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Her first podium finish on the international windfoiling stage was somewhat bittersweet for Veerle ten Have.
The 22-year-old Tauranga sailor won bronze at the Princess Sofia Regatta in Palma de Mallorca earlier this month – the first top-level European event of the season featuring many of the world’s leading competitors.
It was ten Have’s first medal on the world stage, having only started sailing in the IQFOIL class less than two years ago.
Ten Have booked her spot in the three-board final in Spain after consistent racing across more than a dozen slalom and course fleet races gained her automatic qualification for the semis.
She had to settle for third in the medal decider, however, finishing after Britain’s Emma Wilson and Lucie Belbeoch of France.
“I put all my energy into the semis and could not have worked any harder to try make it through,” ten Have said this week.
“Getting into the final felt amazing as it meant a guaranteed podium spot but after finishing the final, I felt a little disappointed - especially knowing how close that gold was. To finish last in the medal race felt weird but it makes me want it even more for next time.”
“Next time” is next month’s IQFOIL European Championship in Patras, Greece.
The New Zealand windfoiling squad have just completed a 10-day training camp in Marseille, France in preparation for the event which will also feature Kiwis Josh Armit, Thomas Crook, Patrick Haybittle and Eli Liefting.
Veerle ten Have won bronze at the Princess Sofia Regatta in Palma, her first international medal in the iQFOIL class. Photos / Sailing Energy
Despite the slight disappointment at the colour of her medal in Palma, ten Have is taking plenty of positives to the Europeans.
She only switched to windfoiling late in 2021, after missing out on selection for the Tokyo Olympic Games in the windsurfing (RS:X) competition.
Last year was ten Have’s first full season in the new class that will be making its Olympic debut in Paris in 2024. She finished seventh at the 2022 Princess Sofia Regatta, followed by a fifth in Hyères and ninth at the world championships in Brest, France.
“I have made a lot of progress since the Palma last year - beating more than 100 other competitors for my first international podium in the IQFOIL this time. I still made plenty of mistakes but I learnt a lot,” ten Have said.
“I thought it would feel strange winning a medal at a big international event but it felt strangely normal – like I am meant to be there, on that podium.”
