Lanzarote International Regatta 2025 - Vadnai hikes to early ILCA lead

by Andy Rice 21 Feb 07:38 PST

ILCA 7 racing got underway on Thursday © Sailing Energy / Lanzarote Sailing Center

Jonatan Vadnai hiked his way to a great set of scores on a physically demanding day one of ILCA 7 racing at the Lanzarote International Regatta. The Hungarian notched up two race wins and a second place in 12 to 17 knots of breeze, big Atlantic waves and lots of Canarian sunshine.

It was a similar scoreline for the new Spanish team of Silvia Mas and Alex Marsans who scored 2,1,1 to take the early lead in the 470 Mixed fleet. It's an impressive start to their partnership considering this new team is up against proven performers like the Portuguese Diogo Costa and Carolina Joao (fifth at last year's Olympic Regatta) as well as Italian Olympian Elena Berta, crewed by Giulio Calabro.

Jonatan Vadnai was top dog in the ILCA 7 fleet - photo © Sailing Energy / Lanzarote Sailing Center

Brutally rewarding

"The day was very physically tough with brutal conditions," said Mas, but very encouraging all the same, as Marsans pointed out. "Obviously we have to work on many points but things are coming together little by little and we hope to see results," he said. This team has made good progress in the short time they've been training together. "Everything has gone very smoothly. We have barely stopped since we started sailing together two months ago, at a frenetic pace, but we understand each other and work very well."

There's nothing quite like actual racing, however, and Marsans was greatly encouraged by their first day of racing as a new partnership. "Today there was good wind, we were fast and we defended it well, fighting with the Portuguese."

Behind the leading Spanish are two teams from Portugal, Costa and Joao in second, followed by Beatriz Gago and Rodolfo Pires. Back ashore in Marina Rubicón, Joao was buzzing about the stellar conditions on the race track. "From 12 to 17 knots of wind, good waves, that was a perfect day for sailing, as always here in Lanzarote," she grinned.

The ILCA 7 fleet also enjoyed three physically demanding races on the big Atlantic swell. Lanzarote has attracted some veterans of Paris 2024, such as the two-time Olympic silver medalist Pavlos Kontides, the Croatian Filip Jurišic and the Dutchman Duko Bos. There is plenty of younger talent in the fleet too. They are pushing the old guard hard, as well as gaining useful experience on the same waters where they will compete in the 2026 edition of the ILCA 7 Under-21 World Championship.

Tight 470 racing between Spain and Portugal - photo © Sailing Energy / Lanzarote Sailing Center

Hungary for more

Jonatan Vadnai is another veteran of Paris 2024 where the Hungarian missed out on the Olympic podium by just 4 points, finishing an agonising fourth place overall. Perhaps that has given him the fire to want to put in the hard yards again for Los Angeles 2028.

Behind Vadnai is Montenegro Olympic representative Milivoj Dukic in second, with the Cypriot legend Kontides another point back in third place. Recently turned 35, Kontides admitted to feeling the physical strain of a big day on the water. "We are in the preparation phase of a new Olympic cycle and the body has suffered somewhat with today's conditions and three long races," smiled Kontides. "It has not been easy but I am starting the season and the new cycle with great enthusiasm."

The Race Committee has decided there will be no Medal Race on the final day. Instead there will be 12 races as the maximum number of races that the ILCA 7 fleet will contest until Sunday, the last day of competition.

Silvia Mas and Alex Marsans scored two race wins in 470 Mixed - photo © Sailing Energy / Lanzarote Sailing Center

* According to the report prepared by the consultancy Auditax, the Lanzarote International Regatta generated an economic impact of 37.4 million euros in 2024. This international event organised by Marina Rubicón is sponsored by Turismo Lanzarote through its sports tourism product "Lanzarote Sports Destination", Cabildo de Lanzarote through the Insular Sports Service, the Art, Culture and Tourism Centres of the Cabildo de Lanzarote and the Yaiza Town Hall; and the collaboration, among others, of the Canarian Sailing Federation, the Latin Sailing Federations and DinghyCoach.