ILCA 6 Women's and ILCA 7 Men's World Championships 2025 at Qingdao - Day 4
by Frankie Zheng / ILCA 15 May 07:21 PDT
10-17 May 2025
Still no wind on day 4 of the ILCA 7 Men's World Championships at Qingdao © Kong XiangJing / ILCA
Elyse Ainsworth (7th) and Zac Littlewood (3rd) at the ILCA 6 World Championships in Qingdao, China ©Australian Sailing Team
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The fourth day of the ILCA World Championships began with cautious optimism but ended in yet another abandonment. Qingdao saw its first high tide at 6:00 a.m. (4.0m), low tide at 12:43 p.m. (1.3m), and a second high at 5:40 p.m. (3.9m). Light easterly winds persisted throughout the day at around 5 knots. Though the skies remained dry, thick fog crept in from the sea, casting a familiar shadow over the entire racecourse.
At 10:30 a.m., D flags were raised across all course areas, and competitors launched into a fleeting southerly breeze that briefly peaked at 13 knots—finally, a hint of potential racing. But that glimmer of hope quickly dissipated.
Heavy fog returned from the south, choking off what little wind remained. At 11:17 a.m., AP over H was hoisted. The fleet was towed back to shore once again, for yet another stretch of waiting.
By now, after four consecutive days without racing, the toll was visible. Fatigue, frustration, and disappointment hung thick in the air—almost as heavy as the fog on the water.
"We're ready. We've been ready," one sailor murmured. "But nature doesn't bend to our will."
Fog Lingers, and So Does the Waiting
?At 1:12 p.m., D flags were hoisted again. Athletes regrouped and returned to the water. By 2:05 p.m., the Orange flag went up—preparation started for a possible start. For a moment, it looked as though the race might finally begin.
Then, AP was hoisted again. Visibility had dropped sharply. On the starting line, boats at the windward end could no longer see those at the pin end. Finally, AP over A was signalled: racing was officially abandoned for the fourth day in a row.
The announcement landed with a dull thud, extinguishing the last flickers of anticipation.
As locals often say, Qingdao's Olympic harbor carries a certain magic. Even typhoons seem to steer around it. Perhaps this bay is protected by some unseen force. But sailors don't come here to be protected—they come to be challenged. Calm seas do not make skilled sailors.
Voices from the Fleet | Staying the Course in the Stillness
Chiara Benini Floriani (ITA) - ILCA 6 : Fresh off a win in Hyères last month after a fifth-place finish at the Paris Olympics, Chiara reflected, "Qingdao is such an incredible place. The current is strong, the wind is light, and there's often fog. It's really demanding. I try to stay sharp and keep a fresh mindset. Even without racing, the mental drain is real. I'm hoping we'll get one or two proper windy days—strong wind brings out the best in me."
Nicholas Halliday (HKG) - ILCA 7 : A 2024 Olympian and winner of the latest Sailing Grand Slam in Hyeres, Nicholas said, "These past few days have been tough—we've just been drifting out there. When the start line doesn't open, I run mini-races with my teammates, or do upwind drills to stay sharp. Even without racing, I'm trying to stay positive. We've had good laughs on shore. After this, I'm heading to Qinhuangdao for the Asian Championships—hopefully, with better wind."
Reflections from Day 4 | Growth Through Stillness
Four straight days without a single start. It may be a record in ILCA Worlds history—but it's also part of what makes sailing a sport like no other.
Sailors have launched and towed their boats out, rigged and unrigged their sails, day after day, with no racing in sight. But they haven't stopped. In the stillness, they've trained their minds. In the waiting, they've strengthened their resolve.
The adrenaline may have dimmed, but their commitment hasn't. They're not waiting on miracles—they're preparing for opportunity. When the wind does come, they'll be ready.
As the saying goes: "Yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery, today a gift."
They're doing everything they can to honor that gift.
Finally, a Forecast with Promise — First Start Scheduled for 9:00 a.m. tomorrow. It's the first real spark in days—a signal of renewal after the fog.
May tonight bring rest, and may tomorrow bring wind. The page is turning. The fleet is ready.