Sudden gusts from the offshore Mistral saw some riders struggling in the unpredictable conditions on day three of the Formula Kite World Championships in Quartu Sant’Elena, Sardinia. 

Lauriane Nolot was grinning and grimacing at the same time as she recalled the sudden change of conditions in today’s first race for the women. “We had this hectic start where we were, like, flying away,” said the French rider. “We got a massive gust on the start line and the girls were starting to fly, the kites started to front stall and it was crazy.”

Multi world champion in freestyle kiting, perhaps Gisela Pulido found herself in her comfort zone when the racing specialists were all struggling with the sudden gnarly conditions. “There was a lot of left [bias] in the line,” said the Spanish rider. “So I decided to take the shift and had a really good first upwind. I was first at the mark, did the reach, then battled on the downwind with the Swiss girl [Elena Lengwiler]. 

THINKING FAST AND SLOW 

“Then again on the upwind I battled with her and on the last downwind I passed her so I was first in that race. I think you have to be quite technical with the kite because it's very unstable. The kite wants to move a lot. I'm used to these conditions in Tarifa. We have this wind and I like it because you have to think a lot. It's not just so much about going fast but also about thinking [tactically]. You have to think a little bit like a chess game.”

Meanwhile there were times when Nolot was happy just to survive in this brutal game of chess. “It was pretty hectic. At one point I got tangled with Tiana [Laporte] and Daniela [Moroz] and I was caught in the middle of the bridle. It was pretty scary but luckily I survived and then we had one super-windy race with the 15 [square metre kite].” If she had known what was out there, Nolot would have gone on her smaller 11 square metre. “But all of us girls, we were all in the same trouble, on our 15s which were too big for the conditions.”

GAMBLING AGAINST THE FLEET

With the offshore breeze from Poetto Beach proving so gusty and unpredictable, the fleet was sent back ashore to wait for the conditions to calm down until the late afternoon. “We went back out and all the girls were with the 11, but I decided to go with the 15 because I was expecting the wind to drop. The first race was pretty windy for me for the 15, but I still managed to finish. I was excited because I saw the wind was starting to drop and then Michal [Jodlowski, the principal race officer] decided to abandon. 

“So I missed my moment with the 15. But it’s OK, I’m happy to be in second place overall. I’m gonna try to keep those top places - first or second - until the medal race because I know after we can play for everything in one day. So yes, just secure a placing in the final and then we'll see what happens.” 

Ahead of Nolot, former French teammate Jessie Kampman continues to hold the lead for the Netherlands. After missing out on a result in the gnarly race earlier in the day, she bounced back with a first place and continues to hold a commanding lead overall. Meanwhile two other experienced riders are breathing down Nolot’s neck thanks to a day of solid results. Daniela Moroz of the USA is in third and Breiana Whitehead of Australia in fourth overall.