2025 iQFOiL International Games in Lanzarote - Day 1
by iQFOiL Communications 30 Jan 07:51 AEDT
28 January - 2 February 2025
2025 iQFOiL International Games in Lanzarote - Day 1 © Sailing Energy
The 2025 iQFOiL International Games got under way today at Marina Rubicón, marking the first official races of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle. It was a day of challenging conditions for the 100 athletes from 26 nations, as the wind played a central role, testing both competitors and the Race Committee. From strong breezes reaching 20 knots in the morning to light and shifty winds in the early afternoon, back above 20 knots with big sea state later in the day, the racing demanded big adaptability from the athletes.
The morning began with a short AP flag ashore while the wind settled. By noon, stable winds averaging 16-20 knots from North allowed the first course races of the series to proceed. However, as the wind dropped to 6-8 knots and shifted direction, the Race Committee quickly switched to sprint slalom heats. While the Men managed to complete one race and two heats, one of the Women's heats has to be resailed as the wind died completely, pushing the fleet over the time limit. Just when it seemed the day was over, the wind picked up again to 20 knots and kept increasing to 25 - 30 with significant sea state, enabling two more demanding course races to round off the day.
Provisional Leaders After Day 1
Nacho Baltasar (ESP 4) emerged as the leader in the Men's fleet, winning two course races and finishing third in the sprint. Despite a crash and a disappointing 32nd place in the final course race - which he is discarding - Baltasar's consistency has put him on top of the leaderboard.
"In the first racing day with the new 8-meter sail, we did three course races and a sprint," said Baltasar. "I started very well with a bullet, but in the last one, I crashed, broke my sunglasses, and had a tough time. Still, I'm happy to be here racing with good friends like Nico Goyard and Nicolò Renna. Everyone is pushing hard, and it's super fun."
Following Nacho in the ranking are Johan Søe (DEN 37), finishing with a bullet, and Nicholas Goyard (FRA 465), third in the last race.
In the Women's fleet, Bronze Medalist Emma Wilson (GBR 7) leads after showing remarkable consistency. With a win, a third-place finish, and a discard of a fourth, she proved her skill in the day's variable and often punishing conditions.
"We had a really good day - it was long, but we almost got all the races in," said Wilson. "In the morning, we did one course race and half a sprint before my heat was abandoned. Then, in the afternoon, we had two full-on course races. It was good fun, and I'm happy to be back on the racecourse."
Shahar Tibi (ISR 3) is second with a third and a second place in the afternoon races, and Olympic Champion Marta Maggetti (ITA 157) is third, after winning the last and windiest race of the day with new 7.3 meter sail.
Looking Ahead
As the athletes head into Day 2, forecasts predict even stronger winds, promising another thrilling day of high-stakes racing before lighter breezes arrive for the weekend. With the new 8m" sail for the men and 7.3m" sail for the women making their competitive debut, the event is already highlighting how the updated equipment creates a fairer and more inclusive playing field.
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.