A slow start but fast-paced sprint racing on day three of iQFOiL International Games #2 in Cadiz

A stark contrast to the strong winds of the previous days, day three of the iQFOiL International Games #2 in Cadiz began under a grey sky with no wind, forcing a postponement ashore. By 2 PM, a light 10-knot breeze filled in, creating ideal conditions to test new layouts of Sprint Racing.

 Sprint Racing features three adaptable course options for winds below 15 knots, designed to ensure versatility and challenge different skill sets. The Sprint Slalom, previously used in light wind, consists of a fast-reaching start, followed by a downwind leg, a jibe, and a final reach to the finish. The U Sprint follows a similar layout but adds an upwind leg after Mark 3 before the final reach to the finish. Lastly, the Upwind Sprint starts with an upwind leg, followed by a reach, a downwind section, and a final reach to the finish. These modular courses allow for seamless transitions between layouts, ensuring versatility for the athletes and keeping racing dynamic, even in prolonged light-wind conditions.

 The Senior Men took to the water shortly after the Senior Women and U19 Men, with the former racing on Course Bravo, closer to shore, while the latter competed on Course Alpha. The Senior Men fleet efficiently completed four Sprint Races, all in the new U Sprint format. Grae Morris (AUS 81) remains at the top of the leaderboard after winning three of the four races, despite receiving a black flag in one. Finn Hawkins (GBR 19) is holding onto second overall, delivering a solid performance with two heat wins and two second-place finishes today, while Max Castelein (NED 36) defends his third spot, although the margin between him and second place has increased significantly (27 points).

“I had a really great day with two wins and two second places. I enjoyed the new U Sprint, which combines both downwind and upwind elements. It's technical, it's fun, and it was perfect for today’s lighter wind. The Medal Series is getting closer, and I can already see a tight battle with Grae Morris, who’s having a phenomenal week here in Cadiz,” commented Finn Hawkins (GBR 19).

 In the Senior Women, Tamar Steinberg (ISR 216) had another fantastic day, winning three of the four Sprint Races – one Slalom and three Upwind Sprints. She now comfortably leads the ranking, 13 points ahead of second-placed Sharon Kantor (ISR 390), the Paris 2024 Silver Medalist, who is just one point ahead of third-placed Daniela Peleg (ISR 2), making it a provisional all-Israeli Senior Women podium.

“Trying new formats is something I really love about iQFOiL—we are always innovating. The Upwind Sprint was a great addition today, as the regular Slalom format led to many general recalls, whereas the upwind starts solved that issue. So many races, so much fun today on the water and in Cadiz,” said a happy Emma Wilson (GBR 7), Paris 2024 Olympic Bronze Medalist.

 Kilian Manhaval (FRA 1908) continued his dominant streak in the U19 Men, winning all four races today, making it 10 wins out of 12 total races so far. Robin Zeley (SUI 5) remains in second place, while Simon Skrepek (CZE 781) moves into third.

In the U19 Women, three races were completed, and Yfke Van der Meer (NED 252) claimed victory in all of them, maintaining a perfect scorecard of all bullets. Hanna Simon (HUN 70) sits 16 points behind in second, while Zofia Zarzecka (POL 114) is third, confirming yesterday’s podium standings.

 The U17 Men and Women were the last to return ashore, well past 7:30 PM, with three races for the Boys and two for the Girls. Julia Przybyl (POL 977), Anna Korevaar (NED 157), and Marta Gajdzinska (POL 429) currently lead the U17 Women’s standings, while in the U17 Men, Finn Brull (NED 731), Merlijn Boswijk (NED 244), and Lorenzo Maroadi (ITA 16) hold the top three spots.

 A harsh forecast looms over Cadiz for tomorrow, with a storm expected to bring winds up to 30 knots, with gusts reaching 40 knots, putting the final day of the opening series at risk before the Medal Series on Friday.