Under the picturesque mountain faces of Lake Garda Italy over 160 competitors gathered for Foiling Week. Foiling Week is a World Sailing Special event for which the top foilers from various classes come from all over the world to share new ideas, give demos and to race.
There was a large gathering in the Moth Fleet with the likes of Olympic Gold medallists Dylan Fletcher, Paul Goodison and Rugero Tita, racing in the regatta.
In the 66-boat Waszp fleet, 2021 Waszp U20 & Slalom European Champion Charlie Cullen (20) of the Royal St. George was reckoned to join the usual protagonists at the top of the Waszp Fleet.
Day one of the Foiling Week saw a tricky gusty 10-knot Ora south wind, which Charlie took advantage of, taking an early lead in the regatta, with a race win in race 3 of the day. But with Italian Enzio Savoini getting 2 bullets in race 1 and 2 and Jann Schuepbach of Switzerland 1 point behind, the competition was going to be tight.
Under the picturesque mountain faces of Lake Garda Italy over 160 competitors gathered for Foiling Week Photo: Angela Trawoeger
Day two came with similar conditions. Charlie, staying consistent, maintained his lead grabbing another race win on the day. Enzio Savoini jumped to second overall after another race win
Day three saw very light conditions with at times no foiling. Italian sailor Ettore Botticini thrived in this wind getting a 3, 2, and 1 on the day. After these results and a 2nd discard kicking in the Italian took the overall lead, with Enzio holding 2nd and Charlie dropping to 3rd overall.
Going into the final day any of the top 5 could take the title. This also included 29er European Champion Ewan Wilson of Scotland and Italian Emanuele Savoini.
However, Charlie maintaining a consistent score throughout the regatta had great discards guaranteeing himself a spot in the top three. After super tough light wind racing on the final day, after 10 races the overall win went to Ettore Botticini on 23 points with Charlie taking 2nd with 25 points and first U25 - behind and Enzio Savoini on 28 points took 3rd.
Waszp winners - Ettore Botticini (centre) with Charlie Cullen (left) second and first U25 with Enzio Savoini third
“It was super fun racing” Charlie told Afloat. “ Conditions were incredibly tough, super shifty and patchy winds – but I was happy with my consistency in these conditions which is really promising going into the worlds Championships which will also be here in Lake Garda in the next weeks”
Charlie took the final race win, finishing on a high and securing his silver medal for the second year running. His super consistent scores during the regatta meant he finished with a total of 46 points with the next best having a total of 99 points.
Other Irish at the event, some of whom had also competed at the Weymouth UK Nationals in June as Afloat reports here, were sibling pair Max and Georgia Goodbody of the Royal Irish and Marcus O’Leary & Andrew Conan of the Royal St. George who all also had great performances during the regatta.
There are expected to be six Irish boats at this year’s Waszp World Championships that will be held from the 11th to 16th of July in Fraglia Vela Malcesine in Lake Garda.
Results here
