International

Even before today's Medal Races, Elena Lengwiler SUI, the dominator of the Formula Kite women, has already been confirmed as an Olympic participant: the top two in the qualifications have qualified directly for the final of the Medal Race and are therefore guaranteed one of the 5 Olympic starting places. In addition to the Swiss rider, Julia Damasiewicz POL, 2nd in the qualification, will also be competing in Marseille, while Connor Bainbridge GBR and Maksymilian Zakowski POL are in the men's final. ----- The first winners are also emerging in other classes, which are sailing their final qualifications today: In the Mixed 470 (4 Olympic Nations starting places), the two Italian teams Giacomo Ferrari/Alessandra Dubbini ITA and Elena Berta/Bruno Festa ITA are well ahead. ----- In the Nacra 17 (4 Olympic places), Natacha Saouma/Mathias Bruun DEN are already 31 points ahead, and in the 49erFX (5 Olympic starting places), Aleksandra Melzacka/Sandra Jankowiak POL are 22 points ahead. ----- In the 49er (4 Olympic starting places), there is a three-way German lead with Jakob Meggendorfer/Andreas Spanger GER at the top. ----- In the ILCA 7 (4 Olympic places), Jeemin Ha KOR is leading, while Gauthier Verhulst SUI is 5th, tied on points with Sebastian Kampe BER in 4th place ... it remains exciting! ----- Noah Lyons USA has a 26-point lead in the iQ Foil Windsurfer, while Katerina Svikova CZE and Anastasya Valkevich AIN/RUS are well ahead in the women's event. ----- In the Nacra 17, Axel Grandjean/Noëmi Fehlmann SUI are in 8th place, 15 points behind the 4th national starting place. ----- All rankings and the report.

With shifting winds, the Mistral could only partially prevail, but all classes could sail at least 2 races. ----- In the 470, Anton Dahlberg/Lovisa Karlsson SWE took the lead with 1st and 2nd place on the day. Yves Mermod/Maja Siegenthaler SUI had to accept another early start disqualification in the second race, and again, they lost a 2nd place. This dropped them back to 20th place. ----- In the 49er, Bart Lambriex/Floris Van de Werken NED are now one point ahead of Dominik Buksak/Szymon Wierzbicki POL. Sébastien Schneiter/Arno De Planta SUI follow in 11th place. ----- Odile Van Aanholt/Annette Duetz NED now lead the 49ersFX by 9 points ahead of Vilma Bobeck/Rebecca Netzler SWE. ----- In the ILCA 6, Marit Bouwmeester NED has taken the lead. Maud Jayet SUI did not compete yesterday and is now 40th behind Anja Von Allmen SUI (32nd). ----- In ILCA 7, Michael Beckett GBR is just one point ahead of Matthew Wearn AUS. ----- The Nacra 17s were not competing. ----- In the Formula Kite, Max Maeder SGP is now the sole leader after another three race wins. ----- Eleanor Bainbridge GBR is now one point ahead of Jessie Kampman FRA in the women's kite. ----- The iQ-Foil windsurfers sailed the double-counting marathon: Mina Mobekk NOR took the lead in the women's race thanks to her victory on the day. ----- The previous leader Grae Morris AUS extended his lead to 10 points by winning the men's marathon. Elia Colombo SUI is now 11th and will fight for a place in the medal race today. ----- All rankings and the reports.

The world's best match racers tackled the Congressional Cup in Long Beach yesterday, the first Grade 1 event of the tour 2024. In good Seabreeze up to 15 knots, 7 flights of the round robin were sailed. ----- Jeppe Borch DEN leads the classification with 6-1 victories. Eric Monnin SUI also started well and is in 4th place with 4-2 wins. ----- The results and the daily report.

Fresh winds also on the third day of the Last Chance Regatta. ----- Elena Lengwiler SUI continued her women's kite foil series with three race wins. Gauthier Verhulst SUI, 5th in the ILCA 7, is now also in a qualifying position. The two Swiss Nacras are only just behind: Axel Grandjean/Noëmi Fehlmann SUI are now 8th (6th nation), Andrea Aschieri/Anja Camusso SUI follow in 10th place. The Swiss kiteboarders are also not too far behind the 7 nations starting places with in 11th (Bruce Kessler SUI) and 13th (Gian-Andrea Stragiotti SUI). Only Manon Berger SUI, 17th among the iQ-Foil windsurfers, will likely miss out on qualification. ----- All rankings, the reports and the Facebook page.

