Live Ocean Racing: Two wins to kick off Foiling Week 2023, Lake Garda

The Live Ocean Racing team for Foiling Week 2023: left to right Serena Woodall, Liv Mackay, George Lee Rush (reserve sailor), Seb Menzies, Andre Vandam (boat captain) and Alex Maloney © Live Ocean Racing

Live Ocean Racing opened Foiling Week in Lake Garda, northern Italy, winning the first two races in the ETF26 SERIES event which got under way on Wednesday 28 June.

The seven-strong ETF26 fleet in Garda sailed five races on Day 1 [of four] in this event. Live Ocean Racing are lying 3rd overall at this early stage, hot on the heels of two French entries.

Skipper, Liv Mackay says it was a solid first day after a good build-up. "We started off with two wins which was pretty exciting."

"It was 'classic Garda follow-the-leader' for the first three races. We had two good starts to begin with and got two wins which was really cool."

Mackay says it was a one-way track for the first three races, so an OCS (early start) in race three cost them when they had to double back. They crossed 6th in that race but came back firing.

"In the last two the breeze shifted a bit and opened up the course, and we got a 3rd and a 4th. So, it was a pretty solid day."

Tomorrow, on day two of the event, the ETF26 fleet are scheduled to sail three course races and one long-distance RAID race.

Foiling Week gathers together multiple fleets of foiling classes and is now in its tenth year. Mackay adds; "Everyone is stoked to be in Garda. It's really nice sailing. The event itself - Foiling Week - is super cool. There are heaps of people here and lots of kiwis so it's really fun."

Just ahead of Live Ocean Racing on the leaderboard at the end of day one are the two French-flagged entries Entreprises du Morbihan and TeamPro both with 14-points. Liv Mackay and the Live Ocean Racing team are right on their heels with 15 points.

Live Ocean Racing Day 1 results: (provisional)

Overall position: 3rd

Race 1 - 1st
Race 2 - 1st
Race 3 - 6th
Race 4 - 3rd
Race 5 - 4th

See full results here.

Racing runs over four days from June 28 until 1 July.

How to follow the action: @itsliveocean on Instagram for Live Ocean Racing updates

The 2023 ETF26 Series will comprise of five European based events:

• Spi Ouest-France / April 7 to 10, 2023 / La Trinité sur Mer (France)
• Raid Quiberon / May 31 to June 3, 2023 / Quiberon (France)
• Foiling Week / June 28 to July 1, 2023 / Lac de Garde (Italy)
• Grand Pavois La Rochelle Foiling Event / September 20 to 23, 2023 / La Rochelle (France)
• Grand Prix Foiling Mar Menor / October 4 to 7, 2023 / Los Alcazares (Spain)

About:

Live Ocean Racing is a New Zealand racing team committed to action for the ocean. Established by Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, Live Ocean Racing will bring together a talented and diverse team to compete at the highest level. With innovation and purpose baked into our DNA, we race on and for the ocean.

Crew for Foiling Week 2023: The Live Ocean Racing team: Serena Woodall, Liv Mackay, George Lee Rush (reserve sailor), Seb Menzies, Andre Vandam (boat captain) and Alex Maloney

Today's sailing crew: Liv Mackay, Seb Menzies, Serena Woodall and Alex Maloney