Freestyle
Lennart Neubauer took another massive step towards a second Freestyle world title today after the Greek/German was able to win the Single Elimination after firstly defeating Balz Müller (Severne Windsurfing) in the second semifinal and then Dieter Van der Eyken (Severne Windsurfing) in the final. The 22-year-old said he wasn’t totally happy with his semifinal performance and seemed to use that as motivation to deliver an almost flawless performance in the final as he posted the highest scoring heat of the event thus far - 38.18 points - as he sailed with his normal power and precision. Victory in the single not only puts Neubauer on the verge of a second world crown, but also a third event triumph in Sylt having previously won here in 2023 and 2025.
Yentel Caers (JP / NeilPryde) is now the only man who can deny Neubauer a second world title, but the reigning world champion would need to come all the way back through the Double Elimination to win the event, which would then see the world title race come down to a winner takes all sail off. That’s certainly not out of the question, but it would require a change in the forecast for the last few days.
Dieter Van der Eyken was already guaranteed his best result since his world title winning year in 2015 and the Belgian pushed Neubauer all the way in the final, but ultimately it wasn’t quite enough. Van der Eyken will still be delighted with his work in the Single and is assured a place on the event podium no matter what.
Takumi Moriya (Severne Windsurfing) came out on top of an incredibly close B-Final against Müller. Heading into the last minute there was less than half a point in it, but a slick spock culo from Moriya in the dying seconds secured third place - which puts the 20-year-old within touching distance of a maiden World Tour podium.
Müller, meanwhile, just misses out on potentially securing back-to-back podiums after finishing fourth in the Single, but if he’s lucky he might still have a chance to fight for that in the Double. If things were to finish as they currently stand then Müller would earn by far his best overall result on the World Tour as he would be crowned the vice-world champion, which would be quite fitting for someone who truly represents the ethos of Freestyle and continues to be one of the main innovators of the sport.
Foil Slalom
Matteo Iachino (Starboard / NeilPryde / Z Foils) continued his amazing form on the second day of racing in Sylt. The Italian opened with three second places yesterday and continued in the same vein of form as he secured second in Elimination 4. With the discard now in play, and four solid results in the bank, Iachino then went for the kill in Elimination 5 as he pushed the start, knowing that Fabian Wolf (Starboard / Severne Sails / AEON Foil System) and Amado Vrieswijk (Future Fly / North Sails / Z Foils) were major threats for the event win with their bullets (two apiece), and the Italian seized the lead into the first buoy and never looked like relinquishing it from that position as he claimed his first bullet of the event. The reigning world champion now leads the event and looks extremely assured. Being consistent is one thing, being so consistent to not finish outside the top two is a totally different achievement and incredibly impressive.
Fabian Wolf drops into second place, but the German is still just 1.7 points off of Iachino. The 28-year-old is yet to finish outside the top four in the opening five eliminations having recorded a third and fourth today, which keeps him firmly on course to earn a maiden podium at a 5-star World Tour event, while also being right in the mix for event title.
Amado Vrieswijk gains one place from the overnight rankings to climb into third at the close of play. The Bonairean produced a bit of racing magic in the Winners’ Final of Elimination 4 to slice his way from fourth or fifth to lead after the opening gybe and went on to secure his second bullet of the event. Having won two out of the opening four eliminations, Vrieswijk was just two points off of the lead at this point and another top result in the next elimination would've brought him firmly into contention for the event title. However, the 30-year-old had to settle for sixth in Elimination 5, which sees him lose ground and is now 6.7 points off of the lead and with Iachino’s extremely consistent results, it’s difficult, but not impossible to see that being overturned.
Pierre Mortefon (FMX Racing / North Sails) started the day in third place, but now trails Vrieswijk by 3.6 points. The Frenchman missed out on his first Winners’ Final of the week in Elimination 4, but went on to win the B-Final before finishing fifth in the next race. Mortefon will probably feel slightly aggrieved that the second semifinal of Elimination 6 was cancelled after the third gybe as he was cruising to victory in that heat.
Elsewhere, John Soukos (FMX Racing / Challenger Sails / AEON Foil System) remains in a solid fifth place - just three points behind Mortefon. The Greek discards a twelfth from Elimination 4, while he signed off the day with his best result of the event so far - 4th - and is currently 12 points ahead of William Huppert (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / AEON Foil System) and Maciek Rutkowski (JP / NeilPryde), who are tied in sixth on 32 points.
Noah Vinther (PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / AEON Foil System) started the day in eleventh, but breaks into the top ten - 8th - after an eleventh and a seventh today.
Mover of the Day
Bruno Martini (S2Maui / Z Foils) began the day outside of the top 16 - 18th - after a topsy turvy opening day of racing yesterday, but the Italian clicked into gear today by qualifying for both Winners’ Finals where he posted a third and an eighth, which sees Martini gain nine places from the overnight rankings - 18th to ninth.
Benoit Merceur (Starboard / Severne Sails) gains four places to currently complete the top ten, while Hugo Sjoberg earned his best result to date on the World Tour after securing a brilliant second place in Elimination 5, while he’s safely into the Winners’ Final of Elimination 6. The Swede started the day in 17th place, but is now within earshot of the top ten - 11th.
Meanwhile, Nacho Baltasar (Severne Windsurfing), Sem Stroosma, Jordy Vonk (Duotone Windsurfing) all slide outside of the top ten having been eighth, ninth and tenth, respectively, yesterday.
The forecast for Thursday currently shows the possibility of some moderate winds in the morning, so there is a chance of more racing with a bit of luck, but the wind is expected to die throughout the day with plenty of rain on the forecast. The Foil Slalom skippers’ meeting will be held at 09:30 (GMT+2) with a first possible start at 10:30. Meanwhile the Freestyle fleet will be given an announcement at 10am.
Current Ranking Citroën Windsurf World Cup Sylt - Men’s Freestyle
1st Lennart Neubauer (GRE | Starboard / Severne Sails / Maui Ultra Fins)
2nd Dieter Van der Eyken (BEL | Severne Windsurfing)
3rd Takumi Moriya (JPN | Severne Windsurfing)
4th Balz Müller (SUI | Severne Windsurfing)
5th Jacopo Testa (ITA | GUNSAILS / AL360)
5th Yentel Caers (BEL | JP / NeilPryde)
5th Steven Van Broeckhoven (BEL | GUNSAILS)
5th Takuma Sugi (JPN)
Current Ranking Citroën Windsurf World Cup Sylt - Men’s Foil Slalom
*After 5 Eliminations (1 Discard)
1st Matteo Iachino (ITA | Starboard / NeilPryde / Z Foils)
2nd Fabian Wolf (GER | Starboard / Severne Sails / AEON Foil System)
3rd Amado Vrieswijk (NB | Future Fly / North Sails / Z Foils)
4th Pierre Mortefon (FRA | FMX Racing / North Sails)
5th John Soukos (GRE | FMX Racing / Challenger Sails / AEON Foil System)
6th William Huppert (FRA | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / AEON Foil System)
6th Maciek Rutkowski (POL | JP / NeilPryde)
8th Noah Vinther (DEN | PATRIK / PATRIK Sails / AEON Foil System)
9th Bruno Martini (ITA | S2Maui / Z Foils)
10th Benoit Merceur (FRA | Starboard / Severne Sails)