Full program yesterday for the nations that have already qualified: ----- In the 470, Camille Lecointre/Jérémy Mion FRA are now the sole leaders. Bad luck for Yves Mermod/Maja Siegenthaler SUI, who lost a 2nd place in the race due to an early start and dropped back to 17th place. ----- On the other hand, Sébastien Schneiter/Arno De Planta SUI improved to 10th place in the 49ers, with Bart Lambriex/Floris Van de Werken NED in the lead. ----- Odile Van Aanholt/Annette Duetz NED are now first in the 49erFX. ----- An Australian double lead through Casey Imeneo AUS and Mara Stransky AUS in ILCA 6. Maud Jayet SUI has moved up to 10th place. ----- In the ILCA 7, Michael Beckett GBR leads ahead of Herrmann Tomasgaard NOR and Matthew Wearn AUS. ----- Max Maeder SGP and Toni Vodisek SLO are now tied on points at the top of Formula Kite men. ----- Eleanor Aldridge GBR is in the lead in the women's kite, with Jesse Kampman FRA and Lauriane Nolot FRA in pursuit. ----- In the iQ-Foil Windsurf, Grae Morris AUS is on top. Elia Colombo SUI is still in 10th place. Tamar Steinberg ISR is 11 points ahead in the women's windsurfing rankings. ----- There is still no ranking list for the Nacra 17. ----- All rankings, the reports and the Facebook page.

On the second day of qualifications for the last Olympic starting places, another full program was sailed in inconsistent winds between 12 and 15 knots. ----- Elena Lengwiler SUI extended her lead in the women's kite foil with 3 race wins. ----- Connor Bainbridge GBR is the clear leader in the men's Formula Kite. Gian-Andrea Stragiotti SUI moved up to 10th place (6th nation). ----- Khairulnizam Mohd Affendi MAS has taken the lead in ILCA 7. Gauthier Verhulst SUI was one of the best of the day and is now 6th and therefore in the running for an Olympic starting place. ----- The two Swiss Nacra17 teams in 9th and 10th place are close behind a nation's berth. ----- In the 49er, Yannick Lefèbre/Jan Theuninnck BEL and Max Stingele/Linoy Scheel GER are tied for the lead. ----- All rankings and the Facebook page.

While some classes sailed their first races at midday in moderate, inconsistent winds, a fresh mistral brought up to 25 knots in the late afternoon. ----- This was the case for the 470s, where a trio led by Camille Lecointre/Jérémy Mion FRA are tied on points after two races. Yves Mermod/Maja Siegenthaler SUI had to accept a capsize in the second race and are 15th. ----- In the 49ers, Jack Ferguson/Max Paul AUS lead ahead of Bart Lambriex/Floris Van de Werken NED. Joshua Richner/Nilo Schärer SUI are 17th, Sébastien Schneiter/Arno De Planta follow in 19th place. ----- An Australian lead also in the 49erFX by Laura Harding/Annie Wilmot AUS. ----- In the ILCA 7, Jean-Baptiste Bernaz FRA won the only race of the day. ----- Just one race each for the iQ-Foil windsurfers: Zhen Yang CHN leads the women's race, while Grae Morris AUS, Nicolas Goyard FRA and Tom Reuveny ISR are now tied for the lead in the men's race. ----- The ILCA 6, the Kite-Foilers and the Nacra 17 did not compete. ----- All rankings and the Facebook page.

The "last chances regatta" for the last remaining Olympic starting places began yesterday in Hyères with the first races in all 10 Olympic classes. ----- In the Formula Kite (5 starting places each), Elena Lengwiler SUI was a favorite in the women's race and took a clear lead with places 1/1/1/2. ----- In the men's event, the top 4 are separated by just 2 points, with Maksymilan Zarkowski POL in the lead. Bruce Kessler SUI is the best of the three Swiss in 11th place. ----- After two races, Campbell Patton BER and Oskar Madonich UKR are tied for the lead in ILCA 7. Gauthier Verhulst SUI is down in 15th place for the time being (10th nation). ----- In the Nacra 17, Natascha Saouma/Matthias Bruun DEN won two of the 3 races. Axel Grandjean/Noëmi Fehlmann SUI are 9th (8th nation). ----- Ingrid Puusta EST leads the women's iQ-Foil, and Manon Berger SUI follows in 14th place. ----- All rankings and the report.

The participants who have already qualified for the Olympics are sailing the Semaine Olympique, with the Formula Kites and iQ Foil windsurfers being the first to compete yesterday. ----- Max Maeder SGP once again dominated the Formula Kite with 3 race wins in 5 races, followed by Toni Vodisek SLO in 2nd place, 3 points behind. ----- Lauriane Nolot FRA also had three race wins in the Kite Foil Women. Ellie Aldridge GBR follows in 2nd place, tied on points. ----- In the iQ Foil Windsurfing Men, Grae Morris AUS and Tom Reuveny ISR share the lead, with Nicolas Goyard FRA one point behind. Elia Colombo SUI also got off to a good start in 9th place out of the 35 participants. ----- Zheng Yan CHN took the lead in the women's race, followed one point behind by Mariana Aguilar MEX. ----- All rankings and the daily report.

