January 28, 2025
7 minutes reading time
France triumphs over Italy in a last-second thriller to win eSailing Nations Cup
The Grand Final of the eSailing Nations Cup 2024 will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most intense and dramatic moments in eSailing history.
Both France and Italy brought their A-game, delivering electrifying performances and showcasing the very best of competitive eSailing.
The series began with the mixed 2v2, a tactical chess match on water. After a tied start and two legs of cautious manoeuvring, the real action erupted on leg 3. The key moment came when Italian skipper Rosalba Giordano (SOSI) outduelled French sailor Barbara Cavyn (Barbie) in a tense match race at the back of the fleet. Simultaneously, Lorenzo Sorrenti (LS42) executed a masterful mark trap on Vincent Cuzon (BrestPower), securing a 1-2 finish for Italy and the first point of the day.
Race 2 had a completely different energy, with Italy dominating right from the pre-start. By the first mark, the Italians had solidified their lead, cruising to a decisive victory and extending their advantage to 2-0.
France roared back in Race 3, taking a commanding 1-2-3-4 position by the first mark. The match was effectively over within two minutes as France cruised to their first point, narrowing the gap to 2-1. In Race 4, the French delivered another stellar start, but it was the downwind leg that proved decisive. Adrien Fournier (Mournier) and Alex Kowalski created chaos for the Italian team, allowing France’s top two sailors to sail away unchallenged, tying the score at 2-2.
Race 5 was a nail-biter. While the score appeared close throughout, Italy maintained a stronghold on the top four positions. France focused all their efforts on Amos Di Benedetto, but he cleverly slipped into ninth place, ensuring another Italian victory and a 3-2 lead.
France answered back in Race 6, with Tristan Peron (Asere) and Tim Carpentier (Pepito) delivering a masterclass in downwind defence. Despite a penalty to Pepito, the duo held their 1-2 combo, neutralising all Italian attacks and tying the score once again at 3-3.
Race 7 saw France take control right from the start in a 4v4 F50 match. Starting in a 1-2-3 combo, they navigated the race with poise and precision. Although there were moments of risk, the French maintained their winning formation, claiming the match point and moving to 4-3.
Facing elimination, Italy stormed back in Race 8. After a strong start, the Italians quickly placed Xavier Noblin (xav-nice) as the only French sailor in the top five. Despite brilliant defensive moves by Alex Kowalski and Asere, Italian sailors Antonio Moro (Moro di Napoli) and Fabio Zaccolo (FabioZak) devised a clever tactic. Recognising that placing the last French sailor in the final position would secure the win, they relentlessly targeted Mournier, forcing him to finish last and tying the score at 4-4.
The Decisive Race 9
The winner-takes-all final race was a rollercoaster of emotions. Italy began with a dominant start, placing Rocco Guerra (Rock) and Luca Coslovich in podium positions. However, a spirited comeback by Andres Lemos (FullHydrosail) disrupted Italy’s formation, placing them in a tenuous 1-5-6 combo.
France capitalised, with Asere and Pepito pressuring the Italians during the upwind leg. A skilful dial-down by Asere on Coslovich shifted the balance, putting Italy in an uncomfortable 1-5-6. It appeared the victory was firmly within France’s grasp as they sailed into the final leg.
But the Italians weren’t done. In the dying moments, Charizard (Stefano Bonatti) surged ahead, reclaiming positions from FullHydrosail and Asere to secure a critical 1-3 combo for Italy. Rock returned to cover Pepito, further solidifying their lead. With 10 seconds remaining, a penalty on Pepito seemed to seal Italy’s second consecutive Nations Cup title.
In a last-second twist, Asere executed a flawless manoeuvre, penalising Rock and flipping the standings. As the boats crossed the line, France emerged victorious, claiming their third Nations Cup title.
This final encapsulated everything fans love about eSailing: split-second decisions, unparalleled teamwork, and the sheer unpredictability of the sport.
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Captain’s Reflections
After the race, the captains shared their thoughts on the epic battle.
