Lukas Walton-Keim has booked his place in the gold fleet at the Formula Kite World Championships in Viana do Castelo, Portugal, after another consistent day of racing in testing conditions on day three of the regatta.
With the crucial cut to the top 25 riders in the men’s fleet made at the conclusion of qualifying, Walton-Keim delivered when it mattered most, posting a series of top-10 finishes to hold 19th overall and comfortably advance into the championship gold fleet.
The New Zealand Olympian handled the shifting conditions well as Viana do Castelo’s famously volatile spring weather finally began to settle. After strong winds and unsettled seas earlier in the regatta, sailors raced in 10–20 knots under sunny skies before the breeze strengthened again later in the afternoon.
Walton-Keim’s consistency across the day ensured he remained safely inside the gold fleet cutoff, putting himself in contention against the world’s best heading into the business end of the championship.
Fellow Kiwi Lochy Naismith will continue his regatta in the silver fleet after finishing 39th overall, placing 14th in the silver fleet standings following qualifying.
In the women’s fleet, Lucy Bilger continued her steady climb up the leaderboard, moving into 24th overall after another encouraging day on the water.
At the front of the women’s competition, American star Daniela Moroz surged back into title contention with a dominant performance that included her first race win of the regatta. The seven-time world champion now sits third overall behind defending champion Jessie Kampman of the Netherlands and France’s Laurianne Nolot.
The men’s fleet continues to be led by Singapore sensation Max Maeder, who added five more race wins to his tally during another commanding display in qualifying.
Forecasts suggest another windy afternoon awaits competitors on day four, with strong breeze and building chop expected to provide another stern test as gold and silver fleet racing begins. Click here for the latest standings and results.
Originally published by Yachting New Zealand.
