The PWA's elite slalom fleet were treated to a day of extreme winds for the fourth day of competition allowing the race crew to power through three dramatic eliminations. Gusts reaching up to thirty knots tested the sailors to the edge of their ability as they struggled to hold onto their equipment as they battled down the race course. Edge of your seat racing, full throttle crashes and aggressive action, the fourth day of racing had it all.

The race crew were on the water straight away for a 10am start to the racing, picking up the action from men's elimination five at heat number eight.

Men's Fleet

The man on top Bjorn Dunkerbeck (Starboard / Severne / Mystic / DunkerbeckEyewear), had a mixed day on the water scoring a fifth place in elimination five due to a crash at an early mark. He claimed his fourth bullet in elimination six by sailing an incredible race, but unfortunately he was taken out in the semi-finals of elimination seven and he was unable to recover a qualifying position.

Bjorn Dunkerbeck
"Everything went well today apart from being taken out in the semi-finals. I was entering my gybe in second place with loads of speed, but then I was wiped out so I couldn't make the final. I am still in the lead with two days to go so there's plenty more races to come."

Finian Maynard (RRD) kicked off the days proceedings on top form and he claimed first places in his first two races, showing the crowds what he was really made off in the stronger winds. Maynard continued all the way to the winners' final. However he was caught out by his own determination to succeed and he went over early. Maynard continued with his stellar performance throughout the day scoring fifthand sixth places in the following winners' finals, allowing him to keep his hands on second place.

Another sailor obviously enjoying the high winds was Micah Buzianis (JP / NeilPryde). Buzianis was pushing the start-line hard all day and it paid off as he scored second place finishes in two winners' finals and a second place in the losers' final knocking his score up a notch, into third place past Ben Van Der Steen (Starboard / Loft / Mystic).

Elimination five witnessed the many times world champion Antoine Albeau (JP / NeilPryde), claim his first race win in Alacati. Albeau went on to score fourth in elimination six but an enormous catapult in the elimination seven semi-finals forced him into the losers' final, he went on to dominate leading the fleet the whole way around the course. After a successful day Albeau made his way from ninth into fifth place.

Antoine Albeau
"Today was good fun it was really windy, I was sailing on my 7.0m and my small board. The course was flat and the first reach was really fast. I won a race, finished in fourth and I catapulted in the next race because I was pushing it a little too hard, but it's part of the game. I hope tomorrow is the same so that I can keep going and make the podium."