2025 iQFOiL International Games #2 in Cádiz - Overall
by iQFOiL Communications 15 Mar 09:35 AEDT
8-14 March 2025
2025 iQFOiL International Games #2 in Cádiz Prize Giving © Sailing Energy / iQFOiL Class
Seventeen fast-paced and exciting races were concluded today in Cadiz during the Medal Series of the 2025 iQFOiL International Games. From 240 competitors, only the top 8 athletes in each of the six fleets advanced after four days of the Opening Series.
The weather this morning looked gloomy and windless, but not long after the skippers' briefing at around 1 PM, the sun was shining, and the wind was blowing steadily from the west, and it increased throughout the day from 10 to 17 knots. Some of yesterday's swell remained over the racecourse but was much sweeter and more manageable. Two close courses were set up in the area where the Alpha racecourse had been all week, and both Race Committees proved to be very efficient and fast in starting races and recording finishes.
The first to race were the Seniors, alternating Women and Men.
In the Women's Quarter-Finals, Shahar Tibi (ISR 3) and Pilar Lamadrid (ESP 12) were faster than Lola Sorin (FRA 31) and Sara Wennekers (NED 33), advancing to the Semi-Finals to face Daniela Peleg (ISR 2) and Emma Wilson (GBR 7). Wilson and Lamadrid secured their places in the Grand Final, where Sharon Kantor (ISR 390) and Tamar Steinberg (ISR 216) awaited them. A general recall with a black flag for Steinberg due to an early start and the subsequent '5-second rule' (requiring a black-flagged athlete in the Medal Series to start with a five-second delay), did not stop Opening Series leader Tamar Steinberg from claiming victory. She won her second bullet on the first attempt, having started with a bonus win as the Opening Series leader. Paris 2024 Silver medalist Sharon Kantor (ISR 390) and Paris 2024 Bronze medalist Emma Wilson (GBR 7) finished second and third, both in the race and the event.
The Senior Men's Medal Series began with Duncan Monaghan (GBR 18) and Hidde Van der Meer (NED 52) eliminating Andy Brown (GBR 360) and Thomas Goyard (FRA 3) before advancing to the Semi-Finals to meet Noah Lyons (USA 6) and Max Castelein (NED 36). Lyons and Castelein then progressed to the Grand Final, where they faced Finn Hawkins (GBR 19) and Opening Series leader Grae Morris (AUS 81), who already had a bonus win.
What could have been the final race started with Morris leading, pushing hard and gaining a solid margin over the others, but he crashed just after the top mark. Max Castelein (NED 36) capitalized on the opportunity, securing his first bullet. Another quick start followed, but this time it was Castelein, leading by a small margin over Morris at the bottom gate, to crash during the upwind leg, allowing Grae Morris (AUS 81) to claim his second win and the regatta. Max Castelein (NED 36) finished second overall thanks to his Grand Final win, while Finn Hawkins (GBR 19) secured third place.
Meanwhile, on Course Alpha, the U17 and U19 Women competed. Their schedule included only Semi-Finals and Finals due to the lower number of overall entries. The four races were fast and decisive, with the undisputed leaders of the Opening Series confirming their dominance.
In the U19 fleet, Zofia Zarzecka (POL 114) and Jade Boyer-Gibaud (FRA 74) advanced to the Grand Final to face Hanna Simon (HUN 70) and Opening Series leader Yfke Van der Meer (NED 252), who had won every race so far. She continued her winning streak, securing the final race, with Jade Boyer-Gibaud (FRA 74) finishing second and Hanna Simon (HUN 70) in third.
In the U17 fleet, Julia Przbil (POL 977) claimed victory after leading all week. Marta Gajdzinska (POL 429) and Kalina Szostek (POL 205), both advancing from the Semi-Finals, finished second and third respectively, leaving Anna Korevaar (NED 157), the Opening Series runner-up, just off the podium in fourth place.
The Youth and Junior Men took off as soon as the Seniors finished on Course Bravo. With three straight races each, they also confirmed the Opening Series leaders as overall winners.
In the U19 fleet, Kilian Manhaval (FRA 1908) won the Grand Final and the event, followed by all-week runner-up Robin Zeley (SUI 5) and Maciej Dabek (POL 71), who climbed his way to the podium from the Quarter-Finals.
In the U17 fleet, Finn Brull (NED 731) secured his overall regatta win by claiming victory in the Grand Final. His fellow countryman Merlijn Boswijk (NED 244), who finished second in the Opening Series, also placed second in the Grand Final and the event. Enric Patiño Riutord (ESP 373) completed the podium in third, having advanced all the way from the Quarter-Finals.
The iQFOiL International Games #2 in Cadiz concluded with a prize-giving ceremony at the Federación Andaluza de Vela headquarters, bathed in sunshine and a gentle breeze. It was a spectacular end to a week of exciting and sometimes survival-mode racing conditions. The 240 athletes from 32 nations proved that both the Class and its new equipment are ready for any racing conditions.
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