Day 3 of the 2024 iQFOiL Worlds in Lanzarote: Luuc van Opzeeland and Emma Wilson continue to lead at the iQFOiL World Championship!

As the sun rose over the beautiful island of Lanzarote, the third day of the 2024 iQFOiL Worlds was set to be a day of intense competition and thrilling windfoil racing.
The world’s best windfoil racers gathered on the shores of this stunning Spanish island, ready to battle it out on the azure waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

• Day 3 Highlights: A Day of Thrilling Competition
• Standout Performances
• Looking Ahead: The Road to the Paris 2024 Olympics
• Conclusion

Day 3 Highlights: A Day of Thrilling Competition

The third day of the 2024 iQFOiL Worlds was marked by a series of exciting races, showcasing the skill and determination of the athletes. The day’s races were characterized by tight turns, high speeds, and nail-biting finishes.

The leaders have held their positions after a demanding day of competition, showcasing Lanzarote as a prime location for Olympic sailing events.

Reported by Helena Paz with images credited to SailingEnergy and iQFOiLClass, the event at Marina Rubicón, Lanzarote on January 31, 2024, delivered optimal sailing conditions. Nico Goyard, currently second in the iQFOiL World Championship standings, praised the perfect winds and waves experienced. The 212 competitors faced five more races today, leading to numerous shifts in positions. Nonetheless, Luuc van Opzeeland from the Netherlands and Emma Wilson from Great Britain maintain their leads in the Men’s and Women’s divisions.

Van Opzeeland, the defending world champion, didn’t replicate his opening day’s flawless performance but remains in the lead after discarding his worst result of the day.

He remarked on the challenging yet exciting conditions, with shifty winds between the islands. Van Opzeeland’s focus remains on winning the event after a strong qualification round.

Despite feeling under the weather, Nico Goyard was the standout sailor, winning all five of today’s races and climbing to second place.

The racecourse, situated between Marina Rubicón and Lobos Island, saw fierce competition, with numerous false starts across the fleet.

Emma Wilson from Britain continued her dominance, securing victories in all of today’s races, thus preserving her lead. Sharon Kantor from Israel follows closely, with the Israeli team using this championship to choose their Olympic representative.

Kantor enjoyed competing against fellow sailors Spychakov, Lamadrid, and Cargo, highlighting the enjoyable and spirited racing of the day.

Spain’s Pilar Lamadrid performed well, placing in the top three in all but one race, where she was disqualified for an early start. She remains in third place, just a few points behind Kantor.

The Final Series kicks off tomorrow at noon local time, with the fleet divided into gold and silver groups. The races will be broadcast live on the iQFOiL class YouTube channel through to the championship’s end on Saturday.

The iQFOiL World Championships, hosted by Marina Rubicón, have received support from the Royal Canarian Sailing Federation and several institutional and private entities, including the Lanzarote Cabildo’s Tourism department, Promotur Turismo de Canarias, Yaiza City Council, and companies such as Dinghycoach, Naviera Armas, and Cabrera Medina (Cicar).

Standout Performances

Several athletes delivered standout performances on Day 3 of the 2024 iQFOiL Worlds. These performances not only highlighted the athletes’ skill and determination but also showcased the exciting potential of the iQFOiL class.

• Men’s Division: The men’s division saw a fierce battle between reigning world champion and Olympic hopefuls. The day’s races were marked by tactical decisions, with athletes carefully choosing their course to take advantage of the wind conditions.
• Women’s Division: In the women’s division, the competition was equally intense. The athletes demonstrated incredible skill and athleticism, with close finishes in several races.
• Youth Division: The youth division also provided plenty of excitement, with the young athletes showing great promise for the future of the sport.

Looking Ahead: The Road to the Paris 2024 Olympics

With the iQFOiL class set to make its Olympic debut at the Paris 2024 Games, the 2024 iQFOiL Worlds is a crucial event for athletes aiming for Olympic glory. The performances at the iQFOiL Worlds will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the selection of athletes for the Olympic teams.

Conclusion

The third day of the 2024 iQFOiL Worlds in Lanzarote was a thrilling display of windfoil racing. The world’s best windfoil racers battled it out in perfect conditions, showcasing the skill, speed, and excitement of the iQFOiL class. As the road to the Paris 2024 Olympics continues, the performances at the iQFOiL Worlds will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the selection of athletes for the Olympic teams. With its combination of skill, speed, and strategy, the iQFOiL class is set to bring a new level of excitement to the world of windsurfing.

For more information on the iQFOiL class and the 2024 iQFOiL Worlds, visit the iQFOiL class website and the World Sailing website.