Strong start for Dutch on home waters at Allianz Regatta

The opening day of action of the Allianz Regatta was dominated by the Dutch on home waters as they led the way in four of the six classes in action.

In fact it was only in the two Formula Kite classes that the home competitors were denied, with a strong French showing.

Perhaps the standout performance for Dutch fans came in the iQFOiL Men, where Luuc van Opzeeland led a Dutch 1-2-3 through four heats.

The 2022 world silver medallist won three of the four heats, coming second in the other, to lead compatriot Huig-Jan Tak by six points.

The Olympic champion, Kiran Badloe, is a point further back, finishing the day with a win and a second place after a slow start in the opening two heats.

Similarly impressive in the 49er class were reigning world champions Bart Lambriex and Floris van der Werken, who won all three heats on day one. That was enough to open up a three-point lead on Austrians Benjamin Bildstein and David Hussl.

Marit Bouwmeester wrapped up victory with a day to spare in the ILCA 6 in the World Cup opener in Palma, and made a strong start again here.

She is level with teammate Maxime Jonker after two heats, Bouwmeester avenging second place in the opener by winning the second with the pair on three points each, five clear of Australia’s Sylvie Stannage.

And rounding off the Dutch success in the ILCA 7 was Duko Bos, who won the opening heat and followed that up with a second-place finish to sit two points clear of Valtteri Uusitalo (FIN), with Alessio Spadoni (ITA) a point further back.

France lead the way in the kites

The only exception to the strong home showing came in the Formula Kite, where French athletes dominated, as they did in Palma.

Axel Mazella won all four of his heats in the blue fleet in the Formula Kite Men, a feat that was almost matched by China’s Qibin Huang in the yellow fleet, as he took three wins and a second.

In the Formula Kite Women, Poema Newland (FRA) did not start the opening heat before responding with three wins in a row to lead by four points from Spain’s Gisela Borrell.

Annelous Lammerts (NED) was the only other person to win a heat, taking the opener, but sits fourth on 11 points, with Gal Zukerman (ISR) in third on nine.