Formula Foil World Championship in Torbole: French Goyard start strong

The strong wind that blew from late morning up to 20 knots, on one hand mitigated the heat and on the other allowed 6 races to be held, which immediately highlighted the eve’s favourites. There were two groupings with separate starts: group A with seniors and youths (under 20) and group B with the youngest juniors (under 17). After the first 6 races of the 25 scheduled, the first two positions in the men’s senior category went to France with the two very strong Goyard brothers: Nicolas, European champion of the iQFoil Olympics, fresh winner of the mythical Defi Wind, and currently first with 4 points ahead of his brother Thomas, silver medalist in Tokyo (RS:X class). Third position for the Swiss Elia Colombo, while the first Italian and first in the youth category is the Circolo Surf Torbole athlete Manolo Modena, sixth overall and tailed by teammate Jacopo Gavioli. Third under 20 is the Slovakian Kubin. Italy is also in pole position among the women with home athlete Sofia Renna, ahead of Linda Oprandi.

Also racing in the regatta were the very young juniors, under 17, but many of them are just 14 years old and already showing a certain confidence and ability on the foil boards. Seemingly unopposed was the strong Circolo Surf Torbole athlete Leonardo Tomasini, who racked up a complete series of first partials, catching up with many competitors in group A who had started first. The other two Circolo Surf Torbole athletes Mattia Saoncella and Valentino Blewett also achieved six seconds and six thirds each, confirming their respective positions. Among the girls Anna Polettini and Medea Falconi, at their first foil racing experiences, are close in the overall ranking.

Sunday’s start is scheduled for 1pm with the interesting battle between the seniors, including Dutchman Luuc Van Opzeeland (bronze medallist at the iQFoil European Championship), who has all the potential to challenge the Goyard brothers. The event, organised in collaboration with the International Windsurfing Association and the Italian Sailing Federation, as well as the Garda Trentino Vela Consortium for the management of the virtual gps-anchored electric buoys, counts the participation of 13 nations, including Mexico and Singapore.