Wind- & Kitesurfing

After Wednesday's flat day, conditions were good again yesterday in Jericoacoara, with both fleets finishing 8 races each. ----- Nia Suardiaz ESP continued her winning streak in the women's event and leads the classification with 11 wins in 12 races. Cindy Robert SUI is now 18th, while Kamil Manowiecki POL is now the sole leader in the men's race, with Francesco Cappuzzo ITA 2nd 2.5 points behind and Mathis Ghio FRA 3rd. ----- All rankings and the report.

Thunderstorms and shifting winds prevented further races in Brazil yesterday. After the long distance races on the start day, Kamil Manowiecki POL, Mathis Ghio FRA and Francesco Cappuzzo ITA share the lead on equal points. Nia Siardiaz ESP won all 3 women's races. ----- The rankings. The daily report introduces some of the numerous newcomer girls.

The windsurfers' Speed Week is currently underway again in the sheltered strong-wind bay of Lüderitz in Namibia. In ideal conditions, Antoine Albeau FRA managed to improve his own world speed record to 53.49 knots (98.5 km/h). Gunnar Asmussen GER set a new German record of 52.69 knots. The event website and the Facebook page.

The Wing-Foiler Racing World Cup began yesterday in Jericoacoara BRA with 3 long-distance races. A trio with equal points is in the lead in the men's race: Kamil Manowiecki POL, Mathis Ghio FRA and Francesco Capuzzo ITA are tied for the lead, with Yannik Holste GER following in 15th place of the 38 participants from 13 nations. In the women's event, favourite Nia Suardiaz ESP is in the lead with three race wins. Jelena Duwe GER follows in 9th place, Cindy Robert-Mauron SUI, the only Swiss in Brazil, had to miss the first two races and is 17th of the 19 participants. The rankings and the report.

The 4th and final Wingfoil World Cup of the year came to an end yesterday in Brazil. In the men's freestyle, Tomas and Aleksander Acherer AUT secured an Austrian double victory, Axel Gerard FRA came 3rd, while Christopher McDonald USA stayed ahead in the annual ranking. In the women's event, Nia Suardiez ESP also won the 4th World Cup of the year. Zara Maillard SUI, the only Swiss in Brazil, finished 4th in the slalom and was eliminated in the semi-finals of the freestyle. The report with the freestyle rankings, the rankings of the slalom and the replay of yesterday's live broadcast.

After dominating the qualifications, Maxime Chabloz SUI and Bruna Kajiya BRA also came out on top in the finals. ----- This is Chabloz's first World Cup victory after a series of 2nd places. Arthur Guillebert FRA followed in 2nd place, Finn Flügel GER was 3rd. ----- In the women's final, Kaja Lehmann GER finished 4th behind the clear winner Bruna Kajiya BRA. ----- The results, the report and the Facebook page.

Qualifying was completed yesterday in Brazil, followed by the quarter-finals. ----- On today's closing day, the semi-finals - with Maxime Chabloz SUI and Finn Flügel GER - and the final are on the program. In addition to favorite Bruno Kajiya BRA, Julia Heckhausen GER and Kaya Lehmann GER have also qualified for the women's semi-finals. ----- All results and the daily report. If possible, we will broadcast the finals live this afternoon.

The Freestyle World Cup in Brazil kicked off yesterday with the first heats in perfect conditions. ----- All the favorites won their runs, including Maxime Chabloz SUI and Finn Flügel GER. ----- The results and the daily report.

The second Freestyle World Cup of the year starts today in Brazil. ----- Maxime Chabloz SUI is the favorite in the Men's event, having won the first World Cup in Dunkerque last summer. 15-year-old Finn Flügel GER and Karim Mahmoud EGY also have a chance of a top result. ----- In the Women's event, victory will likely go to four-time world champion Bruna Kajiya BRA. ----- The preview.

After the Twin-tips and Hydrofoils, the Surfboards also finished their World Cup yesterday. ----- James Carew AUS defended his World Cup title with flying colors. ----- The results and the Facebook page.

The twin-tip (symmetrical boards that ride in both directions) and Hydrofoil finals were on the program in Brazil yesterday. ----- Andrea Züst SUI came out on top in the final of the best 4 hydrofoils. ----- Mikaili Sol BRA, already back in the lead after a one-year break from competition, won the twin-tip. ----- The report and the results. Today it's the men's turn (with Peer Schnyder SUI in the Hydrofoils), and we'll be broadcasting live again.

