© IWSA media/Robert Hajduk: Watching AC races in the rain

As it stands, the three groups in the men’s fleet have three races planed before the final series where they are split into gold, silver and bronze fleets and sail five more races on Saturday. But before then, riders will be razor focused on getting into the top 20 gold fleet where they will have a shot at qualifying for the medal series.

Three races are also planned for the women Saturday morning, but they will continue as one fleet in the afternoon to finish out their opening series.


© IWSA media/ Robert Hajduk: The rain doesn't stop the youngsters from having fun

Making the cut

By the end of Saturday, riders in positions one through nine in the women’s fleet and men’s gold fleet will have a ticket to the medal rounds. The remaining competitors will race off first thing on Sunday, for the Golden Ticket. One race, one last chance for one woman and one man to get into the medals series.

The rankings couldn’t be closer nor the stakes higher for Saturday morning, where 14 points separate 12 riders around the gold fleet cut. Enrico Tonon of Italy sits in twentieth and is virtually tied on points with three other riders. He’s racing to stay in the top group and the others must get the most out of their foils and wings to keep their medal series hopes alive.


© IWSA media/ Robert Hajduk: It's not supposed to rain in Sardinia

Specificity for foil futures

There was plenty of time Friday for riders to hang out and check their gear. Sanding foils and fine-tuning all the edges was the most common activity on the day, and contemplating new foil designs is always the number one topic at all wingfoil racing events.

“Right now we are using foils developed for kitefoil racing,” said Florian Gruber of Germany who represents Levitaz foils. “They are super-small and super-fast but for sure wingfoil racing has different needs. They weren’t designed specifically for this.”


© IWSA media/ Robert Hajduk: Van life in the rain - Karolina Kluszczynska [POL]

Kitefoil racing is more than 10 years old while wingfoiling is still young. Kites give a ton more power and lift than wings so kitefoilers can get away with smaller, thinner foils. Even though top riders like Karolina Kluszczynska and Mathis Ghio race these tiny 400 to 500 square centimeter foils, Gruber said there’s much more to be done in creating shapes and sizes that could work better for wingfoil racing.


© IWSA media/ Robert Hajduk: Romain Ghio [FRA] foil-tuning

With strong winds forecasted for Saturday, riders will have plenty of opportunities to make their way into Sunday’s medal series. Tuning race foils and checking wings for leaks on Friday was time well spent. And with a planned first ever live broadcast for the Wingfoil Racing World Cup on the weekend, the world will get to see how all the racing unfolds in real time.

RESULTS MEN

RESULTS WOMEN