Paweł Tarnowski finishes just off the podium, Anastasiya Valkevich’s bid halted by late capsize - recap of the iQFO

The iQFOiL European Championships—the final senior Olympic-class title event of the season—concluded in Sferracavallo, Sicily, after a week marked by inconsistent wind and compressed racing opportunities. Despite the challenging conditions, the Polish team secured two spots in the medal series. Paweł Tarnowski finished the regatta in 4th place, while Anastasiya Valkevich closed the event in 10th, both demonstrating competitive pace against Europe’s strongest fleet.

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02 december 2025   |   10:04   |   Source: Gazeta Morska   |   Prepared by: Kamil Kusier   |   Print

fot. Polski Związek Żeglarski

Weather-limited schedule, high-intensity medal series

Light winds allowed racing on only four of the six planned days, severely limiting opportunities for strategic recovery after early setbacks. The final day, however, delivered classic Sicilian conditions: 10–15 knots, ideal for fast, foiling-intensive medal racing streamed live on the iQFOiL YouTube channel.

In the men’s semifinal, Tarnowski crossed the start line last, but strong board speed and sharp tactical calls propelled him to a decisive race victory, earning him a place in the grand final. There, he faced the championship frontrunners: Nicolas Goyard, Finn Hawkins, and Luuc Van Opzeeland. The grand final comprised two races; Tarnowski finished 3rd and 2nd, results that did not grant additional points under the new medal-series scoring, leaving him just outside the podium in the overall standings.

- I’m satisfied with holding fourth place, even though I’m left with a bit of hunger for more, Paweł Tarnowski said. - I wasn’t feeling well today due to food poisoning, but still managed to show solid sailing. In medal races, the start is everything, and those short races leave little room for recovery. I sailed consistently all week, and that gives me confidence heading into the next seasons.

The European title ultimately went to Luuc Van Opzeeland of the Netherlands, who capitalized on the points he carried into the grand final from the preceding series.

A dramatic turn for Valkevich

Anastasiya Valkevich, Ambassador of the PGE Sailing Team Poland, delivered one of the most dramatic moments of the regatta. Entering her quarterfinal with a 5-second penalty for an earlier start-line infringement, she quickly reeled in the fleet, took the lead, and controlled the race in steep, demanding seas.

But with the semifinals in sight, a late capsize on the final approach to the finish line ended her medal hopes.

- Conditions were tough today with big, steep waves. Even though I finished 10th, I’m happy with my speed and with racing head-to-head against Europe’s best, Anastasiya Valkevich said. -  hope next year will be even better—and that I’ll come back for more medals.

Israel’s Daniela Peleg captured the women’s European title.

Polish team looks ahead with confidence

The medal series featured two athletes from the Polish National Team, both representing the Sopot Sailing Club. According to Piotr Myszka, Head Coach of the Polish Sailing Association, the results—though medal-less—signal strong upward momentum.

- Both athletes were in medal contention and fought to the end. Paweł missed the podium by a small margin, and Anastasiya was the fastest in her quarterfinal before the capsize. These performances give us optimism for next season. Their competitive drive will translate into medals—I’m certain of it, Piotr Myszka emphasized.

Polish presence in the race management team

Poland also had representation in the event’s officiating structure. Ewa Jodłowska served as Principal Race Officer, while Anastazja Lewandowska was part of the international jury, strengthening Poland’s footprint in top-tier race management.

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iQFOiL Mistrzostwa Europy Paweł Tarnowski Anastasiya Valkevich żeglarstwo olimpijskie Sferracavallo regaty

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