Dos Reis took the event win dominating the racing by winning all 7 races over the event ahead of Jesper Vesterstrøm (Starboard/North) from Denmark, and Wilhelm Schurmann (Starboard/Neilpryde) from Brasil. It was Dos Reis’ first time sailing in this part of New South Wales and the Brasilian said about the event after taking home the first prize of a return-ticket airfare from event sponsors Qantas Airlines:

“This was the first time I’ve come to Australia and I was very impressed with the hospitality and the great racing conditions. It was windy, and that’s the conditions I like, so I’m very happy to win and I will definitely be back next year”.

One of the event organisers and defending champion Sean O’Brien (Starboard/Point-7) was the first Australian over the line coming in a clear 5th overall and just 2 points behind 4th placed Mathias Pinheiro (Starboard/North) from Brasil. O’Brien becomes the Oceanic and Australian Champion for the 6th time now as international competitors are ineligible for the title. Having raced in Hawks Nest for over 12 years now, O’Brien said of the event:

“We picked this beach to run the event for more than just the quality sailing it produces. It’s got a small town vibe which is great for families who compete, there’s plenty of other things to do for the non-windsurfers and the conditions this place produces are absolutely World-Class. I had a great event and punishing Mathias in the last race really capped it off for me.”

Brett Morris (Starboard/North) had a battle on his hands finishing 2nd Australian and 6th overall in the event, just 2 points ahead of Luke Baillie (Gaastra/Neilpryde) from Brisbane. Despite the race crew’s attempts at getting a final lightwind race in today to cap off the event, Brett was able to hold on to his 2nd Australian position, despite sitting deep in the standings during the final race attempt today, with Baillie just nipping at the heels of race leaders Schurmann and Vesterstrøm.

A new division for the sailors new to the Formula Windsurfing class called ‘Free Formula’ was run for the fifth time at a National Titles this year. The division allows newer sailors the opportunity to race at the same time as the Pro Division but sail one less lap then the top sailors. This class has seen the biggest growth in the past few seasons with 22 competitors taking part in this year’s event. The division was dominated by Darryl Griffiths (Starboard/Severne) from Western Australia, ahead of Tim Ford (JP/Neilpryde) and Adam Craven (JP/Neilpryde).

In the Youth division a World-Class fleet competed with event winner and 2nd time overall champion at this event, Aldo ‘Bebeko’ Maia (Starboard/North) came all the way downunder from Brasil to finish ahead of Reece Baillie (Starboard/Neilpryde) and Laird O’Brien (Exocet/Neilpryde) to take home a new mobile phone from event sponsor, Blackberry. Multiple time Australian title holder Wayne Bowness (Gaastra/Gaastra) won a very contested Grand-Master division ahead of Tim Wood (Gaastra/Gaastra) from England but based in New Zealand, and local legend Rick Murray (Starboard/North).

After the event concluded on Saturday competitors enjoyed a fantastice meal at ‘Benchmark’ restaurant and function centre as part of the Prizegiving Ceremony with major sponsors Qantas and Blackberry handing out a number of new handsets and round-the-world plane tickets to the division winners.

Current event leader, with 7 bullets, Brasilian sailor Paulo Dos Reis (Patrik/North) kept a cool head spending most of the day relaxing out of the dribbles of rain in the shade with the rest of the Brasilian team, including Wilhelm Schurmann (Starboard/Neilpryde) who is currently in 3rd overall, and Mathias Pinheiro (Starboard/North) just behind Schurmann in 4th.

Jesper Vesterstrøm (Starboard/North) had a relaxing day at the beach, chatting with the local sailors and trying the local cuisine, keeping the energy levels up just in case a race could be started today and he would have another opportunity to take a win from the dominant Brasilian, Dos Reis.

Defending champion Sean O’Brien (Starboard/Point-7) had an on-edge day, hoping the morning forecast of light southerly breezes would be enough for another race so he could claw back the 2 points required to pass Pinheiro in to 4th. O’Brien is currently in 5th overall with a few clear points margin to the next Australians, Brett Morris (Starboard/North) and Luke Baillie (Gaastra/Neilpryde).

After the end of racing was signalled, Baillie led of contingent of the younger sailors and a few of the internationals over from Singapore, across to the front beach of Hawks Nest, a beach break on the ocean side of Port Stephens, for a quick surfing session with 2-3 ft waves peeling in on glassy waters with the lack of wind. After the surfing session, the sailors were treated to an ‘Aussie style’ BBQ at the famous Hawks Nest Golf Club, one of the popular eating holes in Hawks Nest.

The forecast for the final day of racing continues to baffle the sailors with conflicting forecasts from each weather service as the aftermath of the low pressure trough which has sat above the New South Wales coast for most of the week, dumping torrential rain and causing damaging floods to many of the nearby towns on the Hunter Coast, where Hawks Nest is situated. With the possibility of 4 more races being run on the final day, there is plenty more action to come and the battle for the Downunder Pro title will be fought to the death, as the Australian contingent aim to reign back the lead from the internationals currently holding the first 4 positions.

