Around 11am all competitors and the Fuerte Wave Classic organization met at Puertito. Huge north-westerly swell, for sure the biggest of the whole event, welcomed all people on the beach: riders, organizers, spectators. The wind was pretty light in the morning hours, but already blew from a good direction. Mikey Clancy from Ireland reckoned the wavesize as double mast high breaking into the bay.
Massive spray
Riderinterviews - Nayra Alonso
While midday the wind picked up. We measured around 9 to 15 knots with an average of 12 knots next to the water. Several sailors already thought about to make it out on the water.
The tide went down and the waves came in order. The sideshore to sideoffshore gusts blew a lot of white water off the waves just before they started to break. Yannick Anton drove up the beach, also Mikey Clancy. Thomas Traversa decided for a new version to enter the ocean by jumping in from the cliffs next to the harbour wall. Tom Hartmann assisted him getting the gear down over the cliff. More about this action later!
Thomas ready to jump over the harbour wall
Yannick Anton failed to sail out in his first attempt. But Mikey made it out without the help of a jetski and had some super nice rides. Yannick also made it out in his second attempt and could ride double masthigh monsters till the late evening.
Yannick Anton on one of the biggest waves today
Mikey Clancy
JB Caste, Tom Hartmann, Eleazar Alonso, Aleix Sanllehy and Stephane Etienne made it out with the help of the jetski. They started from the little harbour of Cotillo and had to pass the little entrance. It was tricky to find the right timing with the massive whitewater and strong current.
Thomas Traversa, Yannick Anton, Mikey Clancy and Stephane Etienne made most out of it and had awesome rides. Yannick crashed twice in a critical situation, but was back on his gear quickly. Also no other rider did break any gear today. Thomas sailed back straight into the little bay of Puertito, which was a very tough move all others were brought back with the jetski. Yannick Anton stayed out till the end and proofed again, that he likes and knows Puertito!
Overall it was an 8 hour long day at the beach. But the waiting paid off and some of the participants sailed their biggest waves of the whole event.
Stephane Etienne after his session in the harbour
