Stronger breeze and a shift to classic Course Racing brought big changes on Day 3 of the Olympic iQFOiL International Games in Lanzarote.
Riders faced 12 to 16 knots of wind, with gusts nearing 18. The breeze veered to the North and consistently favoured the right side of the course, forcing most competitors into narrow tactical corridors.
Starts were tight. Crossings were tense. Any mistake at the front end of the race was costly. The sea state changed, too. While the earlier steep chop eased, longer swell patterns tested sailors’ downwind control and foil handling.
In the Women’s fleet, Britain’s Emma Wilson held firm in first place overall. Israel’s Sharon Kantor kept her grip on second. Italy’s Marta Maggetti climbed into third after a solid day on the water. “The conditions demanded precision,” said a team coach on-site. “The smallest errors had big consequences.”
Israel’s Tamar Steinberg, second after Day 1 and third after Day 2, dropped to fourth.
The Men’s standings saw a more dramatic shift. Britain’s Finn Hawkins reclaimed the overall lead with a consistent and tactical performance. Nicolas Goyard of France surged into second. His teammate Yun Pouliquen stayed steady in third.
Italy’s Federico Pilloni, who led after Day 2, slipped to ninth.
The return of Course Racing rewarded those who could blend raw speed with racecraft. With more breeze forecast and competition tightening, the regatta remains wide open
