Over 500 sailors from 52 nations opened their quest for World Cup honours, personal best performances and bragging rights as the second #event of the 2017 series got underway in Hyères, France.
Events cannot be won on the first day in sailing but they can certainly be lost. So, in a stable 8-11 knot south easterly breeze, it was vital that those aiming for the top honours laid down a marker with consistent race results.
In the 38 strong Women's Windsurfer fleet, Israel's Noga Geller came out flying with superb starts and speed. Feeling comfortable in the conditions, she snapped up the first two race wins. "It was between 10-12 knots and good for planing downwind. The conditions were just like home for me so these are my favourite conditions," Geller explained on her secret to success.
"I was a bit nervous before but winning the first race is always nice and then winning the second was great."
Having won the first two races in the RS:X fleet, Geller was aiming for a perfect day but a bad start in the third bout of the day meant she was unable to assert herself as she had been doing.
Geller finished in 22nd place, quite the comedown from her flying start. So what happened? "I didn't start well," said the Israeli, simply. "I was on the wrong side and then I couldn't catch up so it was a really average race for me.
More information on the press release
© Copyright 2024