iQFOiL U23 World Championships at Portimão, Portugal - Day 4
by iQFOiL Communications 11 Sep 22:18 PDT
6-13 September 2025
Light breeze delivers perfect window for Slalom Racing
After three intense days of racing marked by shifting conditions and reshuffled leaderboards, Day 3 closed with a Gold fleet ready to enter its decisive phase and a women's fleet as tightly packed as ever. With momentum building and the pressure rising, the sailors returned on Thursday for what turned out to be the most challenging day yet.
The wind, a key player in Portimão's racing drama, kept everyone waiting. After three consecutive days of reliable northwesterlies, the usual morning humidity that helps trigger the local thermal breeze was missing. Without that cool, moist air to fuel the heating of the land, the daily "engine" that drives the sea breeze failed to kick in on schedule, and when it finally arrived, it was both later and weaker.
Only in the late afternoon conditions allowed racing to begin. At 17.10, Principal Race Officer Ewa Jodlowska sent the Silver fleet onto the water, opting for a Slalom format to make the most of the 8 to 10 knots winds. The first start was finally launched at 18.00, giving sailors a chance to showcase their speed, agility, and control on a downwind zig-zag course filled with gybes and tight duels. Designed for close, high-energy racing, Slalom is both thrilling and highly accessible to spectators on the beach.
Meanwhile, the Gold fleet remained ashore, waiting for steadier conditions to allow racing to resume. This pause presented its own challenges: for sailors, waiting on land can be almost as demanding as racing itself, especially under the scorching Algarve sun with little shade. The key lies in managing activation: athletes must find the delicate balance between resting and staying alert, conserving energy while keeping their focus sharp. It's a test of both physical endurance and mental discipline, knowing when to relax, hydrate, and recover, then instantly reactivating to respond to a sudden call to the water. Mastering this rhythm can make the difference between a strong start in the heat of the race and a slow, costly reaction once the wind finally arrives.
At 18.34, the U23 Men's Gold fleet finally took its first start, quickly followed by the U23 Women. The sailors faced a warm, unstable breeze, where constantly shifting patches of wind made every leg of the Sprint Slalom highly technical. With each gybe and acceleration, athletes had to react instantly to the wind's changes, turning what is normally a high-speed, spectator-friendly format into a demanding test of precision, adaptability, and tactical awareness.
After two intense Slalom races this evening, the U23 Men's podium remains unchanged at the top, with Grae Morris (AUS) holding onto first place, Leonardo Tomasini (ITA) in second, and Duncan Monaghan (GBR) in third. The biggest mover of the day was Côme Joly (FRA), who climbed from sixth to fourth, showing determination and adaptability in the tricky, shifting wind. Nacho Baltasar Summers (ESP) rounds out the top five, maintaining his position despite the challenging conditions.
"We had two slalom races today, but the wind was a little crazy.. a few people were foiling others were not flying, but finally we completed it and I climbed one position in the general ranking, so I'm happy I'm closing in eight and tomorrow is the last day so we'll see how it goes", said Stanislaw Trepczynski.
In the U23 Women's fleet, the leaderboard saw major shifts as the evening's Slalom races tested every sailor's speed and precision. Mina Mobekk (NOR) bounced back to reclaim the top spot she had ceded on Day 2, proving her resilience and consistency. Aimee Bright (NZL) climbed into second, taking advantage of the technical conditions to move up a place, while Maya Gysler (NOR) recovered from fifth to secure a well-earned spot on the podium. Meanwhile, Nela Sadílkova (CZE), leader yesterday, slipped to fourth, highlighting just how fiercely contested the Slalom format can be.
"Two slalom races today for the Women and it was a bit tricky with the wind, the first race was not that good for me but in the second one I finished second so I'm happy with that and it was really nice sailing with the sunset so yeah, it was nice day", commented Mina Mobekk.
Find out more at www.iqfoilclassofficial.org/all-info-portimao-25