The last Big Air World Cup of the year starts today in Brazil, as always spectacular pictures are to be expected! There will be a live broadcast, which we will of course show when the link is published, starting at 16h. Three disciplines are on the program in Jericoacoara. Among the total of 58 participants are Peer Schnyder SUI in the men's hydrofoil and Andrea Züst SUI in the women's hydrofoil. ----- The preview.

The Junior Olympic Windsurfing World Championships in Mallorca came to an end yesterday without any further races. Too much wind on Friday, too little yesterday. The titles went to Darcy Shaw GBR (U19 women) and Federico Pilloni ITA (U19 men), Alba Klein ISR (U17 women) and Itamar Levi ISR (U17 men). Robin Zeley SUI was the best Swiss in 16th place in the U19 men's competition. The rankings and the Facebook page.

A storm warning for Mallorca yesterday paralyzed the regatta in Sa Rapita. The Medal Series are now on the program today, and we will be broadcasting live from 14h CET. Darcy Shaw GBR and Federico Pilloni ITA lead the women's and men's U19 classifications respectively. Alba Klein ISR and Itamar Levi ISR are on top of the U17 rankings. Robin Zeley SUI missed out on the Medal Series as 16th of the 89 U19 juniors. ----- The rankings and the report.

After the slalom on the start day and the 5 course races on Tuesday, there was no wind yesterday in Sa Rapita. ----- Darcy Shaw GBR (U19) and Alba Klein ISR (U17) are leading the women's rankings, while Federico Pilloni ITA (U19) and Marius Polo FRA (U17) are leading the men's races. Best-ranked Swiss is Robin Zeley SUI in 16th place in the U19 men's event. ----- All rankings and the report.

In good conditions (15-20 knots), 5 course races were sailed in each of the four fleets in Sa Rapita yesterday. ----- Darcy Shaw GBR dominated the U19 women's fleet with 4 race wins. Maya Gisler NOR follows 3 points behind in 2nd place. ----- In the huge U19 men's fleet (148 participants), Federico Pillono ITA won all 5 races in his group. With 4 race wins in the second group, Val Erzen SLO is just one point behind. After a premature start in the only race of the start day, Robin Zeley SUI turned up the heat yesterday and has now moved up to 16th place with a series of top-ten finishes. Noam Kobel SUI and Finley Evans SUI follow in 37th and 40th place, respectively. ----- Alba Klein ISR dominated the U17 women's fleet, with Ruya Ugurlu TUR already 7 points behind in 2nd place. ----- The U17 men's fleet is led by Marius Polo FRA, with David Aleshko ISR and Itamar Levi ISR sharing 2nd place, 2 points behind. Yoan Györvary SUI is the best Swiss in 88th out of 125 participants. ----- All rankings and the report.

The opening day of the iQ-Foil Junior World Championship in Mallorca was characterized by calm conditions. The first races could finally be started at 4pm. Only the U19 men, the largest fleet with 136 participants, were able to complete a slalom. ----- The race wins went to proven windsurfing nations: Italy (2x), France, Holland, Poland and Slovenia. As the best of the large Swiss delegation, Robin Zeley SUI finished 5th in his slalom and is in 25th place, Devin Hauser SUI follows in 31st place. ----- The ranking list and the report.

The Junior World Championship of the Olympic iQ-Foil windsurfers starts today in Mallorca. A record-breaking fleet of 375 participants from 35 nations, divided into four classes (U17 and U19, f and m) is participating. Among them 8 Swiss windsurfers. ----- The preview.

The World Sailors of the Year will be crowned on 5 November at the Annual Meeting of World Sailing. There will be 4 men and 4 women to choose from, the majority from Olympic sailing, as always in Olympic years. The winners will be determined by a public vote - click here to go to the voting website.

The new news video from the World Sailing Federation provides a first summary of the America's Cup action, a preview of the Vendée Globe and a report on the end of the TP52 Super Series season. - the video.

Due to a lack of wind, the final series had to be canceled yesterday. This means that the winners of the qualification Manon Pianazza FRA and Kamil Manowiecki POL are the overall winners. ----- The rankings and the report.

