SHIFTING GEARS AND RISING SWELL ON DAY 2 IN LANZAROTE

Upwind Sprint racing reshapes the leaderboard as Pilloni takes the Men’s lead and Emma Wilson extends her dominance at the iQFOiL International Games

After an action-packed opening day that set the tone for a high-intensity week in Lanzarote, Day 2 of the iQFOiL International Games delivered another full schedule of racing, with evolving conditions and tactical challenges testing the world’s best windfoilers.

Today the racecourse was moved closer to the lighthouse, where sailors faced a slightly bigger swell compared to yesterday. The wind direction remained in the North / North-West quadrant, though it was lighter in the early hours. As a result, the Race Committee opened the day with a single Sprint Slalom race for the Men. As the breeze gradually built, the program shifted to Upwind Sprint racing: three races for the Men and four for the Women. These are short, fast-paced races with the fleet split into heats, featuring an upwind start that added an extra layer of complexity and rewarded precision and clean execution from the line.

In the Men’s fleet, the leaderboard saw a significant shake-up. Italy’s Federico Pilloni (U23) enjoyed an outstanding day on the water, temporarily conquering the overall lead by overtaking Great Britain’s Finn Hawkins. France’s Yun Pouliquen sits third overall, while another U23 sailor, Spain’s Nacho Baltasar, is firmly in contention just behind in fourth place.

The Women’s competition continues to be led by Emma Wilson (GBR), winner of this event last year, who further strengthened her grip on first place. With three race wins and a third today, Wilson extended her margin at the top of the standings. Another excellent day on the water sees Sharon Kantor (ISR) move into second overall, overtaking her compatriot Tamar Steinberg (ISR), now in third. Italy’s Marta Maggetti, the current Olympic gold medalist, holds fourth place, with the gap to the podium still very much within reach as the regatta progresses.

With conditions proving varied and demanding, Day 2 confirmed that consistency, adaptability and sharp starts will be decisive factors as the iQFOiL International Games in Lanzarote move deeper into the competition.