A relaxing morning fooled many of the PWA's sail spinning maestros into thinking the competition would be on hold for the entire day. However, the wind gods blessed the sailors by turning the fans on in Las Cucharas bay bang on one o'clock, creating a freestyle haven for those that had entered.

Fifteen to twenty knot winds meant that sub 5.0m sails and 90-100l boards were the pick of the day. Unfortunately, late in the afternoon a competing breeze began to push back the trades, and at six in the evening the competition had to be postponed for another day. The men's fleet battled their way through to the semi-finals where Canadian Philip Soltysiak (Starboard, Dakine) will meet the boy from Bonaire Kiri Thode (Starboard, Gaastra). And, born and bred styler Tonky Frans (F2, Gaastra) will go head to head with the 2009 World Champion Jose 'Gollito' Estredo (Fanatic, North) to decide who heads in to the winner's, and losers's finals. In the women's fleet, they flipped and spun their way a little bit further with the unstoppable Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard, Vandal) left waiting to take on Yolanda Freites De Brendt (Fanatic, North) in the winner's final.

Shock Exit

When Bjorn Saragoza (Starboard, Hot Sails) leapt onto the water it was hard to look anywhere else. As an unranked rider he had to hit it hard from the very first heat if he wanted to make his mark. He exploded into action, immediately out performing his first victim, which left many on the beach wandering quite what would happen next. Mainly because during his second heat he was up against fellow Bonairean, and current world tour leader, Taty Frans (Starboard, MauiSails, Mystic).

Being put in a heat against the current world number one ranked sailor is tough, but when he's also one of your idols, and he's taught you everything you know, it makes it even more difficult. Saragoza didn't seem too fazed by this and blew Frans out of the water causing a shock exit for the wannabe world champion!

Saragoza then went on to destroy the Dutch diablo master, Davy Scheffers (Tabou, Gaastra). Surely his rampage through the fleet could never end?

Lifetime Achievement Award

Soltysiak is pretty much a household name amongst the freestyle fleet, but rarely do we see him taking down the big guns at the highest profile events around the world. Today however, was very different. Firstly the unranked Saragoza had just styled his way past a world leader, and thus become big time. But secondly, and perhaps more importantly, because Soltysiak matched Saragoza and some, landing him a place in the semi-final. Soltysiak literally sailed the heat of his life, landing moves he'd only just learnt, and some, including a triple flaka, that he'd only ever landed once before in his life!

Salty Words Of Joy