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New Zealand's Kosta Gladiadis will head into the final day of the Wingfoil Racing Youth and Masters World Championships in the Azores with his sights firmly set on gold after a thrilling penultimate day of racing.
With powerful northerly winds gusting over 30 knots, the bay erupted into a cauldron of spray and drama as riders fought for automatic qualification to Monday's (NZ time) medal series. Only the top nine would progress directly, while the rest face a last-chance "Golden Ticket" race for survival.
After several frustrating days of light winds, the stormy skies finally brought the high-octane conditions the fleet had been waiting for. It was a test of skill and nerve - wings were shredded, riders crashed, and split-second decisions on sail size made the difference between victory and disaster.
At the centre of the youth boys fleet, the fierce rivalry between Gladiadis and Italy's Ernesto De Amicis reignited in spectacular fashion. De Amicis appeared to seize the upper hand early, finishing ahead in the first two races. But the young Manly Sailing Club rider kept his composure, bouncing back with strong performances later in the day to reclaim control at the top of the standings. Both riders secured their place in the final, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown.
Gladiadis has claimed top-three results in all but one of the 16 qualifying races, including seven bullets to lead the standings by eight points from De Amicis.
Kosta Gladiadis has qualified for the medal series in first place. Photos / Robert Hajduk / IWSA Media
Jean Paul Villegas of Colombia narrowly squeezed into the medal series in ninth place, while the Czech Republic's Stepan Benes produced one of the day’s standout performances, rebounding from a broken wing to win two races and climb to fourth overall. The variable wind forced many riders back to shore mid-session to swap equipment, adding tension to an already volatile contest.
In the youth girls fleet, Italy's Lara Cristina Talarico rose to the top with impressive consistency, rarely finishing outside the top three. China’s Yana Li, who had briefly led after a strong start, saw her hopes fade after two false-start disqualifications. Hong Kong's Claire Tian Yu Tse held firm to qualify for the final alongside Talarico, while Spain's Leya Seguí Mearns and Li will contest the semi-final.
Among the Masters, Britain's Chris Rashley called it "one of the hardest days of racing in my career" but still topped the leaderboard despite exploding a wing mid-race. Italy's Paolo Migliorini secured second, confirming Italy's presence in all three finals.
Latest results and standings here.
