Epic start to the Lanzarote IQFoil Games with Spain and The Netherlands leading - with video, results 26.01.2022: The best sailors in the world battled it out on the Canary Island to top the ranking during the first day of the international circuit of this new Olympic class. VIDEO: Day 1 IQFoil Games Lanzarote

The best sailors in the world battled it out on the Canary Island to top the ranking during the first day of the international circuit of this new Olympic class.



VIDEO: Day 1  IQFoil Games Lanzarote

However, the winds in Lanzarote favored the Spanish Pilar La Madrid, who led the field, followed by the English Emma Wilson. The men's category is led by the Dutch Luuc Van Opzeeland and Huig Jan Tak.




Tuesday, January 25th, 2022 - With magnificent conditions, winds of 9 to 20 knots from land, blue skies and sunshine, the international circuit of the Olympic class iQFoil starts strong on the island of Lanzarote, where more than 100 sailors from over 20 different countries battled in the Canary Islands regatta course to lead the ranking.


But it seems that the Lanzarote winds have blown in favor of the Andalusian Pilar La Madrid, who has led during the 5 races. In the words of the national favourite to win this competition, although it may not seem like it, the day has been very hard.



 "I am very happy with this first day of racing, we have been able to do 5 races, there has even been more wind than we expected, although there has been a lot of fighting", said La Madrid. The Spanish sailor was very happy when she came ashore at the end of the day, and there was no one to come close to her.



However, English Emma Wilson, a newcomer to the iQFOIL class, was close behind, finishing second in the women's class. "Today was a really good day for me, I'm really happy, I was nervous and excited because it was my first race in the iQfoil," said Wilson. After the first race, the Englishwoman confessed to relaxing and enjoying herself on the course, which many of the competitors consider to be unique and with unrivaled conditions. "We've got a long week ahead of us and a lot of racing, so it's going to be exciting," said the UK sailor.




On the other hand, the Netherlands is the leading country in the men's category with Luuc van Opzeeland in the lead, followed by Huig Jan Tak. According to Opzeeland, it was a good day, with more wind than he expected. "I started strong with two second places and a third, won the fourth race and came second in the fifth," he explained.



In his opinion, even if you are in the top positions all the time, in the end, "you want to win every race". So, he hopes to be able to change that situation during the next few days of competition. "I think it was good, I think I was the most consistent of the day, I'm curious to see the results of the others and how the leaderboard is going," concluded Opzeeland.



The iQFOIL Games, sponsored by the areas of Tourism and Sport of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, Promotur, are the first stop of the world circuit of the class, being scoring in the world ranking to qualify for the European of Garda and the World Championship in Brest at the end of the year.



This first edition of the world circuit takes place in the waters of Playa Blanca from the 24th to the 29th of January, in front of the marina of Marina Rubicón, organiser of the event, together with Dinghycoach. This is one of the most dynamic Olympic modalities, with the greatest expansion and demand, with races in which you fly over the sea at high speed.


 


Results Women after day 1 – 5 races

1. Pilar La Madrid – ESP
2. Emma Wilson – GBR
3. Lucie Belbeoch – FRA
4. Maja Dziarnowska – POL
5. Lola Sorin – FRA


Results Men after day 1 – 5 races

1. Luuc van Opzeeland – NED
2. Nicolas Goyard – FRA
3. Huig Jan Tak – NED
4. Matthew Barton – GBR
5. Adrien Mestre – FRA


Results: Men

and Women


iQFOiL International Games
Photo Credits: Sailing Energy
 
IARUS Sports,Fabiola Alliu