Day five of the Formula Kite World Championships in Quartu Sant’Elena, Sardinia, was the final opportunity to qualify for the Medal Series climax of the final day.
Having started out the six day competition with 96 riders, Sunday will see only the top eight men and top women do battle for the most important medals of the season.
© IKA media/Robert Hajduk: Collapsible chaos at the leeward mark
Jessie Kampman put on the yellow bib at the end of the first day of the women’s competition and the Dutch rider has never been close to relinquishing her lead this week. She goes straight through to the four-rider final tomorrow afternoon in pole position, with a one-point advantage that puts her on match point for title victory.
MISSION POSSIBLE
“My only mission was just to finish all the races because I had already used my discards,” she said. “I told myself just don't push it and I ended up having the best day of all week. However things turn out tomorrow, I'm really proud of how I sailed this whole week.” Behind Kampman, on the cusp of her first world title, is the defending World Champion from France, Lauriane Nolot, who stayed well ahead of the pack to earn the second spot in the final.
© IKA media/Robert Hajduk: Riccardo Pianosi battling the elements to stay ahead of the pack
Tomorrow it’s up to the six other riders to see which two will get through to the final. Best placed of the rest are Switzerland’s Elena Lengwiler who was very strong today, and Breiana Whitehead of Australia in fourth place. However, never discount the six-time World Champion Daniela Moroz. “I had a really good training camp in the UK with the British riders, so I feel like I've been practising a lot of the really tight, short-course racing. So I feel pretty confident, but anything can happen. We'll just go have fun and see what happens.”
‘TYPE B’ FUN
Moroz won the world title on these same waters three years ago, and with the final day format, that’s still an outside possibility. It has been a chaotic week of unpredictable wind, so maybe another day of chaos might suit Moroz and the other riders towards the bottom of the final eight. “I don't remember it ever being this crazy at this venue,” she laughed, exhausted but somehow elated too. “Like, it's been so tough every single day. This venue has really tested us this year, but still in one piece so far, still got one more day to go. I think we can call this kind of racing ‘Type B fun’, where it's like, not fun in the moment, but it's fun afterwards or something? I think it's been a bit of that this week.”
© IKA media/Robert Hajduk: Lily Young (left) just ahead of Lauriane Nolot (blue bib)
SORRY FOR THE MESS
The final placings for the men were in much greater doubt until the conclusion of the four-race session, but Max Maeder fought his way back up the rankings into second place ahead of training partner Stragiotti.
Maeder admitted to being emotionally exhausted. “I'm tired and I am full full of emotions. What a day it has been. I think it was chaotic for everyone. I kind of felt like I've been at the epicentre of all the trouble or at least, I've definitely caused some of it. So it kind of disturbed me that I messed up other people's races and that I wasn't sailing too well. To anyone that I've messed up their race, I apologise. It’s a sign that the competition is getting tougher, the gaps are closing and if I had an edge, the edge is no longer there.”
© IWSA media/Robert Hajduk: Race win for Benoit Gomez, Frenchman going fast and into the final day
TROPHY HUSBAND?
So the Singapore rider joins Italy’s Riccardo Pianosi who holds the yellow bib. Married just over a month ago, could Pianosi make 2025 the best year of his life and claim his first world title on home waters?
Even after the riders stepped ashore not long before the Sardinian sunset, there was a flurry of protests as the men used every last weapon to try and claim a place in the medal series. So close were the points, these protests would be critical in determining who got through.
© IKA media/Robert Hajduk: Enjoying a special moment on Poetto Beach
When everything had been settled in the protest tent, six men will fight it out through the knockout rounds tomorrow to determine which two will join Pianosi and Maeder in the four-rider final. They are: Gian Stragiotti (SUI), Toni Vodisek (SLO), Benoit Gomez (FRA), Vojtech Koska (CZE), Jan Marciniak (POL) and Jan Voester (GER).
© IKA media/Robert Hajduk: Sunset over Poetto Beach
Quartu Sant’Elena makes a stunning debut on the international kite scene, offering a seamless blend of sport, nature, and culture. With Poetto Beach as its vibrant stage, foil disciplines shine against a backdrop of turquoise waters, pink salt pans, and golden sunsets. It’s a place where every ride becomes a memory.
Racing takes place from 30 September to 5 October. Results are updated as they happen, racing is being tracked, and the final days will be live streamed on FaceBook and YouTube.
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