Head-to-head battle between Sroka and vd Vlugt after 12 Races

After 12 races at the European Kite Racing Championships at Sylt/Germany, the top three men are separated by less then three points, with the leading Bruno Sroka (FRA, Cabrinha) and runner-up Rolf van der Vlugt (NED, Airush) only 0.3 points apart.

With possibly more races tomorrow and the last discard tensions are high who is getting the European Championship crown in the end.

After a nice and sunny, but windless day yesterday, the forecast promised good winds for today that would allow the freestyle competition to get underway. Unfortunately the wind never became strong enough for the more than 40 freestylers from all over Europe to show their talents on the water, but provided perfect conditions for another seven course races to be completed.

After the 10:00 hours skippersmeeting, the first warning signal of the day was made at 10:30 hrs sharp and the fleet sent into two rounds box course with a difficult downwind leg. The shifting winds made it even more difficult for the riders to find the perfect line. Three races where run back to back before the Race Committee gave the riders a break.

The lunch break was used to bring a new course on the board, this time a windward/leeward with a leeward gate. This proved to be a good call as the following four races, again sailed back to back, gave the riders some more options for tactics on the second upwind leg.

Standings after 12 races (3 discards), before protest hearings:

Men
1. Bruno Sroka (FRA, Cabrinha) 16.5 points
2. Rolf vd Vlugt (NED, Airush) 16.8 points
3. Julien Kerneur (FRA, Takoon) 19.4 points
4. Abel Lago (ESP, RRD) 24.5 points
5. Gunnar Biniasch (GER, Flysurfer) 36 points

Women
1. Katja Roose (NED, Airush) 9.2 points
2. Caroline Adrien (FRA, Cabrinha) 12.8 points
3. Steph Bridge (GBR, North) 22.7 points
4. Kari Schivebaag (NOR, Ozone) 27.2 points
5. Kathrin Borgwardt (GER, F-One) 51 points

Full results can be found at http://results.extremience.com

Competition continues until Sunday, June 27, with daily briefing at 10:00 hours.

More details about this event and the European Kite Tour can be found at http://www.kitesurftour.eu