João didn’t reach this level of performance by chance — for those who don’t know him, he is both a top-level athlete and a model of sportsmanship. It’s a real pleasure to look back on this championship in Mandelieu with him.
João, 2025 World Champion!
What does it feel like when you realize that you’ve actually won the title?
It’s always a great feeling to win a world championship — especially after such an intense week of racing, with winds ranging from 5 to almost 30 knots, and above all, among long-time friends!
You dominated the start of the championship, winning every race on the first day — showing not only perfect preparation but also great mental strength when you managed to out-pump Curro, Borja, and Jorge on the final leg. How did you handle that incredible moment mentally, when you had to be so strong not to give up?
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Yes, the first day was indeed very interesting. I must say that I love this type of condition — offshore wind, very unstable, with pressure zones alternating with almost windless patches. Since I was very young, I’ve trained in a place here on Madeira Island with similar conditions, so I’ve developed almost automatic habits of constant observation and adaptation to variations.
On the other hand, at that precise moment, it’s fair to say that I had a slight advantage over my friends, mainly because I’m lighter, which helps a lot in those critical marginal-wind situations.
On Friday, you had to battle hard, especially against Nicolas Huguet, who was at the top of his game during the four races of the day, using quite different equipment. How do you explain such small differences in speed despite the rather different gear (boards and sails)?
Yes, Nicolas was really excellent and very strong that day — it was particularly windy, with gusts reaching nearly 30 knots. I must admit it was quite a surprise to see how well he performed with that sail, which wasn’t originally designed for raceboard, yet turned out to be perfectly suited to those specific conditions. I’m actually quite curious to see how that setup would perform in lighter winds.
That said, it wasn’t just a matter of equipment. Nicolas has always been an outstanding sailor — always very fast — and he showed that he’s physically strong enough to handle four demanding races in a row. As for me, by the last race of the day, I was already quite exhausted. So congratulations to him — it was a real pleasure to see him back at the front of the fleet, and I’m sure it will motivate him to devote more time to this class. I truly hope I’ll have the privilege of racing with him again soon!
This year, we’ve seen some evolution in the equipment used by the top ten, which is changing the fundamentals of how we sail — with the new Exocet board allowing the mast base to be placed much further back upwind, even in light wind, and sails featuring shorter boom lengths. This is the opposite of what was traditionally done. What motivated these changes? Is it a real breakthrough?
The credit for the improvements made to the LoftSails goes entirely to Monty Spindler, who has worked tirelessly to enhance these beautiful sails. As for me, I have the fun part — testing them, giving some feedback, and racing with them. A real privilege!
Regarding the Exocet, it’s the most comfortable board upwind that I’ve ever used. Designed by Marcos Ruesch and now perfected, it’s simply incredible upwind, while remaining just as competitive as any other board downwind.
It’s true that the mast base can now be positioned much further back, which helps lift the bow out of the water and makes it easier to pass through the waves. The sails also play a role here, with shorter booms allowing us to move the center of effort forward while shifting the mast base backward.
I wouldn’t call it a revolution — on the first and last day of racing, I only moved the mast track one notch back from the forward limit — it’s more of a natural evolution.
Ignacio FERNANDEZ, Alejandro RIVERA, Jorge MACIEL ANDRES, Patrik POLLAK, João RODRIGUES, Louis MORRIS, Monty SPINDLER, Curro MANCHON,Borja CARRACEDO SERRA
You’re always smiling — do we ever get to see you angry?
Of course, every human being has the capacity to feel anger. But over the years, I’ve learned to observe that feeling and, in a way, not let it grow to the point where I express it. That doesn’t mean I always succeed… but when I don’t, I try again and do my best to improve.
Ready to defend your title in Blanes in 2026?
I’d love to go to Blanes! I competed there at the Raceboard World Championship in 2018, and I really like that place. But that’s still a year away! For now, I’m more focused on the European Championship, which will take place in Monsaraz — an absolutely beautiful spot where I’ve already sailed this year. I believe it’s going to be a memorable event!
Anything you’d like to add?
Thank you for the incredibly warm welcome we received in Mandelieu-la-Napoule! We’ll keep those memories for life!
Congratulations, João, on your outstanding performance — you truly impressed us all.
