John Skye´s thoughts

We hit up British John Skye with a couple of questions on his thoughts right here right now in the waiting period of this years Cabo Verde Worldcup. John Skye with the sail number K-57 has been on the tour for some time and is currently ranked 11 on this years world tour. Check out these five questions we asked “Skyeboy” on this warm day on the island of Sal.

Testing the waves

1. How do you feel after so many days of being on hold
Pretty frustrated really. I put a lot of effort into this event, going to Maui to train, working on my gear a lot and in the end missing out on the best event of the UK series. So to come here and not even really sail is a bit sad. Still that is competition, and that is windsurfing in a way. Its not over yet, so maybe there is still hope.

2. Competing in a spot full of rocks and sea urchins. How is that for you?
I am not a huge fan of rocks, and especially dont like sea urchins, but its definitely the best spot on the island when its small, so its probably the right decision to compete there.

3. Have you been out there surfing like everyone else?
I have surfed most days I think. The spot where we compete has been the best spot for surfing for me. Its a right hander and I am regular, so its a fun wave. Gets a bit crowded when the whole wave fleet come out at the same time, but had 2 really fun sessions without much crowd.

John Skye in the air

4. How do you like the social activities and the party programme?
The set up here is perfect. It reminds me a little of the party tent at Sotavento, but Josh’s centre acts as a VIP area within the party so its even better. I have to admit though I have been home early the last 2 nights. I was really hopeful that we would get some sailing and didn’t want to wake up too hung over. Last week before the competition I met the local rum that they call grog. It left me in a bad way!

5. Ricardo Campello was taken out by Diony Guadagnino yesterday. What do you think will happen if we manage to get a result without Ricardo in the top16?
Well if we finish the top 16 you can safely say Ricardo’s hopes of world champion are gone! I think the main contendors now have to be Kauli and Victor. Kauli has to do really well here, but in the past he has made every final.

Philip is 3rd at the moment and has been sailing brilliantly, but I dont think he has quite enough experience in these conditions to win the event. The way he learns however by next year he probably will!

Check out Skyeboy´s profile here

When its good

We have had lots of waiting and not the most firing conditions that we usually get on Sal, but we have taken a look back to previous years where the best ever conditions on spots like Ponta Preta and Ali Baba have shown why exactly the worlcup comes to this island each year. Here are two video clips with the only two winners of the Cabo Verde Worldcup, Kauli Seadi and Josh Angulo made by umi pictures.

Curral Joul fails

After spending 3 days in Curral Joul, the conditions have still not been good enough for worldcup level windsurfing. Once again the heat of Josh Angulo and Klaas Voget was attempted but also abandoned after almost finishing the heat. The conditions in Curral Joul have been really tough as we saw even smaller size waves with gusty “wind”.

The sailors will once again gather at 7.30AM as head judge Duncan Coombs believe in better conditions tomorrow early. Looking further into the weekend, there is a newer swell coming which could make for waves at Ponta Preta. All of the sailors have hopes to sail their best at this spot and are very hopeful that they will be able to launch their boards and sails into areals to impress the judges and make their way into the next rounds.

Sailors hoping for more wind

Meanwhile we have brought more pictures from yesterdays action and launched a riders interview section so be sure to check it out.

Highlights from today and previous days will also be running in our live player from 17.30CET so be sure to tune in on that.