© IWSA media/ Robert Hajduk: Kamil Manowiecki leads after day one

Three long-distance races in a day was new territory for every rider competing at the final event of the season, Sol WingFoil Racing World Cup Brazil. Many riders have been training in Jericoacoara for a number of days or even weeks in the build-up to the five-day competition taking place out of the idyllic luxury eco-resort of Vila Kalango.

Iset Segura, one of the Spanish competitors, is in Jeri for the first time. “It’s like a paradise here, every day has been windy,” she said. “You couldn’t hope for more than what we have here.”


© IWSA media/ Robert Hajduk: Winging paradise in Jericoacoara

NOT AS WINDY, BUT STILL GREAT WIND!

Of course, as the wind always does when a regatta begins, it wasn’t quite the 25 to 30 knots of warm Equatorial breeze that has been blowing almost every day for the past weeks. But if a ‘light wind’ day in Jeri is defined by 13 to 15 knots of breeze, that’s not too shabby either.

Big Italian rider Francesco Cappuzzo could sense the lighter breeze before he set off down the beach. “I went out with my 6.5m wing and it was the right choice out there,” he said. “The first two races were pretty patchy breeze, and we were having to work hard to pump the board a lot. It was hard on the legs and hard on the mind, and I messed up all three of my starts today so I had a lot of catching up to do in the races. But I did a 1,2,3 in the scores so definitely a good day.”


© IWSA media/ Robert Hajduk: Nia Suardiaz steps ashore at the end of day one in top spot

GO BIG, OR SUFFER!

Cappuzzo has been putting himself under pressure during training to be able to tack or gybe at any moment without warning. “I think that helped me a lot today. I was able to tack at the right time and that gave me a big advantage. Also with the seaweed, we are doing a lot of jumping to clear our foils. But I’m a freestyler so I’m used to jumping and it’s really helping on the race course compared with others who are maybe not so confident with their jumping.”

Unlike Cappuzzo, top French rider Mathis Ghio admits he made the wrong call with his wing choice for the first race. “I went out with a small wing, so I was extremely underpowered. I put all my physical effort into pumping as much as possible and so the first race was extremely exhausting.” The reigning World Champion works hard on his fitness however, and the 45 minute break between each of the three races was sufficient for Ghio to regain his composure and switch to a bigger wing. After coming in fifth in the first race, he won the next race and was second in the last race of the day.”

© IWSA media/ Robert Hajduk: Vila Kalango's Paolo Piatti welcomes competitors at the opening ceremony

SPEED TO BURN

Kamil Manowiecki was winner of the final heat of the session and finds himself in a three-way tie with Ghio and Cappuzzo, although the Polish rider is nominally at the top of the standings after tiebreak. “I had some good speed today, which got me out of trouble even in the second race after a really bad start,” said Manowiecki. I almost fell at the first mark after doing the gybe, but I managed to get back to third place from about 15th place, so I am happy with how things are going.”

Whereas Ghio has won both times at the previous two events in Jericoacoara, for Manowiecki this is his first time visiting this sand dune oasis. “When I arrived I couldn’t believe it, it’s such a beautiful paradise,” he smiled. “I was thinking, why am I going training here? This is a place for just relaxing and enjoying everything on the beach and in the town. But of course the sea and the wind are great here too, and I’ve been training hard and getting used to all the seaweed on the race course. I see the weed as an opportunity to make gains compared with others who have just arrived at the venue or maybe are not familiar with riding their foil through sea weed.”

© IWSA media/ Robert Hajduk: Capoeira dancing at the opening ceremony

FREESTYLE SKILLS

In the women’s division Nia Suardiaz is also making the most of her freestyle skills to negotiate the race course, jumping when she needs to, although she admits she’s always worried about falling. “I hate the weed, I was struggling a lot out there. But I try not to focus on it too much and I’m feeling pretty good after today. I thought I’d feel a lot more tired after three big races but I’ve come ashore with more energy than I expected.”

Kristyna Chalupnikova is still new to the Wingfoil Racing World Cup scene, but the Czech rider is making fast progress. “Being here in Jeri for the first time, the sea, the sun, the sand, it’s a paradise. Today was a big day but I really enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to the short-course races tomorrow. A different style of racing and I’m learning so much every time we go out.”

© IWSA media/ Robert Hajduk: Big first day in Jeri

#PRESERVEJERI

Part of the reason for bringing the Wingfoil Racing World Cup is to promote the beauty and the appeal of Jericoacoara to the rest the world. But Paolo Piatti, co-founder of Vila Kalango which is about to celebrate its 25th year, is also keen to emphasise the importance of responsible eco-tourism. He spoke to the riders at the morning’s briefing: “Last year I asked you to help me share the beauty of Jeri,” he said. “This year I ask you to help us to protect our people, our community and the natural beauty of Jericoacoara.” #PreserveJeri

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