There was plenty of wind on the final day of the third round of the Euro Masters, and two races were sailed. ----- Monica Azon ESP remained on top of the ILCA 6, with Freek De Miranda NED and Cesar Sierhuis NED taking the places of honor. Lorenz Müller SUI was a good 17th of the 76 participants - the ranking ILCA 6. ----- Lorenzo Cerretelli ITA won the ILCA 7, with José-Luis Doreste ESP - 1988 Olympic Finn Champion - moving up to second place with two race wins. Markus Ochs SUI finished 23rd, and Beat Heinz SUI followed in 29th place of the 51 participants - the Ranking ILCA 7. ----- The final report with all rankings.

The first round of the European Melges 24 Tour ended yesterday in Trieste with another 3 races. Ante Cesic CRO and his team won with superiority ahead of Akos Csolto HUN. Jörg Hotz SUI finished 17th of the 26 teams from 9 nations. ----- The ranking list and the daily report.

The Hyères World Cup is the last big test of strength for most classes before the Olympic Games in July. Only the nations already qualified for the Olympics are taking part, including Switzerland in 4 classes (470, 49er, ILCA 6, iQ-Windsurf). All entry lists. Moderate winds are forecast for today, then it should freshen up in the course of the week - the forecasts. First starts today at 12h, the races can be followed via Live-Ticker. The event website.

Together with the Olympic World Cup, but sailing in separate fleets, the nations that have not yet qualified will be fighting for the last Olympic starting places in Hyères. Switzerland will be competing in 4 disciplines: As the rising star of the season, kiteboarder Elena Lengwiler SUI is also named in the official preview as the favourite for one of the 7 starting places. Bruce Kessler SUI, Karl Mäder SUI and Gian-Andrea Stragiotti SUI have usually come close in the past major series. This also applies to Gauthier Verhulst SUI in the ILCA 7, along with his brother Martin Verhulst SUI. The two Swiss Nacra 17s Andrea Aschieri/Anja Camusso SUI and Axel Grandjean/Noëmi Fehlmann SUI also still have a good chance of securing one of the 4 Olympic starting places. All entry lists and the preview.

The Euromasters continued yesterday with two races held in moderate seabreeze. ----- Monica Azon ESP maintained her lead in the ILCA 6, with Freek De Miranda NED following 10 points behind. Lorenz Müller SUI improved to 15th place out of 78 participants. ----- Lorenzo Cerretelli ITA took the lead in the ILCA 7, with Brett Beyer AUS one point behind in second place. The best Swiss is now Markus Ochs SUI in 27th place out of 51 participants. ----- The event website and the Facebook page with a large gallery.

The 5.5m Alpine Cup came to an end yesterday on Lake Garda with two races held in inconsistent northerly winds. With a 2nd place in the first race, Peter Morton GBR/Ruairidh Scott GBR/Andrew Palfrey AUS made everything clear and did not have to compete in the final race. Mark Holowesko BAH (with Christoph Burger SUI) moved up to 2nd place as the day's best (1/2). The Marazzi family remained the best Swiss team in 9th place out of 21 teams. The ranking list and the final report.

Two races were completed yesterday in partly fresh Bora winds of up to 20 knots. Ante Cesic CRO and his team were the best of the day and extended their lead to 10 points. Jörg Hotz SUI was able to improve to 15th place of the 26 teams. The ranking list, the daily report and the Facebook page with video and pictures.

Yesterday, Alinghi Red Bull tested its definitive cupper (Boat One) under sail for the first time. The video and the report.

Conditions were good at the start of the Euro Masters of the ILCAs off the Costa Brava, with three races each being completed. ----- Monica Azon ESP dominated the action in the ILCA 6 with places 1/1/3. Wilmar Groenendijk NED is already 11 points behind in 2nd place. The best Swiss is Lorenz Müller SUI in 17th place, followed by Jean-Luc Dreyer SUI in 24th of the 78 participants from 13 nations (including the USA and ARG) - the ILCA 6 ranking. ----- Brett Beyer AUS took the lead in ILCA 7, followed one point behind by Lorenzo Ceretelli ITA. José-Luis Doreste ESP and Antoni Roig ESP share 3rd place on equal points. Beat Heinz SUI is 25th of the 50 participants - the ILCA 7 results. ----- The event website.

Fresh Ora made 3 races possible on Lake Garda yesterday. Peter Morten GBR and his team were able to extend their lead to 5 points. The first pursuer is now his wife Louise Morten GBR! Kristian Nergaard NOR is 3rd, and only 0.5 points behind is Mark Holowesko BAH (with Christoph Burger SUI). Best Swiss is still Flavio Marazzi SUI in 9th place, directly behind are Jürg Menzi SUI and Bernard Haissly SUI. ----- The ranking list and the daily report.