Full results after 7 races here:

Current event leader, Paulo Dos Reis (Patrik/North), took four straight bullets in today’s racing to bring his score up to a perfect seven wins from seven starts. Using his 11.0m in all four races despite the up and down winds anywhere from 10 to 30 knots during the day, the Brasilian looked comfortable all day with blistering downwind speed despite valiant efforts from the Nordic Viking, Jesper Vesterstrøm (Starboard/North) who managed to beat Dos Reis to the windward mark numerous times today.

Vesterstrøm comfortably holds his 2nd position overall posting four 2nd places today ahead of another consistent competitor, last year’s event winner Wilhelm Schurmann (Starboard/Neilpryde) from Brasil, who nailed four 3rd places; enjoying the gusty and shifty conditions.

Defending Australia Champion Sean O’Brien (Starboard/Point-7) had a better day today, managing to beat his rival Mathias Pinheiro (Starboard/North) in two of the four races today, but finishing the day still two points behind Pinheiro. O’Brien switched sails in each race, between his 10.5m and 11.5m rigs whilst Pinheiro stayed on the 10.0m for all four races, posting two 4th’s, a 5th and an OCS (disqualified for starting early), with O’Brien taking two 4th’s and two 5th’s.

Olympic hopeful, Luke Baillie (Neilpryde/Gaastra), won the RS:X Olympic Windsurfing Class Australian Championships last weekend as part of the Downunder Pro and stayed to compete in the formula event this week with equipment borrowed from O’Brien. Despite registering only one sail, his Olympic rig of 9.5m which is drastically smaller than other competitors, Baillie was consistent today posting a 5th, 6th and 7th in the final races bringing him to 7th overall and just two points behind the 2nd placed Aussie in the standings, Brett Morris (Starboard/North).

Coming in to Day 3 tomorrow, the forecast looks like we’ll get a little more sunshine and a touch less wind, but guaranteed racing action and a chance for Vesterstrøm to knock Dos Reis off his ‘perfect score’ regatta, as well as a chance for the Australians to claw back the Brasilians to fight for that 3rd spot on the podium.

Full results after 7 races here:

Current World #1 sailor from Brasil, Paulo Dos Reis (Patrik/North) dominated the day with 3 wins from 3 starts despite not actually passing the top mark in 1st position during any of the three races. The Brasilians incredible speed downwind, muscling his 11.0m sail in the early races, before switching down to 10.0m allowed him to pass Jesper Vesterstrøm (Starboard/North) from Denmark who nailed two 2nd’s behind Dos Reis before a shaky double-gybe on the last mark in Race 3 put him back to 5th.

Brasilians Wilhelm Schurmann (Starboard/Neilpryde) and Mathias Pinheiro (Starboard/North) had a consistent day despite the gusty and shifty winds and are currently sitting in 3rd and 4th overall.
The defending Australian champion Sean O’Brien (Starboard/Point-7) had a mixed day finishing 6th in Race 1 before taking two 4th’s behind the Brasilians to be in 5th overall after Day 1, and just 2 points ahead of his next Australian rivals Brett Morris (Starboard/North) and Byron McIllveen (Patrik/Point-7).

Conditions on the course were difficult for the sailors with the rain squalls making it very hard to see the marks on the course and the south-east direction of the wind causing large ocean swells to pump in through the headlands and on to the course; making for very bumpy and choppy conditions with the strong winds.

With the forecast for the next few days looking like nuclear strong winds over 30 knots again, the spectators at Jimmy’ Beach, Hawk Nest can again expect a great Formula Windsurfing display if they can brave the rain. The 2012 Downunder Pro Formula Windsurfing Championships will run until Saturday 5th February.

2012 Downunder Pro Formula Provisional Results
2012 Downunder Pro – Equipment List

The talent included Jesper Vesterstrøm from Denmark, who had previously won this event and placed 7th at the 2011 Formula Windsurfing World Championships, Downunder Pro defending champion Wilhelm Schurmann from Brazil, 5-time defending Australian Champion Sean O’Brien from Australia and the #1 Ranked sailor in the World, Paulo dos Reis, from Brazil, as well as a bunch of sailors from as far as Greece, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom, as well as multiple contenders from Australia.

Greeted with a forecast of 15-20 knots the sailors were eager to get out on the water on the first day of racing with 4 races being run over the day as the winds increased over 20 knots by late in the afternoon. Vesterstrøm led from the start taking four wins from four starts ahead of Wilhelm Schurmann with rival Brazilian Mathias Pinheiro tying with Sean O’Brien in 3rd after the first day’s racing.

On the Saturday evening, sailors were treated to an ‘Aussie style’ beach BBQ with all competitors across all the windsurfing classes at this championship (over 100 competitors) attending the beach festivities.

