Foilers close Lanzarote International Regatta 2023

Published on February 17th, 2023

After the 2023 Lanzarote International Regatta hosted racing for the 470 Mixed, 49er, and 49erFX on February 10-13, the iQFOil and Nacra 17 racing was on February 14-17.

The Israeli squad dominated the iQFOiL women’s fleet with Shahar Tibi (ISR) on the top step. In second and third respectively were Sharon Kantor (ISR) and Maya Morris (ISR).

It proved to be a much more dramatic and unexpected outcome in the men’s iQFOiL fleet. Sam Sills (GBR) had won the leader’s yellow bib since day one, but the winner-takes-all format of racing favored by the iQFOiL often throws up surprise victories at the end of competition. Sills fractionally misjudged his approach to the start while France’s Adrien Mestre (FRA) was fast out of the gate and went on to snatch the gold medal.

Billy Besson and Noa Ancian (FRA) won Nacra 17 gold with Argentina and New Zealand taking silver and bronze. “That was my first medal race in my career,” said Ancian, sailing with the vastly experienced Besson. “To win gold here today feels amazing. We’ve been here training for two months and it’s a great way to finish our time in Lanzarote.”

It was a close battle for second overall, eventually won by Mateo Majdalani and Eugenia Bosco (ARG) who beat Micah Wilkinson and Erica Dawson (NZL) by a single point.

Results: https://www.lanzarotesailingcenter.com/lanzarote_international_regatta/resultados