In Trieste, 26 teams from 9 nations tackled the Melges 24 season. In constant winds around 12 knots, 4 races were completed. With 3 race wins Ante Cesic CRO and his team are clearly in the lead. Geoff Carveth GBR follows 4 points behind in 2nd place. Jörg Hotz SUI, the only Swiss at the start, is 17th. ----- The report with links to the ranking list and the pictures.

Grey weather and cool temperatures characterized the first day of the 5.5m Alpine Cup on Lake Garda. Three races were sailed in a moderate southerly wind. Peter Morton GBR and his team took the lead with 1/1/3. Bent Wilhelmsen NOR follows in 2nd place, 4 points behind, while Mark Holowesko BAH (with Christoph Burger SUI) is in 4th place thanks to a race win in the last race. The best Swiss is Flavio Marazzi SUI in 9th place with his daughters Eline and Julie. ----- The ranking list and the daily report.

The first Big Air World Cup of the year was held on the French Mediterranean coast. Kiteboarding's most spectacular discipline benefited from fresh winds, with the Tramontana blowing at around 30 knots on the final day. The Dutch provided the surprises: In the women's event, Pippa Van Iersel NED made an impressive comeback with a victory after a 2-year injury break. In the men's event, 18-year-old Jamie Overbeck NED achieved his first World Cup victory. ----- The results and the report.

The match racing season begins today in Long Beach with the Ficker Cup, which is part of the World Tour. The top three also qualify for the Congressional Cup, which takes place at the same venue in a week, and features all the cracks, including Eric Monnin SUI. The preview.

In Barcelona, the America's Cup activities have reached a new level of intensity, the teams have received their definitive cuppers. Team New Zealand was the first to complete a test drive - here is a longer video. Alinghi-Red-Bull and Luna Rossa were content with towing tests on the first water day - the report.

On Sunday, three more races were sailed in light winds in the Adriatic. After two race wins for Urs Infanger SUI, the final race was decided in favor of Antonio Squizzati ITA, who has Paralympic experience. Urs Infanger SUI follows two points behind. The best-ranked woman was Karin Hofmann GER in 6th place out of 32 participants from 5 nations. ----- The report with ranking.

The Western Hemisphere Championship was--decided in 8 races at the weekend in Miami. Tomas Hornos/Mauricio Buenos USA took first and second place on the final day, knocking Piet Eckert SUI/Federico Melo POR off the top spot. Augie Diaz USA/Bruno Prada BRA followed in 3rd place. 33 teams from 8 nations were at the start. ------ The ranking list and the report.

On the occasion of last week's Mondial du Vent, held in very strong winds sometimes exceeding 40 knots, the Wingfoilers sailed another Worldcup Act. ----- The 16-year-old Nia Suardiez ESP won both the women's freestyle and the slalom. ----- In the men's event, Christopher Macdonald USA won the freestyle and Francesco Capuzzo ITA the slalom. ----- The rankings, the event website and the Facebook page with more videos.

Summery weather and light winds prevailed yesterday at the start of the Jesolo Trophy of the 2.4m. Superior Antonio Squizzato ITA, who won all 3 races of the day. Urs Infanger SUI came 2nd three times, with 30 participants from 5 nations at the start. The ranking list and the Facebook page with the pictures.

The last races of the Junior European Championship were sailed yesterday in Portoroz at around 10 knots. The boys finished two races, the girls sailed three, with Gabriela Morrell ESP taking the title in the end, or rather the two titles: she also won the U16 classification. Maria-Christina Melaniti GRE and Maria Magdalena Villalonga ESP follow in 2nd and 3rd place. Léanne Turrin SUI was one of the best of the day and moved up to 8th place, taking the silver medal in the U16 classification - the ranking list Girls. Lorenzo Ghirotti ITA came out on top in the boys' category, with Vassilis Koukoudis GRE and Alberto Avanzini ITA completing the podium. Nathan Wehrle FRA took the U16 title in 5th place. Ulysse Raison SUI was 49th, Niklas Ambos SUI followed in 52nd place. 243 participants were at the start in total - the rankings boys. The final report.

The ILCA 4 Junior European Championship continued yesterday with two races each in around 15 knots of wind. ----- Before today's final day, Sara Lacko HUN leads 11 points ahead of Gabriela Morell ESP. Another 11 points behind is Maria-Christina Melaniti GRE in 3rd place. Leanne Turrin SUI is 16th and 2nd in the U16 classification - the ranking Girls. ----- Lorenzo Ghirotti ITA leads the boys' classification with a 9-point lead over Georgios Kypraios GRE. Archie Munro GBR follows in 3rd place. Ulysse Raison SUI is 39th, Niklas Ambos SUI follows in 55th place in the Goldfleet - the rankings Boys. ----- The daily report.