Lancelin Ocean Classic 2013 – Preview
It´s January and it´s summertime in Western Australia. And it´s Lancelin time. On the eve of the Lancelin Ocean Classic competitors and spectators alike are flocking to the Cray Fishing town of Lancelin for the 28th consecutive Lancelin Ocean Classic, which is on from Januray 10th till 13th.
The exciting beachstart for the longdistance race in 2012.
History of the event
This world renowned Lancelin Ocean Classic started in 1986 with a few enthusiastic windsurfers and a handful of competitors who recognised that the WA coastline offered some of the most spectacular wind and water conditions anywhere in the world. They came together for a one-day event, the Ledge Point to Lancelin Ocean Marathon and from these humble beginnings it is now one of the most popular events on the worldwide wind surfing calendar.
The event attracts 3000 to 5000 visitors to Lancelin including world class competitors from around the world who will be participating in the Lancelin Ocean Classic in 2013, we will also see the return of world speed sailing record breaker and world champion Björn Dunkerbeck.
Peter Volwater won the longdistance race and 6000 Australian Dollars in 2012. Ozzie boy Jaeger Stone took the wave title last year. Björn Dunkerbeck struggled with a two small sailsize in 2012 and will for sure try to win the event this year. Karin Jaggi won teh long distance in the ladies discipline in 2012 and Swiss Laure Treboux the ladies wave event.
Peter Volwater with fantastic speed in 2012. He won the long distance race.
This Year’s event promises to be the biggest ever
This year’s event will be conducted over three days, and includes two windsurfing events (Wave sailing and the Marathon). The marathon is a downwind course of approximately 25 kilometres and over the years has seen from 200 to 400 starters, many entering to try to complete the gruelling course and claim a share of the $25,000 prize pool. Wave sailing is as well on the schedule and Lancelin offered excellent conditions in the past. Let´s see, if an Aussie can claim the top of the podium this time.
Jaeger Stone on fire back in 2012.
Top names included in the starting line-up this year: 41x world champion Bjorn Dunkerbeck, 10x world champion Steve Allen, 6x Lancelin Ocean Classic Winner Peter Volwater, the legendary Jesper Orth and last year’s Open winner Leo Sharpe . All 5 of them will be joining the Elite category.
This year will also include a Kite surfing, a downwinder from Ledge point to Lancelin following a similar course to that of the windsurfing marathon. Let´s see, if the windsurfers can beat the kiters.
Combined with a new event village, featuring sponsors tents, entertainment and family friendly food and drinks – there is something for everyone this year. Now let´s hope that the wind and waves will be on for the upcoming 4 days. Local Jesper Orth from Perth sent us his latest windreport for the next few days:
“The next 2 days looks very good for the Wave competition. Saturday looks however quite bad for the Downwind Marathon, as a cyclone is moving closer up north and messing up the normal weather pattern.
The cyclone is quite unpredictable and we could be lucky, if it will not stay on it’s calculated direction. So we still have the fingers crossed for some wind.
For the this year´s race you need to prepare anything from 9.5 down to 6.3 with the forecast above!” (Jesper Orth, AUS-10)
Forecast for the next days.
A cyclone is building up further north. It can disturb the normal wind.
Jesper made it in 2nd place in the marathon in 2012.
Laure Treboux, who spends several months in Western Australia during the winter time, dominated the wave event in 2012.
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