Two Sailors from Club Nàutic s'Arenal Leave Their Mark at the iQFOiL Games Cádiz 2025

Enric Patiño took the bronze in the Sub 17 category, while Jorge Ruiz finished in fourth place in Sub 19, both from Club Nàutic s'Arenal.

This morning, the weather seemed gloomy and windless, but shortly after the skippers' briefing around 1 p.m., the sun shone, and the wind blew strongly from the west, increasing throughout the day from 10 to 17 knots. Some of yesterday's swell remained over the racecourse, but it was much smoother and more manageable. Two enclosed areas were established in the zone where the Alpha racecourse was located all week, and both Race Committees proved to be very efficient and quick in starting the races and recording finishes.

In the women's quarterfinals, Shahar Tibi (ISR 3) and Pilar Lamadrid (ESP 12) were faster than Lola Sorin (FRA 31) and Sara Wennekers (NED 33), advancing to the semifinals to face Daniela Peleg (ISR 2) and Emma Wilson (GBR 7). Wilson and Lamadrid secured their spots 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 an athlete with a black flag in the Medal Series to start with a five-second delay), did not prevent the Opening Series leader, Tamar Steinberg, from claiming victory. She won her second bullet on the first try, having started with a bonus win as the Opening Series leader. Paris 2024 silver medalist Sharon Kantor (ISR 390), and bronze medalist Emma Wilson (GBR 7), finished second and third, both in the race and the event.

The Men's Senior Medal Series started 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 Semifinals to face Noah Lyons (USA 6) and Max Castelein (NED 36). Lyons and Castelein advanced to the Grand Final, where they faced Finn Hawkins (GBR 19) and the Opening Series leader, Grae Morris (AUS 81), who already had a bonus win.

What could have been the last race began with Morris leading, pushing hard, and gaining a solid lead over the others, but he crashed just after the top buoy. Max Castelein (NED 36) seized the opportunity and scored his first bullet. Another quick start followed, but this time it was Castelein, who led by a small margin over Morris at the lower gate, who crashed during the upwind, allowing Grae Morris (AUS 81) to secure his second victory and the race. Max Castelein (NED 36) finished second overall thanks to his win in the Grand Final, while Finn Hawkins (GBR 19) secured third place.

Meanwhile, in the Alpha Race, the Sub-17 and Sub-19 Female categories competed. Their schedule included only Semifinals and Finals due to the lower number of entrants. 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 the Opening Series leader, Yfke Van der Meer (NED 252), who had won all the races to date. She continued her winning streak and took the last race, with Jade Boyer-Gibaud (FRA 74) second and Hanna Simon (HUN 70) third.

In the Sub-17 fleet, Julia Przbil (POL 977) emerged victorious after leading all week. Marta Gajdzinska (POL 429) and Kalina Szostek (POL 205), both advancing from the semifinals, finished second and third, respectively, leaving Anna Korevaar (NED 157), the runner-up in the Opening Series, just off the podium in fourth place.

The Youth and Junior Male teams started as soon as the Seniors finished on the Bravo Racecourse. With three consecutive races each, they also confirmed the leaders of the Opening Series as overall winners.

In the U19 fleet, Kilian Manhaval (FRA 1908) won the Grand Final and the event, followed by the week's runner-up Robin Zeley (SUI 5) and Maciej Dabek (POL 71), who climbed to the podium from the quarterfinals. Sailor Jorge Ruiz, from Club Nàutic s'Arenal, finished in fourth place.

In the Sub-17 fleet, Finn Brull (NED 731) secured the overall regatta victory by winning the Grand Final. His compatriot Merlijn Boswijk (NED 244), second in the Opening Series, also placed second in the Grand Final and in the event. Sailor Enric Patiño, from Club Nàutic s'Arenal (ESP 373), completed the podium in third place, advancing from the quarterfinals.

The 2nd International iQFOiL Games in Cádiz concluded with the awards ceremony at the headquarters of the Andalusian Sailing Federation, under a radiant sun and a gentle breeze. It was a spectacular finale to a week of exciting and, at times, survival racing. The 240 athletes from 32 countries demonstrated that both the Class and its new equipment are prepared for any racing condition.