Wilson and Watson bring home iQFOiL Games spoils in 2025 opener
by British Sailing Team 3 Feb 07:14 PST
29 January - 2 February 2025
Emma Wilson and Islay Watson celebrate in Lanzarote © Sailing Energy / iQFOiL Class
Emma Wilson marked her return to Olympic class racing with a resounding victory at the 2025 season opener, as teammate Islay Watson picked up bronze.
The two-time Olympic windsurfing bronze medallist swept aside her international competition, including Paris 2024 champion Marta Maggetti, to take the top spot at the iQFOiL Games in Lanzarote.
Wilson, 25, racked up ten podium race finishes in qualifying before winning the all-important medal final to kick off her campaign for LA 2028 in style.
It was a welcome comeback for Wilson, who, after dominating the Paris 2024 Olympics then having to settle for a bronze medal, had hinted that she might not return to the sport.
"After the Olympics I had a hard time and didn't know whether to continue or not," said Wilson, from Christchurch, Dorset.
"I had some good people around me that I'm really grateful for, and in the end I just love windsurfing."
Following criticism about fairness in the wake of Paris 2024 the iQFOiL class has introduced a new medal race format that rewards consistent performance in the qualifying stage of the regatta.
Rather than a single winner-takes-all race the final now sees the top three athletes compete to be the first to win two races, with the regatta leader taking one win into the final.
Smaller sails have also been introduced - 8m for men and 7.3m for women - in a bid to make the sport more accessible.
"This new format is good for me and good for everyone, I'm excited for the future," Wilson added.
"I've been waiting a long time to win a medal race so this means a lot to me, and I'm super happy."
Watson, Wilson's training partner for Paris 2024, also impressed, clawing her way from fifth up to third with sensational quarter and semi-final performances.
"I'm really excited to have come away with a bronze in the first competition on the new 7.3m sail," said Watson, from Aviemore, Scotland.
"It was a really tough week of not the usual conditions we would have expected from Lanzarote and I learnt a lot. The finals day was one of the best days racing I've had in a while and it's nice to see what I've been working on in training coming together."
Meanwhile, reigning under 19 world champion Darcey Shaw from Poole cemented her reputation as one to watch, putting in a stellar shift to finish 11th from 32 athletes.
In the men's competition Finn Hawkins and Andy Brown narrowly missed the top eight cut-off for the medal series, finishing 10th and 11th respectively in the 61-strong fleet.
Full results from the regatta