Today's Medal Series qualifications were completed yesterday with three more races. ----- The two leading qualifiers - Kamil Manowiecki POL and Mathis Ghio FRA in the men's race and Manon Pianazza FRA and Maddalena Spanu ITA in the women's race - have qualified directly for the final of the top 4. Ranks 3-9 are in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, and the last quarter-final place will be determined this morning in the Golden Ticket Race among the remaining participants. In 10th place, ILCA-6 Olympic participant Monika Mikkola FIN (Marseille 16th) narrowly missed out on direct qualification. Thomas Goodricke SUI, the only Swiss competitor, is 47th and has a theoretical chance of reaching the final. ----- All rankings and the report.

Yesterday, there was only rain in Cagliari, but no wind. Today the qualifiers for tomorrow's final series are to be finalized. ----- Julien Ratotti FRA and Mathis Ghio FRA are tied at the top of the men's standings, Manon Pianazza FRA is leading the women's rankings. ----- All results and the daily report.

Weak winds affected the program of the Wingfoil World Cup in Sardinia yesterday. Only two groups of the men were able to finish two short-races each, in which more than half of the fleet did not finish. In order to stay on the foils, massive pumping is required, and the athletes are racing the whole race with a heart rate of 180! Julien Ratotti FRA and Mathis Ghio FRA remain level on points at the top. ----- The rankings and the report.

The last Wing Foil World Cup of the year began yesterday in Cagliari with two long-distance races. ----- Manon Pianazza FRA won twice in the women's race, Cindy Robert SUI is 16th. ----- Matthis Ghio FRA and Julien Ratotti FRA are tied for the lead in the men's race, Thomas Goodricke SUI is 34th of the 59 participants. ----- The rankings and the report.

The titles in the Medal Series were decided yesterday in moderate winds. However, the ‘Golden Ticket Race’ scheduled first for the morning to determine the last participant in the final had to be cancelled due to a lack of wind. ----- Both Max Maeder SGP and Lysa Caval FRA, who entered the final of the top 4 as leaders with two bonus points, made everything clear with another victory in the first final race. Riccardo Pianosi ITA became the new European Junior Champion in 2nd place and best European, with Gian-Andrea Stragiotti SUI taking the runner-up title. ----- Derim Atakan TUR and Magdalena Woyciechowska POL won the other medals in the women's competition. ----- All rankings and the report.

Yesterday remained mostly calm in Sardinia, and only towards the evening were the men able to finish a final qualifying race. ----- Max Maeder SGP won again, meaning that he and second-placed Ricardo Pianosi ITA have qualified directly for the final of the top 4 today. Gian-Andrea Stragiotti SUI is seeded 3rd for the semi-finals. First on the program today is the race for the golden ticket: all participants from 10th place onwards will determine the last semi-final participant in one race ... Karl Maeder SUI must defend his place as 10th. ----- Lysa Caval FRA and Derim Atakan TUR are in the women's final. ----- The ranking lists and the report.

With four races, the Formula Kite Youth Europeans continued yesterday in Torregrande. ----- Max Maeder SGP extended his lead in the men's race to 7 points. Ricardo Pianosi ITA has moved up to 2nd place, and one point behind him, Gian-Andrea Stragiotti SUI is now 3rd. Karl Mäder SUI also remains well in the race in 10th place. ----- Lysa Caval FRA is now the sole leader in the women's event, with Derim Atakan TUR one point behind. ----- The rankings and the report.

Very light winds prevailed yesterday for the final series of the iQ Foil European Championship. ----- In the final of the top three, Daniela Peleg ISR managed to push Maja Gisler NOR, who had previously been in the lead, into second place. Bronze went to Anastasiya Valkovich POL. ----- In the men's final, Pawel Tarnowski POL came out on top ahead of Andy Brown GBR and Matthew Barton GBR. ----- The rankings and the Facebook page.

Another 4 races were sailed on the second day of the Kite Foil Junior European Championship in Sardinia. ----- Man of the day was Gian-Andrea Stragiotti SUI, who moved up to the second place with 1st/1st/2nd/3rd and is now 7 points behind Max Maeder SGP, who reveals one of his secrets of success in the video of the day: He listens to music during the races, yesterday it was Mozart's turn! ----- In the women's race, the duel at the top continues: Derin Atakan TUR and Lysa Carval FRA are still level on points at the top. ----- The rankings and the daily report.