iQFOiL Open European Championship 2024 in Cagliari - Day 4
by iQFOiL Class Communications 9 Oct 2024 18:47 BST
5-11 October 2024
iQFOiL Open European Championship 2024 in Cagliari - Day 4 © Sailing Energy / iQFoil Class
Cagliari, Sardinia, continues to surprise the 120 athletes competing in the 2024 iQFOiL Open European Championship with another windless day on the Gulf of Poetto.
The unusual conditions have left sailors from 28 different countries, some traveling from as far as Singapore, China, and Aruba, waiting onshore for a chance to race. The Race Committee ventured onto the water shortly after 1 p.m., only to return three hours later, raising AP over A as the calm conditions persisted.
On a positive note, the downtime allowed the sailors to engage with local hero and Paris 2024 Olympic gold medalist Marta Maggetti, who joined the crowd in hoping for the wind to arrive in time for the Medal Series on Friday.
Athlete insight: Marta Maggetti
"It's been good to be back home and enjoy family and friends in Cagliari after the win at the Olympics and the years leading up to that being so intense, filled with training camps and competitions," shared Marta during the live show on the iQFOiL YouTube channel, which replaced the scheduled Live Racing. "I am quite shy, and the attention I received from the media and everyone after winning Gold was a bit overwhelming, but I understand that's how it goes. I haven't had a proper holiday yet; it's been a full-on month. Even though I was supposed to rest and relax, after such a hectic three years, I just couldn't stop."
Speaking about the event taking place in her home waters, Marta said, "I love having the European Championship here at my home club. It's amazing to see everyone enjoying this place that means so much to me. I'm a bit disappointed that the wind hasn't been cooperating these last two days, but you'll be glad to see the Mistral arriving tomorrow and on Friday. It's going to be some fun racing!"
Despite her busy schedule and a recent injury, Marta couldn't resist staying close to the action: "I've been watching the races from the boat. It's good to gain different perspectives when you can, but it's still tough for me to watch without taking part in them, even though I've had a lot going on lately."
Reflecting on her Olympic journey, she added, "I believe I owe my Gold medal to my mental strength. I was centered and felt really strong mentally, and that was key to my success. It was my second Olympics, and that experience made a big difference. You know what to expect, even though the new format is intense and anything can happen right up to the end. You might be in top form, but if the conditions aren't in your favor, it can change everything."
Results
With no racing taking place today, the rankings remain unchanged for the second day in a row. In the Women's fleet, Islay Watson (GBR) leads the standings, followed by Daniela Peleg (ISR) in second and Maya Gysler (NOR) in third.
In the Men's fleet, Luca Di Tomassi (ITA) holds the top spot, with Adrien Mestre (FRA) in second, tied on points with Matthew Barton (GBR), who is currently third.
Looking ahead
Tomorrow, Thursday, October 10th, the schedule remains unchanged, with the skippers' briefing at 11:30 a.m. The Men's first start is planned for 1:00 p.m. on Bravo Course, while the Women will start at 1:15 p.m. on Alpha Course. The key difference could be the arrival of the powerful Mistral, expected to bring exciting Course racing conditions before the Medal Series on the final day.
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