Welcome to Lake Garda, where the winds are as unpredictable as a plot twist in a thriller novel! As the ETF26 series sailed into one of the most picturesque racing venues in the world, competitors were ready for high-speed action. But instead, they got a masterclass in patience and tactical finesse, courtesy of the whimsical weather.
A Delicate Dance with the Winds
Foiling Week at Lake Garda threw the sailors some curveballs with unexpectedly light and inconsistent winds. Yet, despite the meteorological puzzles, ten races were completed, demonstrating the adaptability and skill of the competitors.
Maxime Grimard, reflecting on the weather’s impact, shared, ” We had to cancel the first day of racing because we didn’t have the wind we wanted, we managed to have one race the second day and then it went better”.
Matthieu Salomon from Entreprises du Morbihan highlighted the challenging conditions: “This year was a bit unusual compared to the usual steady winds we’re used to here. We had to tackle many races with morning breezes, which were quite varied and lighter post-noon. It made for some interesting and very varied tactical and setup challenges across the championship.”
Hans Christian, mainsail trimmer for Rockwool Racing Team 1, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing improvement and adaptation: “It’s been great to race here despite the wind not showing its best side recently. We’ve managed about ten races, which is fantastic. Every race here pushes us to improve, which is exciting for us as we’re still finding our feet in this class.”
Triumph for Entreprises du Morbihan
The races at Foiling Week were fiercely contested, but Entreprises du Morbihan managed to defend their title successfully, followed closely by Rockwool Racing Team 1 and BlueShift Sailing Team. The consistent high performance of these teams are definitly raising the competitive standards of the series.
Matthieu Salomon, reflected on their victory with pride and detailed insight into the tactical challenges they faced: “Winning here again at Foiling Week feels fantastic, especially given the tricky conditions we faced. This year was particularly challenging with lighter winds that required us to adapt our strategies frequently. The level of competition has definitely risen, especially with the entry of the Danish SailGP teams from Rockwool, which kept us on our toes throughout the event. We had to nail every maneuver to stay ahead, and I’m thrilled that our hard work with teammates Solune and Valentin paid off. Winning not only this event but also leading the overall standings adds an extra layer of satisfaction.”
Eyes Set on ACT4 in Quiberon
With the conclusion of Foiling Week, all teams are now looking forward to the next event in Quiberon. This venue not only promises a return to more familiar waters for many of the teams but also hosts a special significance for the local heroes, Entreprises du Morbihan. Matthieu Salomon expressed his excitement about returning to a venue filled with personal and team history: “Heading to Quiberon feels like coming home. It’s our playground, and the presence of all our partners and sponsors will surely add to the event’s excitement..”
Chris Taylor from Toroa Racing Team is also looking forward to Quiberon, recalling his previous experiences, “It will be nice to be back in northern France. Quiberon is a great place, quite different from here with a lot more tidal effects. We’ll get there a few days early to train and get a handle on the local conditions.”
The final rankings from Foiling Week set the stage for an electrifying continuation of the series:
- 🇫🇷 ENTREPRISES DU MORBIHAN – 18 PT
- 🇩🇰 ROCKWOOL RACING TEAM 1 – 22 PT
- 🇫🇷 BLUESHIFT SAILING TEAM – 31 PT
- 🇬🇧 TOROA RACING TEAM – 32 PT
- 🇫🇷 ROCKWOOL RACING TEAM 2 – 34 PT
- 🇮🇹 GERONIMO SAILING TEAM – 49 PT
- 🇳🇿 LIVE OOCEN RACING – 51 PT
Stay tuned as the fleet heads to Quiberon for another round of high-speed foiling action and a complete event with village festivities and sponsor activities. It’s going to be a blast—see you there!
