Double victory for Eric Belot and Oren del Álamo at the International Windsurfer Ibiza Meeting

Former French Olympian Eric Belot, representing Yacht Club Villeneuve Loubet (France), emerged as the overall winner in both competitions of the 4th edition of the International Windsurfer Ibiza Meeting: the Course Race and the Long Distance.

On Sunday, May 4, three races were held, which, combined with the two from Saturday, brought the total to five races counted toward the final result with one discard.

The circuit competition, or Course Race, which has traditionally been held at IWIM, is divided into four men's categories and one women's category. The women's category was won by Club Nàutic Sant Antoni sailor Oren del Álamo, followed by Italy's Manuela Arcidiacono from Club Albaria and Pilar Prieto from Club Deportivo Orillas de Alocén (Spain).

In the men's Course Race, Eric Belot led Class A (lightweights), followed by José Ignacio Pérez Lago from Cádiz (Real Club Náutico de la Línea) and Tristán Melgarejo from Huelva (Real Club Marítimo y Tenis de Punta Umbría). In Class B (medium weight), Giovanni Di Stefano took first place, followed by Roberto Di Stefano—both from Italian club Albaria—with Héctor Pérez del Álamo (CNSA) in third, who also topped the youth category. In Class C (heavyweights), Lluís Colomé and Enrique Mas—both from CNSA—finished first and second, respectively, followed by Gilles Christophe of France’s Centre Nautique des Issambres. In Class D (super heavyweights), Finnish sailor Juha Blinnikka from Club EST claimed first place, followed by Galicia’s Nacho Botas (Club Marítimo La Penela) and South African Greg Reis (Club HBYC).

As for the Long Distance race, the second IWIM competition—which was introduced this year and originally scheduled for Friday but postponed due to lack of wind—Eric Belot once again emerged as the overall winner, also taking first in Class A. He was followed by Tristán Melgarejo and Ignacio Pérez Lago. In Class B, the top three finishers were Roberto Di Stefano, Giovanni Di Stefano, and Héctor Pérez del Álamo. In Class C, Lluís Colomé stood atop the podium, followed by Gilles Christophe and Darío Quesada (Club Náutico Benidorm). In Class D, Nacho Botas claimed victory, followed by Juha Blinnikka and Dutch sailor Jurgen Van Laarhoven (Club Oostvoirne). In the Women’s Class, the Long Distance winner was also Oren del Álamo, followed by Pilar Prieto and Eloisa Scarno (Club Planet Sail Bracciano).

After a grand paella and an incredible weekend, the awards ceremony was held at Hotel Ses Savines. The International Windsurfer Ibiza Meeting is sponsored by the Consell Insular d’Eivissa, the Town Hall of Sant Antoni de Portmany, Balearia, and Café del Mar.