Windsurfer Class European Championship 2025 – Punta Ala, Day 3

September 11, 2025
By Laura Fusco

After two days of waiting due to bad weather and lack of wind, the Windsurfer Class European Championship 2025 has finally come alive in Punta Ala.

Today, on the third day of the schedule, 180 competitors from 16 nations finally hit the water for the course races, completing a total of 20 heats (4 per category).

The desire to race after two days of waiting was strong: the excitement had already sparked last night with the Opening Ceremony celebrating all 16 delegations, but only today did the colorful sails finally fill the Gulf of Follonica.

The east/southeast wind of around 10 knots gradually dropped over the course of the day. Far from easy, the conditions were made even more demanding by a growing swell, forcing the athletes into significant physical effort. It was therefore a long and tough day, with each fleet spending more than three hours on the water to complete the scheduled races – but it was all lived with great participation and enthusiasm, in the true Windsurfer Spirit.

The day therefore saw four races completed in each of the five categories: Lightweights (A), Medium (B), Medium-Heavy (C), Heavyweights (D) and Women (F).

The day then ended with happy hour at the BeachBar, in the classic welcoming atmosphere of the PuntAla Camp & Resort.

The provisional ranking iare already beginning to outline the first balances of the championship.

Among the Women (F) in the lead is the very young Ilaria Marras (ITA 209, 16 years old, LNI Ostia), who leads the provisional ranking ahead of Manuela Arcidiacono (ITA 520) and France’s Sandra Marçon (FRA 617).

In the Lightweights (A), Andrea Marchesi (ITA 017, Associazione Vela Sabazia) is on top, followed by France’s Pascal Bugeaud (FRA 6069) and Marco Costagli (ITA 85). With such narrow gaps, the ranking remains wide open.

In the Mediums (B) the reigning world champion Alessandro Torzoni (ITA 90, LNI Olbia) is in the lead, but the fight is tight given the narrow margin over his direct pursuers, the French Frédéric Duthil (FRA 1377) and Eric Belot (FRA 397).

In Medium Heavy (C), IFrance’s Cyril Dardashti (FRA 5611) leads the fleet, followed by the legendary Italian Fabio Balini (ITA 211), with another Frenchman, Emile Martinie (FRA 13), in third place.

Finally, in the Heavyweight (D), France’s Frédéric Boc-Ho (FRA 303, Wishbone Club Dinard) sits at the top, ahead of Finland’s Juha Blinnikka (FIN 0006) and fellow Frenchman Pierre-Franck Mironneau (FRA 1821).

The overall program foresees a total of 10 races. The six still to be sailed include one Long Distance and one Slalom. Tomorrow more course races are scheduled, with the hope of more favorable weather conditions.