Good winds on the second day of the Youth iQFOiL World Championship at CN Sa Ràpita

The second day of racing at the 2024 iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championship took place in the waters of Club Nàutic Sa Ràpita (CNR) this Tuesday under weather conditions marked by stability and strong winds, with intensities between 18 and 20 knots.

This World Championship positions the club as the epicenter of international youth sailing throughout the week, hosting 375 young athletes from 35 different countries. In total, six days of racing are scheduled from Monday to Friday, with the Medal Race on Saturday as the final highlight.

After a first day on Monday when the wind was slow to appear, on this second day of the Championship both race courses have been fully operational from early on, and even the coaches' meeting was moved earlier to make the most of the good weather conditions. As a result, the women's sub-19 and sub-17 categories were able to start sailing at 10 a.m., instead of at noon as originally scheduled.

Throughout the day, multiple heats were raced at this Youth iQFOiL World Championship to catch up on the races that the women's categories could not complete yesterday. Five races were held in both the sub-19 and sub-17 categories, as well as in the men's sub-19 category. The races were conducted for the yellow and blue groups in each category, and the progression of the heats is beginning to define the standings in each group.

At this stage of the competition, the British Darcey Shaw leads the women's sub-19 category, while the Israeli Alba Klein is at the forefront in the sub-17. In the men's categories, the Italian Federico Alan Pilloni dominates the sub-19, and the Frenchman Marius Polo leads in sub-17.

“This event has posed a logistical challenge that has required months of preparation and coordination,” states Pau Lladó, president of CNR. “We take care from the opening ceremony and the reception of authorities to all kinds of details, such as the transport and accommodation of athletes and the committee, as well as the management of specific areas for loading, landing, and launching. It is not easy, but the experience gained from regional and national championships gives us the confidence to tackle this level of organization,” he adds.

“We have been working on this project for over a year,” emphasizes Miki Bover, sports director of CNR. “It is a personal and professional challenge that we have taken on with great enthusiasm and that requires many hours of dedication. Behind this, there is a constant effort in logistics, personnel, security, and ensuring the stay of the teams and class members at our facilities,” he values.

Regarding the sailing class competing, IQFoil, he notes that “choosing this class was a challenge in itself, as it is fast and complex, but it is also where we have worked the most in recent years, especially with high-level sailors like Nacho Baltasar and other great talents. Additionally, it is a reward for the sailors of our club, who after this championship will leave competition to focus on other projects,” he adds.

At this point, he highlights that “coaches and sailors have agreed that this is a fantastic place to sail. They have congratulated us on the organization and the conditions that allow smooth sailing, without waves and with a beach that facilitates access to the sea for the 375 sailors,” he elaborates.

Finally, Bover thanks the Campos City Council, the Balearic Government, and other administrations for their collaboration and deployment of resources, providing ambulances, lifeguards, and Civil Guard officers for the safety of the sailors. “Being able to count on this support provides peace of mind and pride for us,” he states.

Races can be followed by tracking daily, with updated results, from anywhere in the world, live or delayed, through this link: https://www.metasail.com/live/637/