New Zealand’s leading windfoilers remain firmly in contention as the iQFOiL European Championships enter its decisive phase in Portimão, with strong opening performances in gold-fleet racing keeping medal-series hopes alive across both the men’s and women’s fleets.
After no racing was possible on Day 3 due to light conditions, competition resumed overnight with the opening day of finals delivering five races across both course-racing and sprint-racing formats. The shift into the final series has brought the top half of the fleet together, significantly raising the intensity as sailors fight for places in Saturday’s silverware showdown.
Aimee Bright leads the New Zealand charge in Portugal. Photos / Sailing Energy
Aimee Bright made a strong start to the gold-fleet phase, recording scores of 7, 8, 19 (discarded), 9 and 7 to sit fifth overall. She is just nine points off second place, which would guarantee a direct berth into the final of the medal series, and 12 points behind overall leader, Israel’s Tamar Steinberg.
Stella Bilger is 15th in the women’s fleet after the opening day of gold-fleet racing. Photos / Sailing Energy
Further down the fleet, Veerle ten Have and Stella Bilger also remain in contention for a top-10 finish. Ten Have sits 14th overall after closing with back-to-back 11th-place finishes. Bilger opened strongly with a fourth-place finish in the first race and settled in 15th following a black flag disqualification in the last race. They trail 10th-placed Manon Pianazza of France by 11 and 15 points, respectively.
In the men’s fleet, Eli Liefting is 24th overall.
Latest results and standings here.
Originally published by Yachting New Zealand.
