The first major iQFoil regatta after the Olympic Games was a transition in many respects: the winners and many participants from Marseille were not there, but the field was characterised by many up-and-coming sailors. It was also one of the last races with the "old", large sails before the sail sizes for men and women are reduced from 2025. The conclusion of the European Championships also marks the official start of the next four-year cycle with the goal of the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Changeable, challenging conditions in Sardinia
120 athletes from 28 nations took part in the European Championships, which were organised by the Cagliari Windsurfing Club. Sophia Meyer and Max Körner were the only two Germans. The week in Cagliari was characterised by a wide range of weather conditions, from the first days of the slalom races in a moderate breeze, to delays in the middle of the week due to both calm and stormy conditions, to the mistral that arrived just in time to start the final course races.
"It was a more challenging week than I had hoped for," said Ewa Jodlowska, the chief race officer. "Normally the wind here is pretty constant, with the sea breeze kicking in around 1pm. So I was expecting everything to go smoothly and for us to finish at 3pm. Instead, we had some weather systems working against us and we had to do more slalom races than planned, even during the Medal Series. It wasn't easy, but all in all it was a great championship."
Daniela Peleg drives to the front in the Medal Series
Daniela Peleg from Israel was the big winner of the women's Medal Races. After being in third place before the final day, she started in the semi-final and won it with flying colours. The almost 20-year-old Peleg took her momentum into the final, where she secured the European title. Maya Gysler from Norway, who had dominated the qualifying series, took second place as an 18-year-old, while Poland's Anastasiya Valkevich rounded off the podium in third place after fighting her way out of the quarter-finals. Sophia Meyer from Berlin finished the European Championships in 26th place, but regularly finished in the top 20 and achieved a best result of ninth place.
"I'm really pleased to have won the European Championships," said a delighted Daniela Peleg. "I felt really good the whole week. We had two slalom days that went well for me and one course race day where I felt okay, but not as strong as in the slalom races." She added: "The main goal is of course the 2028 Olympic Games, but there's still a long way to go. The 2025 World Championships is the next big step and I will start my training with the new 7.3 sail."
Pawel Tarnowski dominates the men's competition
Pawel Tarnowski, who went into the final day as the leader, kept his cool and concentration and secured the title. As the best-placed rider from the qualifying heats, Tarnowski went straight into the final and managed to keep the competition at bay and ride to the front in a tight race. His two British opponents in the final, Andy Brown and Matt Barton, took second and third place, while Max Körner finished 54th.
"It's been an incredible season for me and I'm absolutely delighted," said a delighted Pawel Tarnowski. "There were so many emotions this year, starting with the runner-up title in the World Championship in February and ending with the victory at the European Championship, where I won against some of the best riders out there."
After the European Championships, the organisers were impressed by the breadth of the field: "Many young athletes made a strong impression and are starting their journey into the next Olympic cycle," they said.