Day Three in Jericoacoara, Brazil delivered another cracking session of wingfoil racing, with bright skies and a punchy 20–23 knots in the morning. Although the breeze eased slightly in the afternoon, conditions remained ideal as the 37-strong Men’s fleet split into Gold and Silver fleets for the final two days of qualifying.
The opening race produced the day’s most dramatic moment. At the first cross, only seconds after the start, Thomas Proust caught the edge of his wing in the water triggering a spectacular pile-up. Italy’s Alessandro Tomasi and overall leader Kamil Manowiecki were brought down in the chain reaction, the Pole showing remarkable control and presence of mind to avoid slicing through Proust’s wing by mere centimetres. Mercifully, all emerged unscathed.
“Yes, it was a bit scary seeing foils coming at you, but that’s wingfoil racing,” Proust remarked nonchalantly.
With Manowiecki stranded, rival Mathis Ghio had a prime chance to capitalise but could only salvage 11th place. It proved to be the theme of the day for the Frenchman. Although he has already secured the overall World Cup series title, he remains hungry to win the Brazilian stop he lost 12 months ago.
The pair’s duel intensified throughout the afternoon and reached its peak in Race 5. Ghio rounded the final mark with the slimmest of leads but momentarily dropped off his foil; exactly the opening Manowiecki needed. The Pole surged past and, with the two fighting for every metre, Ghio crashed just before Manowiecki sealed the win.
GONG’s Bastien Escofet produced another strong showing, stringing together five top three results, including two race victories, to keep himself firmly in the mix.
Italy’s Nicolo Spanu continues to lead his nation’s charge, holding fourth as part of an Italian block from fourth to sixth. Recuperating afterwards in the physio room, legs encased in pulsing recovery boots, he admitted the day’s efforts had taken their toll. “It’s so tough out there and this really helps my legs. The level is so high on the water and it’s such hard work that I finish every day really tired—but this machine is great! I’m in the ice bath next.”
Ghio, who had briefly taken the provisional overall lead during the day, suffered a disappointing final race that wiped out his advantage. Frustrated afterwards, he nevertheless sets up a tantalising showdown for the final two days. He now trails Manowiecki by just a single point.
In the Women’s fleet, Aimilia Kosti rebounded superbly from the frustration of a punctured wing the previous day, which had dropped her to fourth. Determined to reset, she delivered a string of early top three finishes to climb into third overall. “I must learn to not let these problems get in my head. I have to focus better on the racing,” she had said the night before and on Day Three she did exactly that.
Out in front, Maddalena Spanu extended her unbeaten streak, though France’s Vaina Picot continued to chase her closely. A costly U-flag disqualification in the final race however, may cost her dear as Kosti chips away at the ten point gap that separates the pair.
With tensions rising across both fleets and only two days of racing left, Jeri is set for a thrilling finish.
