World Cup finals in Hyères: Polish sailors still in medal contention

Tarnowski, despite slipping to 8th place in the iQFOiL fleet, clinched the last qualifying position for today’s final. Meanwhile, Satrjan moved up to 6th place in the Formula Kite rankings. Both athletes remain in contention for silver or bronze – but will need to advance through quarterfinal and semifinal heats to reach the podium.

– Iza has a great chance to improve her position. She’s consistently shown she can finish in the top three during this regatta, and we’re hoping to see that again today – said head coach Piotr Myszka.

While the foiling fleets head into medal races, the final series continues across the remaining classes. Sailors are set to complete another two to three races today, with their medal races scheduled for Saturday.

The 49er class delivered high drama. Tomasz Januszewski’s protégés, the duo of Staniul/Sztorch (KS AZS AWFIS Gdańsk), had a near-flawless day, sailing consistently at the front of the fleet. They were sitting 4th overall before receiving a BFD penalty (black flag disqualification) in race three, which dropped them to 11th. Nevertheless, a spot in Saturday’s medal race remains within reach.

Teammates Tytus Butowski and Borys Podumis (also AWFiS Gdańsk) posted strong results in the gold fleet, finishing 6th and 4th in today’s races. However, a single DNF earlier in the regatta leaves them 16th overall.

The Buksak & Głogowski Sailing Team managed to stay in 4th place despite a slow start to the day. With a narrow margin separating them from the boats behind and just nine points to the podium, they remain firmly in the hunt.

In the 49erFX fleet, CzapskaRajchert.49FX.Sailing (Spójnia Sailing Section) continue to perform well and currently hold 6th place. In the ILCA 6 class, Agata Barwińska (Stowarzyszenie Sportów Wodnych – Mos Iława) is holding steady in 5th position, well within striking distance of the leaders.

Racing has concluded in the men’s Formula Kite fleet, where Jan Marciniak (KS AQUA Włocławek) finished 12th, the top-ranked Polish athlete. Among the women, Anastasiya Valkevich placed 16th, just ahead of Maja Dziarnowska (17th), both representing Sopocki Klub Żeglarski.

In the 470 class, Agnieszka Skrzypulec-Szota and Szymon Wierzbicki (YACHT KLUB POLSKI SZCZECIN / AZS Sailing Team Poznań) climbed to 20th place. In the ILCA 7 fleet, Michał Krasodomski (AWFiS Gdańsk) dropped to 29th – still the highest-placed Pole in that class.

– I hope our sailors can hold their ground or even push for higher positions and medal race qualification. Fingers crossed for a strong finish heading into Saturday’s medal deciders – added Piotr Myszka.