Three of the four Formula Windsurfing world titles to be awarded by the International Windsurfing Association (IWA) next year will be decided in the Algarve. The city of Lagos will host the «Monsaraz World Festival Championship 2015 (Masters, Youth and Women)», sponsored by Carmim and organized by the Clube de Vela de Lagos and the Formula Windsurfing Portugal Association.
The Formula Windsurfing World Championship 2015 for the Masters (Men over 35), Youth (U20) and Women categories will take place between the 27th of April and the 2nd of May and the base of operations will be the facilities of the Lagos Sailing Club.
It will be the debut of the new world championship model decided by IWA, which separated the women's competition from the men's absolute world championship (still no venue for 2015) and joined it to the masters and youth world. A novelty that attracts more attention to the World Cup in Lagos.
“For the absolute world championships, places with greater technical demand are chosen, which harmed the ladies. The move to the masters and youth world championship highlights the ladies”, explained Vasco Chaveca, president of the Formula Windsurfing Portugal Association (AFWP).
Algarvio (from Alvor) and windsurfing athlete (federated by the Clube Naval de Portimão), Vasco Chaveca is also a member of the IWA Committee and it was he who presented the proposal for holding the World Cup in Lagos.
“The Clube de Vela de Lagos is one of the most experienced in organizing windsurfing events and also has the advantage of having some judges in the direction. The club was interested in organizing the World Cup and I triggered the situation with the IWA Committee”, said Vasco Chaveca.
“It is an asset for the Algarve to make known places that can bring more competitions and even bring athletes from Northern Europe to train during the winter”, commented the president of the AFWP.
The regatta field at Baía de Lagos is a “premium place for windsurfing”, says Vasco Chaveca. It is a very safe sailing competition area, being inside a bay and typically subject to little swell, with an almost constant wind from the north quadrant.
“It used to be an easier racing field. Four to five years ago, hotels and buildings began to be built on the coast of Meia Praia, which made the wind more uncertain and the regatta field more technical,” added Vasco Chaveca.
The competition will gather between 40 to 50 top athletes in the world. Each athlete can be accompanied by family members, so the organization estimates a total delegation of around 120 people.
“They will stay in hotels in the center of Lagos and enjoy the city's restaurants, bars and shops for a week. At a time of mid-season, the World Cup should have some impact on the local economy, in addition to projecting the image of Lagos in the world”, commented the president of the AFWP.
The Algarvian Miguel Martinho, from Portimão is the current vice-champion of the lightweight world (category that will no longer have a world title in 2015) and European runner-up masters. With a good knowledge of the regatta field in Lagos, Miguel Martinho is the spearhead for a good result in the Algarve in the world championship in Lagos.
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