Quentel finishing just ahead of him.
 Winners Final
 Rewardingly the winners’ final would prove to be the best heat of the day, in what was an extremely close fought encounter. From the start line, it was Jimmy Diaz (Starboard / North), Costa Hoevel and Antoine Albeau ( RRD / NeilPryde) who ld from the rest of the pack. Even though Dunkerbeck didn’t get off to the best start he was quickly in hot pursuit of the top three sailors, as he once again demonstrated his blistering top speed and faultless gybes, to put himself right in contention. The final saw history repeat itself, just as in Vietnam last year, the race for the finish line would involve Dunkerbeck and Costa Hoevel. In Vietnam Dunkerbeck beat Costa Hoevel by a matter of inches to claim the event win in the final race, and the same happened again today. The super calm Dunkerbeck kept his cool under severe pressure and in doing so created a strong start to the defense of his title. Costa Hoevel led from start to within feet of the finish until Dunkerbeck just edged ahead to leave him in second. Meanwhile the big French man Antoine Albeau had to settle for third place not managing to take any real distance from the two front-runners.
 Women’s Second Elimination
 The first semi-final was interesting to say the least. As the heat began, four out of the seven sailors involved crossed the line early. This gave Maria Andres (Starboard / Gun Sails / Mystic) and Lena Erdil (Patrik / The Loft / AL360) a bypass into the winners final. The second semi-final saw the top two seeds of the competition sailing against each other, but there was no drama as both Karin Jaggi (Patrik / Severne) and Valeria Arrighetti (Tabou / Gaastra / Mystic) comfortably secured their places in the winners final. The remaining two places went to Delphine Cousin (JP / NeilPryde) and Laura Linares (RRD/ Challenger Sails).
 Losers Final
 Two women in particular got off to a flyer; Fanny Aubet (JP / NeilPryde) and Dilara Uralp (JP / NeilPryde), but as the heat progressed they slowly fell down the pecking order. In the end it was Cagla Kubat (Starboard / North) who came storming through the pack to lead from the first mark and claim victory and sixth place overall for the event. She was closely followed by Alice Arutkin (Starboard / North), Greta Benvenuti (Patrik / Point-7 / AL360) and Uralp.
 Winners Final
 After dominating yesterday proceedings Jaggi was in confident mood, especially after winning her semi-final today as well. But Jaggi was up against a super motivated Arrighetti who was keen to make a mends after previously missing out on the winners final. Jaggi and Arrighetti were very close in the last heat, and the final proved no different as they both got off to fantastic starts. Arrighetti was sailing flawlessly, both in a straight line and through the corners. On this occasion Arrighetti proved too much for Jaggi, and the evidently delighted French woman came out on top. Linares sailed a much stronger final this time around managing a third place finish in her inaugural PWA event in her homeland, whilst fourth went to Cousin.

The 2012 PWA Reggio Calabria Overall Standings : Men’s Slalom
1st Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Starboard / Severne / Mystic /Dunkerbeck Eyewear)
2nd Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (Fanatic / North)
3rd Antoine Albeau  (RRD / NeilPryde)
4th Peter Volwater  (Fanatic / Avanti)
5th Jimmy Diaz  (Starboard / North)

The 2012 PWA Reggio Calabria Overall Standings : Women’s Slalom
1st Karin Jaggi (Patrik / Severne)
2nd Lena Erdil (Patrik / The Loft / AL360)
3rd Valeria Arrighetti (Tabou / Gaastra/ Mystic)
4th Alice Arutkin (Starboard / North)
5th Laura Linares (RRD / Challenger Sails)