2025 iQFOiL International Games in Lanzarote - Day 2
by iQFOiL Communications 30 Jan 16:41 GMT
28 January - 2 February 2025
The second day of the iQFOiL International Games at Marina Rubicón delivered another thrilling day of racing, with wind well above 20 knots, gusting up to 30, and near-perfect flat-water conditions.
It was a productive day for the 100 athletes from 26 nations, as the men completed four course races while the women managed to catch up with five.
The men were the first to start at 11, led by Denmark's 21-year-old Johan Søe (DEN 37), who impressed with two race wins, a second, and a third. His outstanding performance propelled him to the top of the leaderboard after two days of competition.
"I had a very good day. The conditions were fantastic, and I enjoyed it a lot," commented Søe. "So far, I'm loving the new sail - it feels great, especially in strong wind. It's also exciting to see more young sailors, even from my country, pushing hard and making the fleet more competitive."
France's Nicolas Goyard (FRA 465), renowned for his speed records, sits in second overall. Despite challenging moments on the shifty outer course, Goyard's consistent finishes kept him near the top. Italy's Nicolò Renna (ITA 150) holds third place, thanks to a race win but slowed down by a couple of double-digit scores.
"It was a windy day again, with over 20 knots, but a bit shifty, especially for us on the outer course," said Goyard. "The new 8m" sail is fun in strong breeze - it allows us to push harder downwind and reach better top speeds. It's fast and more enjoyable and it doesn't change much in terms of racing tactics."
The women's fleet had a slightly longer day, completing five course races. Poland's Anastasia Valkevich (POL 6) claimed two race wins, but Great Britain's Emma Wilson (GBR 7), the Paris 2024 bronze medalist, was the most consistent of the day. With a win, two seconds, and a discardable seventh place, Wilson is just one point behind the current leader, Shahar Tibi (ISR 3), who managed to hold her position.
"It was a tricky day on the water, but I'm happy to be leading after five races in very shifty conditions," reflected Tibi. "I stayed consistent in the first four races, but I made some mistakes in the last one. Thankfully, it didn't hurt my overall result."
Notably, two U23 sailors are making their presence felt in the men's fleet. Søe leads the standings, while Spain's Nacho Baltasar (ESP 4), sits in fourth. In the women's fleet, two U23 sailors are also performing well, currently ranked ninth and tenth, just shy of the Medal Series cut.
With the Opening Series now halfway through, anticipation builds for more windy racing tomorrow. Saturday's schedule may include the Marathon race, leading to Sunday's Medal Series on February 2, where the first champions of the 2025 season will be crowned.
Event Partners
The 2025 iQFOiL International Games in Lanzarote are organized by Marina Rubicón, with sponsorship from Turismo Lanzarote through its sports tourism product, "Lanzarote Sports Destination." Additional support comes from the Cabildo de Lanzarote through the Insular Sports Service, the Art, Culture, and Tourism Centres of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, the Yaiza Town Hall, the Canary Islands Sailing Federation, DinghyCoach, and the Latin Sailing Federations.