Max Maeder overcomes setbacks to retain European C'ships crown
The Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist had finished second behind Riccardo Pianosi at the French Olympic Week event in April, but insisted he did not set out to avenge that loss as he beat the 20-year-old Italian in Urla, Turkey.
Maeder told The Straits Times: "This win is less about defending the title or gaining revenge, because as satisfying as it is, it can cloud your judgment sometimes during racing. So, it was a great learning experience that I was able to detach myself from that.
"This surgical precision sometimes eludes me, and I'm very happy and flattered that this compliment is going around and I was able to bring it out today."
Pianosi had dominated the opening series, winning 11 out of 16 races to qualify for the medal series in first place as the only athlete with one match point - which means he needed to win only one race in the grand final to claim gold.
Maeder, meanwhile, met with difficult conditions to reach the medal series in second place and would need to win two races in the grand final to overhaul Pianosi.
In race six of the opening series, a crash ripped off his tracker and tore his wetsuit. He then missed the next race after a line tangle at the start damaged his kite. In the penultimate race, a plastic bag got caught on his hydrofoil (underwater wing), sending him into the water and inverting his kite as he finished last.
The drama continued in the four-man grand final on a "phenomenal day of racing".
Needing to win to stay in the hunt and prevent Pianosi from claiming the title at the first attempt, both men's kites made contact as they led the first race, and the Italian was penalised after he was adjudged to have touched Maeder's kite on a jibe in the first downwind leg.
The 18-year-old Singaporean then kept his focus to capitalise on Pianosi's poor start in the second race to record his first triumph of the year.
Gian Stragiotti of Switzerland and Greece's Cameron Maramenides finished third and fourth respectively.
Maeder added: "To focus after winning or losing a race is part and parcel of being a racer, because we have to try and do it again and again. To know that the job isn't done, to recalibrate and reset yourself is a skill of a racer, and I've built that experience over time.
"I was also pushed to focus and pushed to my limits by the competitors around me. They bring out the best in me, and I hope I bring out the best in them as well."
Pianosi paid tribute to the champion, saying: "Max had an amazing day. He did everything clear in the first race, and especially the second one. I made an error at the start, but it was a very nice day for him and I'm happy for him."
Maeder will return to Singapore on May 25 to take a couple of weeks' break before heading to Europe again for training.
In the women's final, Frenchwoman Lauriane Nolot took gold, while Briton Lily Young, Lysa Caval of France and Argentinian Catalina Turienzo placed second, third and fourth respectively.
Meanwhile, at the May 10-17 Ilca 6 Women's and Ilca 7 Men's World Championships in Qingdao, China, Singapore's Ryan Lo ended 14th for Asia's best men's finish, while compatriot Jarrod Toh was 123rd out of 138 sailors as Dutchman Willem Wiersema took gold.
In the women's event, Singapore's Jania Ang finished 57th among 99 sailors.
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