Nöbetçi Eczaneler
Palma, Spain (April 6, 2022) – After two days of big wind, the Bay of Palma shifted gears for the 51st Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca. Rather than brute strength, the ten Olympic fleets had to stay on top of the sizeable shifts in wind direction and pressure for the third day of the first Hempel World Cup Series regatta of 2022.
The standout performances today included French Formula Kite rider Lauriane Nolot. After yesterday’s frustrating opening to her Olympic campaign, today she fired off a second and three first places to lead the women’s fleet by five points.
On the first day of gold fleet racing, the comeback of Australia’s ILCA7 2020 gold medalist Matthew Wearn has been impressive. A technical failure meant he started the event with a DNC and then 26th but today he fought his way up to eighth overall with two second places.
French impress
This may only be the very start of the road to Paris 2024 but the strength and depth of the French team is impressive in Mallorca with the team leading overall in the 49er, the ILCA 7, and both iQFOiL and Formula Kite women.
Respectively, bronze and silver medalists at last year’s world championships, the rivalry between kiters Nolot and compatriot Poema Newland – who lies third here – ensures both are pushing each other to higher and higher levels.
“I feel like this is the start of our road to the Olympics in Marseille and with Poema, the way we have been battling against each other since last year is good for both of us and here we are near the top,” said Nolot. “But I am a little bit of a perfectionist and so I see my mistakes everywhere and am always looking to improve.” Nolot lives and trains from Hyeres at the epicentre of the hotbed of French kiting, along with the Montpellier beaches.
“I wanted to avoid all the mistakes I made yesterday when I was too focused on how unpredictable the wind was. Today I just accepted the wind is unpredictable here and just concentrated on my speed and that worked well. I went where I had space and clear wind and that was key as I won every race. I was trying a new kite yesterday and was out of my comfort zone a bit, away from my good habits.”
Source: scuttlebutt – https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2022/04/06/shifting-gears-on-bay-of-palma/