Luca Di Tomassi Takes Lead Day 2 at iQFoil European Championship in Cagliari

Di Tomassi Climbs the Rankings for Italy

The iQFoil European Championship in Cagliari has been a display of skill and perseverance, with the Italian team performing well as the competition unfolds. On the second day, challenging weather conditions, including a southeast wind and cloud cover, made for unpredictable racing. Despite this, the race committees managed to hold two races for the men and four for the women in a light wind of around 9 knots.

Day 2 Results

The competition saw changes in both the men’s and women’s rankings after the second day. In the men’s category, Italian athlete Luca Di Tomassi of Fiamme Gialle took the lead by securing first place in both slalom races. French sailor Adrian Mestre climbed to second place, followed by Britain’s Matthew Barton and Finn Hawkins in third and fourth. Meanwhile, Dutchman Joost Vink dropped to fifth, and Polish athlete Pawel Tarnowski followed closely behind. Sardinia’s own Federico Pilloni (YCSS – Young Azzurra) remains in contention, looking to make a strong impact in the upcoming days.

In the women’s competition, Great Britain’s Islay Watson leads the pack, followed closely by Israel’s Daniela Pereg and Norway’s Maya Gysler, who moved up after securing four first-place finishes on day two. England’s Alice Read, who had been leading after the first day, slipped to eighth place. Italy’s Sofia Renna (Circolo Torbole Surf) and Carola Colasanto (Tognazzi Marine Village) both placed within the top 20.

Italian Competitors Speak

Federico Pilloni, representing YCSS – Young Azzurra, reflected on the competition, saying, “After winning the U19 World Championship, I’ve been working hard for this important European Championship event here in my home, Cagliari. The first races have boosted my confidence, and I’m looking forward to the coming days.” With the weather expected to change, Pilloni anticipates exciting races and fierce competition from a fleet that includes Olympians like Luuc Van Opzeeland, bronze medalist in Paris.

Carola Colasanto, winner of the Youth Sailing World Championships, also shared her thoughts, saying, “Winning the Youth World Championship was a big achievement, but now I am focused on competing in the senior fleet. Knowing the waters of Poetto gives us Italians an advantage. My goal is to make it to the medal races and hopefully climb higher in the top 10.”

Upcoming Events in the Sardinia Sailing Cup

The Sardinia Sailing Cup continues throughout October with several prestigious events. Starting on October 15, the Foil International Academy Trophy will take place, part of the Next Generation Foil Academy project powered by Luna Rossa, featuring the Waszp Foil class. The WingFoil Racing World Cup Italy will follow from October 16 to 20, with 77 participants already confirmed and more expected. This event has been recognized as a Special Event by World Sailing.

In November, the International Development Programme will focus on Para Sailing, with Su Siccu once again hosting these extraordinary races. This month-long sailing event kicked off on September 25 with the 2024 Edison Next Italian Olympic Classes Championship and has been a highlight for athletes, teams, and their families.

The Sardinia Sailing Cup is organized in partnership with the Italian Sailing Federation, the III Zone FIV, and World Sailing. The event is supported by the Autonomous Region of Sardinia and the Municipality of Cagliari, promoting the region’s long-standing tradition in sailing and maritime events.

stay in flight with us...

Explore additional categories

⚡️ foil with us on instagram ⚡️

Explore Other FOIL Classes