Please select your home edition
Edition
C-Tech 2021 America's Cup 728x90 TOP

2023 Formula Kite European Championships in Portsmouth - Day 5

by Andy Rice 23 Sep 2023 15:52 PDT 19-24 September 2023

Ellie Aldridge sailed a blindingly good day to launch herself into pole position at the 2023 Formula Kite European Championships in Portsmouth, England. The British rider overtook previous leader, France's Poema Newland, and will wear the coveted yellow bib in Sunday's four-rider decider in front of a home crowd on Eastney Beach.

Even a tangle in her bridle lines couldn't hold back Aldridge. In the second race of the session after a frantic few minutes of trying to untie an unwanted knot in her lines, she was last of the beach and 50 seconds late crossing the start line, seemingly in a hopeless game of catch-up outside the top 20. However, such was her speed, determination and tactical risk-taking that the British rider managed to salvage a third place by the end of the 12-minute, two-lap race. Winning the next two races sealed off an amazing day and Aldridge will be going into the final day with her confidence flying high.

Newland was downbeat about her performance although it was hardly disastrous. The French rider finished only two points behind Aldridge and will wear the blue bib in the four-rider final. As for third-placed Lily Young from Great Britain, she will have to fight her way through her semi-final, as will Annelous Lammerts from the Netherlands who came fourth in the Gold Fleet racing.

Further back in the top 10, a battle is raging for the one Olympic qualifying spot up for grabs in Portsmouth. Julia Damasiewicz of Poland will go into the semi-finals with a margin advantage over Spain's Gisela Pulido and Alina Kornelli of Austria. Someone will finish Sunday in a state of elation, knowing they have secured their country's place at Paris 2024, the others will be disappointed to have missed their chance.

In the men's competition the two Italians Riccardo Pianosi and Lorenzo Boschetti are proving the power of the squad with a dominant performance on the race course. The last of today's four Gold Fleet races was a classic, a hard fought match race between the two Italians with barely a board's length between them for much of the two laps. In the end the 18-year-old Pianosi sealed victory, making it three wins from four today and securing the yellow bib which has already been his for the past couple of days.

Britain's Connor Bainbridge had a day of mixed fortunes, failing to complete the first race but taking a solid win in the third heat to sit in third overall at the end of a mentally exhausting afternoon. Just behind him in fourth place is Jannis Maus from Germany who will go into the other semi-final. If the Briton and German can progress from their respective semi-finals to join the Italians in the four-ride showdown, it will set up a tense duel for the one Olympic qualifying spot: Britain versus Germany.

Max Zakowski could yet come in to spoil the party, however, as the Polish rider qualifies for the final day in seventh place and shows the potential to beat the riders ahead of him. Tiger Tyson in ninth place can't secure an Olympic berth in Portsmouth as he's from outside Europe, but the Antiguan rider's performance bodes well for his chances at the Pan Am Games later this year.

On Sunday the Medal Series sees the top 10 men and women contest a different style of small-fleet competition which places all the emphasis on race victories. Watch the drama play out live from midday onwards as the races are livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook.

Results after Day 5:

Men
1. Riccardo Pianosi - ITA - 13pts
2. Lorenzo Boschetti - ITA - 25pts
3. Connor Bainbridge - GBR - 37pts

Women
1. Ellie Aldridge - GBR - 14pts
2. Poema Newland - FRA - 16pts
3. Lily Young - GBR - 26pts

Related Articles

Whitehead finish 9th at Formula Kite Europeans
A confident return to international competition in Urla, Türkiye Australia's Breiana Whitehead has made a confident return to international competition, finishing ninth overall at the 2025 Formula Kite European Championships in Urla, Türkiye. Posted on 20 May
Formula Kite Europeans in Urla overall
Nolot and Pianosi reclaim European Titles, and Maeder wins Open Trophy Racing couldn't have been more dramatic in the medal series day of the 2025 Formula Kite European Championships. With too many passes to count, a steady eight knots and smooth, turquoise water provided a perfect playing field in Urla. Posted on 19 May
Formula Kite Europeans in Urla day 5
Momentum shifts as 16 riders head to the Medal Series Fortunes were won and lost as five days of racing came down to the last minutes of Sunday's racing to determine which women and men would head to Monday's top-eight medal series. Posted on 19 May
Formula Kite Europeans in Urla day 4
Despair and dominance define chaotic day Scrappy racing in mixed up breeze kicked off the next stage of the championship as the leaders gave a masterclass in consistency while others dropped kites and places heading towards the medal series. Posted on 18 May
Formula Kite Europeans in Urla day 3
Racing cancelled, so let's focus on IKA being recognised as clean class The International Kiteboarding Association (IKA) is proud to have been recognized as a Clean Class by Sailors for the Sea, a leading ocean conservation organization. Posted on 16 May
Formula Kite Europeans in Urla day 2
Medalist comes back - others face gold fleet cut It was moving day on the Bay of Urla for some who chipped away at the top three while some leaders faltered and others straddled the gold fleet cut. Posted on 15 May
Formula Kite Europeans in Urla day 1
Smaller kites shrink the riders and mix the fleet Brave riders grabbed their opportunities on day one of the 2025 Formula Kite European Championships, in Urla, Turkiye. Posted on 14 May
Banger Racing, Back Racing and No Racing
Racing on the cheap, a return to racing for young Aussies, and ILCA struggles We start with racing on the cheap at the Colander Cup, then focus on a return to racing for the Aussies at the Youth Worlds, moving on to a complete lack of racing at the ILCA Worlds, and then looking at how SailGP should be back out on the water. Posted on 14 May
Breiana Whitehead set for Formula Kite Europeans
The Australian kitefoiler is back on the international stage this week Australian kitefoiler Breiana Whitehead is back on the international stage this week, as she lines up against top level competition at the 2025 Formula Kite European Championships in Urla, Türkiye from May 14 to 19. Posted on 14 May
Zhik expands Danish Sailing Team partnership
Continuing for another four years as Official Technical Apparel Supplier Zhik, global leader in high-performance water wear, is proud to announce its partnership with the Danish Sailing Team will continue for another four years, as Official Technical Apparel Supplier through to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Posted on 6 May
Exposure MarineTrofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca 2025Selden 2020 - FOOTER