Sunday looked more promising to have even stronger winds with the forecast showing strong wind warnings over 30 knots for the Hunter Coast area. Race 1 was able to get underway by midday with winds increasing from 9 knots to 17 knots on the course. The World #1, Paulo Dos Reis had arrived late on Saturday evening to the racesite and was ready for Sunday’s racing to give the current leader Vesterstrøm, a fight for the event win. Vesterstrøm was able to take the first race of Sunday comfortably ahead of Schurmann and O’Brien before he battled with Dos Reis in Race 2 to claw back to first after Paulo had led for most of the first lap.

Knowing he had already won the event by a clear margin with two races left to sail, Vesterstrøm rested for the afternoon in preparation for the main event which begins on Wednesday allowing Dos Reis to win the final two races of the Warmup Event by a clear margin ahead of Schurmann and O’Brien in Race 3 and O’Brien then Schurmann in Race 4.

With only 3 out of each 4 races counting for the overall score, after 8 races, Vesterstrøm had a clean page of 6 wins to take the outright Warmup Event title ahead of Schurmann and O’Brien. Vesterstrøm, who has recently become an Australian resident, had been training and preparing for the event in Sydney since December and had definitely acclimatised to the warm temperatures and strong winds Australia has to offer through the summer.

Another fantastic event at beautiful Hawks Nest and a great chance for everyone to tune up before the 2012 Downunder Pro Oceanics & Australian Championships start this Wednesday.

Final results for the Warmup Event can be found here:

Altogether over 50 competitors across the 3 ‘daggerboard’ classes knocked 3 races over today in the light 8-12 knot north-easterly breeze. Plenty of sunshine and crystal clear waters gave the sailors a beautiful start to the event before the forecast of rain and stronger winds on the weekend will begin and the Formula Windsurfing class will start their ‘warmup event’ (Heat 5 of the NSW Windsurf Tour) before their main event begins on Wednesday.

Check out a small photo gallery from today’s racing.

2012 Raceboard Oceanic Championship Results (after 3 races)
2012 RS:X Australian Championship Results (after 3 races)
2012 BIC Techno Championship Results (after 3 races)

Schurmann took the event win dominating the racing by winning 7 out of 8 races over the event. His second time sailing in this part of New South Wales the Brasilian said:

“This spot is simply incredible! We had winds every single day, it was just perfect for sailing or any outdoor activities for that matter. I was able to bring some other Brasilian friends of mine down this year and we all had a great time! I’ll definitely be back next year once again”.

One of the event organisers and defending champion Sean O’Brien (Starboard/Point-7) was the first Australian over the line coming in a clear third overall behind Mathias Pinheiro (Starboard/North) by taking two seconds and a third in today’s racing to close the gap on Pinheiro. O’Brien becomes the Oceanic and Australian Champion for the 5th time now as international competitors are ineligible for the title. Having raced in Hawks Nest for over 12 years now, O’Brien said of the event:

“We picked this beach to run the event for more than just the quality sailing it produces. It’s got a small town vibe which is great for families who compete, there’s plenty of other things to do for the non-windsurfers and the conditions this place produces are absolutely World-Class. I had a great event and punishing Mathias in all the races today really capped it off for me.”

Brett Morris (Starboard/North) had a difficult day today sitting 3 points clear of O’Brien before the day’s start however didn’t finish the first race today and was unable to continue his race-winning form from yesterday getting a 4th and an 8th in the final two races today to finish 4 points behind O’Brien and 2 points clear of Sam Parker (JP/Neilpryde) in 5th overall.

A new division for the sailors new to the Formula Windsurfing class called ‘Formula Experience Plus’ (FE+) was run for the fourth time at a National Titles this year. The division allows newer sailors the opportunity to race at the same time as the Pro Division but sail one less lap then the top sailors. This class has seen the biggest growth in the past few seasons with 16 competitors taking part in this year’s event. The division was dominated by local sailors from NSW and surrounds with Tim Ford (JP/Neilpryde) taking the win ahead of Barry Fawkes (Starboard/Neilpryde) and James Farley (F2/MauiSails).

In the Youth division a World-Class fleet competed with event winner and 2nd time overall champion at this event, Christian Justesen (JP/Neilpryde) came all the way downunder from Denmark to finish ahead of Nick Austen (Starboard/Point-7) and Ben Morrell (Starboard/Neilpryde) to take the $500 cash prize from Staminade. Multiple time Australian title holder Rick Murray (Starboard/North) won a very contested Grand-Master division ahead of Wayne Bowness (Gaastra/Gaastra) and Tibor Ferenczy (Starboard/Severne).

After the event concluded on Saturday competitors enjoyed a three-course meal at the Hawks Nest Golf Club as part of the Prizegiving Ceremony with major sponsors Qantas and Blackberry handing out a number of new handsets and round-the-world plane tickets to the division winners. After the prizegiving competitors and friends enjoyed a free concert from local outfit “XYDJ’s” who flew up from Sydney to play the show.

• 2011 Downunder Pro Final Results (After 8 races)
• Photo Galleries from Day 4 & Prizegiving