LT Windsurfer Worlds Report

Windsurfer LT World Championship

Taking place from September 16th to September 22nd. Spain 2024. Bay of Roses.

278 Overall entries from 21 countries with 9 from the UK.

Day one was mainly registration, plus a practice race taking place in very strong windy conditions. Doug Baker from the UK did very well in the practice race and took 1st place.

With Windsurfer LT weight groups are front and foremost. The men’s fleet is split into four dynamically allocated equal numbered weight groups – every competitor is weighed at registration and the fleet is split exactly into four. The Ladies were in one group.

The Championships include Slalom, Course racing, free style and a long-distance racing which all fleets take part in if they wish. Which is fun having nearly 300 people on the start line it’s like windsurfing was, back in the 80’s & early 90’s. We all thoroughly enjoyed racing in this format.

The second day was when full racing started.

The Ladies Started with Slalom along with the Heaviest Men’s weight group. These two sections were completed on Day 2. Alysia Gibson from the UK finished second in the Slalom event.

The Men’s Course racing on day one took place on in very difficult sea conditions. The three other weight groups taking place enjoyed the day. With Elliot Carney from the UK sailing very well.

The next few days of sailing mixed Course racing and Slalom between the weight groups. Again, Elliot Carney was the best Men’s finisher in the Slalom competition.

In the ladies Course racing Alysia Gibson & Bruna Ferracane from Italy, were having a very close battle. Through out the course racing and even when Alysia won the last course race with a big lead and sailed her best race of the series. This was not quite enough. So, Bruna took first place with Alysia second. They both sailed very well and were sailing to a very high standard. As both had previously sailed against each other in the RSX Olympic Class.

At the end of the Men’s course racing, Elliot Carney finished 4th in his Weight group, and Paul Leone finished 9th in the Lightest Weight group.

The last day was the Long-Distance Race in which all weight groups would sail together of the Start line. This was changeling for the race office as the first start had a general recall and the second start had a lot of people over the line that were disqualified. Plus, the last start time was 3pm and second start was only minutes before from being time out, everyone taking part really enjoyed it.

The prize giving took place were everyone from each weigh group was rewarded 1st, 2nd & 3rd.  For each Sailing discipline along with overall prizes which added up all disciplines together.