Elena Lengwiler started the medal series in 10th place and claimed bronze after the Swiss rider delivered a faultless performance in testing Atlantic conditions at Viana do Castelo.
Fighting through the ranks required tactical precision from Lengwiler, who carried a 15-metre kite into the semi-finals when conditions demanded a smaller sail. “I wanted to change my kite down before the second race, but didn’t have time, so I just had to hold onto the 15m, it was a bit difficult,” she said.
A 1.1 penalty against China’s Wan Li for failing to give mark-room put USA’s Daniela Moroz into the grand final alongside Lengwiler, France’s Lauriane Nolot and defending champion Jessie Kampman of the Netherlands.
Kampman’s title defence ended when she crashed on port tack after being forced beyond the layline by Lengwiler and Moroz. Nolot controlled the race to secure the one bullet needed for her third world title.
“Elena was pushing so hard on the downwind,” Nolot said. “I haven’t trained that much last year, and thought I could be in for a painful year. But this winter I decided to put the work in and I have the feeling it’s working.”
The men’s medal series produced an equally tight contest. Brazil’s Lucas Fonseca advanced from the edge of qualification to reach the grand final, joining Austria’s Valentin Bontus, Italy’s Gian Stragiotti and defending champion Maximilian Maeder of Singapore.
All four riders chose port-tack starts, with Maeder and Stragiotti cutting their laylines to the windward mark within centimetres. “I was afraid, I was shaking so badly in my mind,” Maeder said. “When I crossed the first mark, I was so relieved.”
Stragiotti misjudged his approach and fell to the back after a costly double tack. He recovered to second place through superior VMG on the run, setting up a Singapore one-two finish as Maeder claimed his third world title.
“Finally I managed to be in the final and prove my point that I can be on the podium with the top guys,” Stragiotti said. “It can’t get any better than that, with my teammate on top.”
Maeder’s victory came down to boat lengths after a winter training programme with his brother Karl and Italian training partner Stragiotti.
Top 3 Women
1. Lauriane Nolot (FRA)
2. Elena Lengwiler (SUI)
3. Daniela Moroz (USA)
Top 3 Men
1. Maximilian Maeder (SIN)
2. Gian Stragiotti (ITA)
3. Lucas Fonseca (BRA)
