IQFoil 2020: Kiran Badloe crowned first European Champ

It was a great show, no one can deny it. How hard it was for some, is difficult to asses. to understand what happened you need to watch the Live replay above. All photos by Sailing Energy / Engandinwind 2020. Official event web europeans2020.iqfoil.org

We maintain our opinion from yesterday on the success of the new Olympic IQfoil Class, but they will need to review their own rules on wind limits and else, as it was clear in those marginal conditions they need to follow their own written rules / targeted spirit and launch only Slalom races.

Organized in elimination rounds of 12, 8 and the final 4 was pure adrenaline for the sailors and those watching. The women final race was cancelled on a sudden wind change, it was a good call.

But the Final race of 4 was a reach start with leeward-windward arrangement a la Americas Cup. Big problem was the race officer cancelled the race when Nico Goyard was about to win the event.

A new race was started, this time a proper downwind Slalom for those light conditions. Sebastien Koerdel dominated the whole way with Nico Goyard behind, reaching the last mark wind dropped down a bit and double RSX Gold Medalist made his way to first place pumping/rowing to pass Koerdel & Goyard.

It was a crazy finish, you could feel for Koerdel in that valid one and for Goyard on the one cancelled. Mateo Iachino who dominated the Slalom stages with Koerdel and was in a good position after the Course Racing day was eliminated today in light tricky winds elimination rounds.

No one can take a thing from Kiran Badloe, the winner, but the great show left an RSX pumping feeling in the air.

Windfoil was developed to start planning/flying earlier than Formula floating boards, every R&D targeted early foil, and if you want to become an Olympic Class you will need to get on your feet as early as say 7-8knots? But the final equipment that Starboard presented and was selected features a 900cm area front wing, instead of the standard 1000cm area which many builders reach as the proper early lift weapon.

Problem is with a 1000cm2 area wing Slalom runs can be to hard to control on the reaching angles. Thus Starboard went for this compromise 900cm2 wing. Thus losing some key early lift in marginal conditions.

Now Formula Foil are tending to use 900-950cm2 wings, but the key difference is they can use a 10m sail to compensate lift in light winds.

With current IQFoil setup the +80kg guys are handicapped in light conditions, more when the race officer does not executes the rules guidelines which are racing a Slalom course in those light winds.

In contrast many point out that the IQFoil had good breeze for the course racing series past days, favoring heavier sailors. And if today a bit more wind was in place, the PWA riders Koerdel, Iachino or Nico Goyard would have won easily.

Its a valid argument and the reason we think the IQfoil format has leveled the field, major aspect for next event is to have a solid and consistent decisions on the race officer to launch a Slalom or Course race according the indications and spirit of the new Class which is to only race Slalom below 10knots of winds. That alone today would have left aside any valid controversy on the final course race that was cancelled with Nico Goyard leading.

All in all, a promising start for the IQFoil , lets see how it develops coming events.

Special mention to Sebastien Koerdel, a Class Act on how he took the tough hit in the final meters. Watch his interview in the live stream replay above.
Also great work by the commentator from windsurfing.tv and former Mistral Medalist and Tornado sailor Aaron Mcintosh.

Final Results top ten, complete list here https://europeans2020.iqfoil.org Results menu tab.