Lorenzo Sorrenti, captain of the Italian team, reflected: “Thanks World Sailing for organising this event and Virtual Regatta for hosting it on its application. It’s been a really hard final with ups and downs until the last match. As a team, we faced this final together, one next to the other from the start to the finish. The result speaks a lot for itself, the road to the next edition of this tournament will be long and tortuous so that we can play more united and determined to come back stronger next year.”
Alexandre Kowalski, captain of the French team, said: “We went from losing the opening match vs Italy 7-0, to winning the crazy final two months later. So, I’m really proud of the progress made by the team. Once again, the global level and accuracy is one step higher than last year, so we will have to work continuously for 2025!”
Japan edges out Poland in nail-biting Bronze Final
In the thrilling Bronze Final of the eSailing Nations Cup 2024, Japan and Poland went head-to-head in a best-of-nine team racing showdown that showcased the high-stakes drama and tactical brilliance of the sport. Every race was a testament to strategy, teamwork, and resilience, keeping spectators on the edge of their seats.
The first match saw Japan executing a strong team strategy, controlling key positions early. However, a last-second manoeuvre by their captain, KG-R (Toshiki Kogure), handed the victory to Poland, who took a 1-0 lead. Race 2 initially favoured Japan, with a strong start and 17-year-old Kazuki (Kazuki Miyamae) leading the fleet. Yet penalties and a critical mark-touch incident allowed Poland to capitalise. With exceptional downwind tactics, Poland’s top two sailors escaped the Japanese fleet’s dirty wind, extending their lead to 2-0.
In Race 3, Japan roared back. Poland suffered from two OCS starts and a penalty, leaving their captain, Wary79 (Krzysztof Waryvoda), isolated amidst Japanese boats. Japan capitalised on this, securing their first win and narrowing the score to 2-1. Race 4 followed a similar pattern. Though Poland started strong, a disastrous first leg saw Japan equalise the series at 2-2.
Poland regained momentum in Race 5 with an outstanding performance, placing six sailors in the top ten and leaving Japan struggling in the lower ranks. Notably, an early disconnection by Japanese player Yuko appeared to dampen their team’s morale, allowing Poland to take the lead at 3-2.
Race 6 was a showcase of resilience. Japan led the first leg, but Poland’s Natalia Pryba (Antila Aquila), an eSailing World Championship finalist, made a stunning comeback to claim first place. However, Kanako MIKI (Kanako) expertly navigated the third leg, reading the course with precision to secure the win for Japan. The series was tied again at 3-3.
Race 7 belonged to Poland from the start, with the team controlling the race until the finish and moving to match point at 4-3. Japan responded decisively in Race 8, dominating from the start with a flawless 1-2-3-4 formation after Poland suffered an OCS and a penalty. Japan tied the series at 4-4, setting up a winner-takes-all finale.
A Nail-Biting Final Race
Regatta 9 was a rollercoaster of emotions. Japan started strong, securing a 1-2 combo after the initial leg. However, a penalty to KG-R on Leg 3 shifted the standings to a precarious 1-4-5 for Japan. A brilliant mark trap by Poland’s Szydlo Finn (Bartosz Szydłoesk) on Kyuc brought Poland back into contention with a 1-3-6 setup for Japan.
In Leg 5, Jan Tymowski (Tymjanek) played a pivotal role, slowing down Japan’s captain to enable Szydlo’s comeback and deliver a penalty to KG-R. Yet, at the final mark, KG-R performed a miraculous manoeuvre, delivering two penalties to Szydlo and Antila Aquila. This allowed Kyuc to secure third place and clinched the bronze medal for Japan.
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Captain’s Reflections
After the race, the captains reflected on the intense competition. Wary79, captain of the Polish team, shared: “Great edition, exciting battles for the medals. My team is constantly improving, and I believe next year we will finally secure the medal Poland has been striving for.”
Vegas (Natsuki Matsuura), captain of the Japanese team, said: “Team Japan has been renewing its members year by year. The new generation will be aiming for a better result next year.”