With a fresh Olympic quad now underway and nearly 800 crews racing across all 10 Olympic disciplines, the buzz around the boat parks was a mix of new partnerships, returning champions, and the first hard looks at how the field might shape up on the road to Los Angeles 2028.
Back in Business
Some of Paris 2024’s medallists are still enjoying a well-earned breather, but many have jumped straight back into the deep end. In the ILCA 7 fleet—a massive and ultra-competitive lineup—it was familiar faces making an early statement.
Cyprus’s double Olympic silver medallist Pavlos Kontides opened his account with a race win. In the same fleet, Peru’s Stefano Peschiera, who took bronze in Marseille, also started with a bullet.
Australia’s Grae Morris, fresh off silver in the iQFOiL at Paris, picked up right where he left off—leading the men’s windsurfing fleet after a slick first day.
But while several fleets found themselves dealing with a softening breeze in the afternoon, the Formula Kite racers had the best of the day's conditions.
Formula Kite: Fast Starts and Fresh Nerves
The kiteboarding fleets got four races in early—clean, fast, and in glorious NW gradient wind. Six months had passed since the international fleets last faced off, and there were more than a few butterflies floating around as the boards took to the line.
The offseason was all about gear. Kiteboarders have an ever-growing range of foils, boards, and kite brands to choose from—and this season’s setup choices are more varied (and colourful) than ever.
One program that’s clearly hit the right formula is China’s women’s squad. Si Wang leads the fleet after four races, with teammates Wan Li and Jinguye Chen just behind her. France’s rising talent Lysa Caval is fourth overall, and just behind her is the reigning Olympic champion Ellie Aldridge, back in action after a well-earned break.
“This is the only event I’m doing this year until the Worlds in September,” said Aldridge. “My plan is mostly to train at home because I didn’t want to be full-time with all the travel. My plan was to take a break for a year, but then I’ve had an opportunity come up with SailGP. So in the end I’m actually going to be travelling a lot and it is an amazing opportunity. But it’s good to be here and see everyone again. I’m not focused on trying to be the best in the kite. It's more of a year to see what happens with the fleet, what happens with all the new kit.”
In the men’s fleet, the top spot looks familiar—Max Maeder is back in the driver’s seat. The 18-year-old from Singapore, who won the overall Sofía Trophy in 2023 and Olympic silver in Marseille, didn’t put a foot wrong. Four wins from four starts is a serious statement.
“My heart rate was running really high, I could feel the nerves and the adrenalin running through me on the start line,” said Maeder. “So I was just taking everything, a step slower, a gear slower, just to make sure that I do it properly. I was probably running at about 85%, just taking my time to make sure I avoided any bad mistakes.”
Behind Maeder sits Olympic gold medallist Valentin Bontus of Austria, with Czech sailor Vojtech Koska also mixing it up with the big names and sitting in third overall.
Across the Classes
With solid breeze early in the say giving way to shiftier conditions later, Day 1 offered a well-rounded test across the board.
In the ILCA 7, Micky Beckett of Great Britain—aiming for his fourth consecutive win in Palma—started with a 3,1. Still, even veterans can have shaky moments.
“It was lovely day sailing, 16-17 knots, a bit more than we expected. I got into it pretty quickly, the wind was going back and forwards a bit but it was so good to be back out there doing it all again. I made a couple of dumb mistakes – like not finding the leeward mark and sailed off in the wrong direction when I was winning – but I will try not to do that again!”
Kontides followed up his early win with a 15th, but for him, it's all about building momentum.
“I just love it. Most of all I love the fighting on the water. This is the first major championship after the Games and most people are here so I want to be here. The world championships are early this year and so most of us want to get good racing in before then to build confidence.”
In the ILCA 6, Belgium’s Emma Plasschaert, the 2021 World Champion and 7th at Paris, also opened with two wins.
“I am pretty fresh. I had eight months out of the boat, enjoying doing other things and so I am just off ten days training in Vilamoura before coming here. The second race was trickiest as the thermal effect meant it died completely and I was leading by a lot and then suddenly everyone was up with me and I only just got across the line to win!”
In the 470 Mixed, Germany’s Simon Diesch and Anna Markfort, 14th in Paris, came out on top on Day 1—leading a big and motivated German squad.
In the 49er, French pair Lucas Rual and Emile Amoros hold the lead after two races. In the 49erFX, it’s Freya Black and Saskia Tidey from Great Britain who made the best start with a strong opening day.
Australia’s Grae Morris leads the iQFOiL Men, while Britain’s Emma Wilson—the Olympic bronze medallist—scored two bullets to kick off the iQFOiL Women’s competition.
The Nacra 17 fleet raced in softer conditions later in the day. China’s Huangcheng Zhao and Su Sha top the table after three races.
All to Play for
With perfect conditions on Day 1 and plenty of racing still to come, the mood in Palma is optimistic—but focused. Whether it’s Paris medalists finding their groove again or new names trying to break through, every sailor on the Bay this week is laying down an early marker in a long campaign.
And if Day 1 is anything to go by, the 2028 Olympic cycle is off to a fast, colourful, and highly competitive start—with Palma once again proving it’s the perfect venue for Olympic classes competition.
