Riders began Day 4 in Jericoacoara peering out across the Atlantic, wondering whether the trademark breeze would hold true to its reputation. Despite constant reassurances of Jeri’s consistency, doubts lingered as competitors mulled over their wing choices. In the end, most of the men opted for 5.5m wings, while the women settled on 5m. Yup, the Jeri breeze blew as consistently as always.
This penultimate day was the final chance to secure a place in the all-important medal series. Only the top nine from each fleet qualify automatically, and with several riders in both the men’s and women’s fleets hovering just outside the cut, the pressure was on.
Men’s Fleet: A Three-Way Scrap for Ninth
Alessandro Tomasi (ITA) © IWSA media/Robert Hajduk
All eyes were on the tense three-way tussle between Italy’s Alessandro Tomasi, who started the day in ninth, the French Riviera’s Julien Rattotti in tenth, and fellow Frenchman Oscar Leclair in eighth.
Tomasi delivered when it mattered. A bullet in the first race confirmed he’d nailed his 5.5m wing selection, and he continued in solid form with an eighth-place finish ahead of Leclair.
“Eighth or ninth doesn’t matter to me as both go through to the repechage,” Leclair said. “Tonight I have to make sure I do my recovery well and be good tomorrow. I just have three races to make it to the final.”
At the sharp end of the fleet, France’s Bastien Escofet continued his blistering run. Revelling in Jeri’s strong, steady breeze, he claimed another race win, elevating him to second overall and punching his ticket straight into tomorrow’s final.
His compatriot Mathis Ghio – already crowned season champion – had to settle for third.
A Golden Ticket Still Up for Grabs
Before Saturday’s medal series gets underway, there remains one last lifeline: a long-distance “golden ticket” race open to all riders who fell short of the top nine. The winning man and woman will each claim the tenth and final spot in the medal showdown.
A Family Effort: Ceris Makes the Cut
© IWSA media/Robert Hajduk
The Women’s fleet saw one of the day’s most remarkable stories. Couple Alan Fedit and Orane Ceris who sail for France and are travelling the tour with their three-month-old daughter Marley, made a bold tactical call. Fedit, who looked unlikely to qualify for the medal series, stayed ashore on childcare duty so Ceris - having missed several days of qualifying to look after Marley - could attempt the climb into the top nine.
And she did it. Racing with fierce determination, Ceris stormed to eighth overall, booking her place in the medal series against the odds.
Orane Ceris (FRA) © IWSA media/Robert Hajduk
Women’s Fleet: Picot Rises as Spanu Battles On
For Vaina Picot, it was a day to stand tall. With event leader and world champion Maddalena Spanu feeling under the weather, the young French rider seized her moment, taking three wins from six races.
As top qualifier, Spanu enters Saturday’s first-to-three final already holding two bullets, but Picot’s late-day surge has given the title fight new intrigue.
Showdown Saturday
The stage is set. On Saturday, both the men’s and women’s medals will be decided as the 2025 World Cup season reaches its climax.
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