Patience proves key in world cup windsurfing, and today was a fine example, with a light offshore breeze simply teasing the competitors and therefore forcing them to endure an entire day on standby.

What Women Want

Whilst the sailors were on standby, we took the opportunity to find out what the world's most elite female race force think of women's only events.

Verena Fauster (Patrik, Gaastra) - ITA 31

"It's really special having a women's only event, and I think it should happen more often because it focuses everyone's attention directly on us. It's also very nice for all the girls to be together having fun. I do however think that if the event had been confirmed earlier in the season there would've been a better turn out, but there's always next year!"

Marion Mortefon - FRA 141

"This is a great event, and such a good concept because it allows the women to take the limelight for once."

Delphine Cousin (Fanatic, North) - FRA 775

"Having a PWA event with just the girls is an excellent idea because we can get much more racing in which is the real reason we're here. We wouldn't have had anywhere near the same amount of racing yesterday if the guys had been here too."

Greta Marchegger (JP, Gaastra) - ITA 193

"It's really cool that there's an event which is solely for the girls because there are loads of women in the PWA, and in windsurfing itself, so we need to promote the fact that it's not just a sport for men."

Greta Benvenuti - ITA 38

"It's so much better for the women to have events like this because we can get more time on the water competing."

Sarah Hebert (Naish, Naish) - ARM 1

"It's an excellent idea, and will definitely help to promote windsurfing to more women because the media is fully focussed on females for once."

Julie Berthou - FRA 451

"I'm really happy to be here at the PWA event purely for women because it shows all of the spectators that females can windsurf too!"

Lindsay Berruyer - FRA 260

"I think it's great having events like this because those sailors lower down the ranks don't feel as intimidated as when the guys are around. It's amazing that girls like me can race on the same course as the world champion!"

Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard, Gaastra) - ARU 91

"Whatssss Up! I've been super excited about this all-women's event for a long time now. It's really cool to have all of the attention on us, usually we're a bit overshadowed by the men. I'm not sure why, we're so much sexier than them!!!"

Karin Jaggi (Patrik, Severne) - SUI 14

"I think it's really important to have women only events because the focus is clearly on us, and it gives the spectators the chance to see how high the level actually is in the female fleet. It's definitely advantageous for us because usually we have to compete for coverage with the men, which makes it much more difficult. It's also great for the younger girls coming in to the sport because it's far less intimidating."