The iQFoil elite waited on the second day for the wind to arrive at Marina Rubicon. A good breeze arrived but only after racing had been postponed for the day. However, sailors were able to enjoy a friendly day of training and good weather in the Canary Islands. A good forecast is expected for the last two days of iQFoil competition in Playa Blanca.
The wind arrived during the second day of the Lanzarote International Regatta, but too late. The Lanzarote winds have blown gently this Sunday in the bay of Playa Blanca, in front of the Marina Rubicon marina and the sailors competing in the iQFoil Olympic class have enjoyed a friendly day getting carried away by the waves and the minimal gusts of wind that have arrived after the regatta was cancelled. "Today at the end the wind didn't want to come in, but we can't complain, especially being here in Lanzarote with this sunshine and good weather, so we took the opportunity to disconnect and socialize, since there are so many people from so many countries," says the Spanish Pilar Lamadrid. The Andalusian sailor expects more wind for tomorrow and the day after, especially to go out on the water to compete with the best in the world.
According to the Coach of the Spanish women's iQFoil team, Mateo Sanz, "the international level in the Lanzarote International Regatta is very high, although perhaps the Asians are missing, but we even have Olympic sailors from South America". And there are more than 30 countries represented, being this the first world event of the calendar of Olympic classes 49er, 49erFX, ILCA 6, ILCA 7 and the new class that will debut in Paris: the iQFoil. "This is a very good start of the season for us to prepare for the following competitions and to measure ourselves against the future rivals we will have," said the Spanish Olympic team coach.
In the Spanish women's Olympic iQFoil team, Pilar Lamadrid and Nicole Van Der Velden have a little more experience and "have a very high level," said their coach. In fact, Lamadrid comes from winning the iQGames in Lanzarote a few weeks ago, although "Nicole was unfortunately injured and could not participate, but she also had very good results in the European and World Championships," said Mateo Sanz. Likewise, the Spanish armada also has Blanca Manchón, who is joining after the Tokyo Olympics with the change of class from RS:X to foiling, "so she is putting in the hours and gaining experience," added Sanz. Another key signing is Andrea Torres, the youngest, although with "great potential, as she has the weight and height," said her instructor, a Swiss athlete of Spanish origin who competes in RS:X.
Lanzarote: el paraíso del entrenamiento para la élite olímpica
Blanca Manchón was one of the first sailors to come to train in the Canary Islands because of the good conditions and warm temperatures practically all year round, while for Spaniard Pilar Lamadrid, "Lanzarote was quite a discovery already with the RS:X. "I was lucky enough to come in 2018, I spent some incredible winter months, since on the mainland you can't put in as many hours because it's colder," Lamadrid confessed. In her opinion, the winter training season is also possible thanks to the Spanish Sailing Federation, "since it mounts all this expedition so that we only have to take a flight to the islands, without having to move with all the material," explained the Andalusian sailor who has already been in Lanzarote for several months. In her words, the Canary Islands is "a paradise, there is always wind and sun, especially because our job is to get into the water no matter the weather, so here we are more encouraged, and we can train twice as many hours".
