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THE PERFECT CALL: CHAPUIS CONQUERS TIREE!

After finishing runner-up in 2023, Miguel Chapuis returned to the Tiree Wave Classic in 2026 with unfinished business. With no result to count from Sylt, Miguel made the call to head to Scotland rather than Maui and it turned out to be a perfect call. When the finals day delivered powerful, down-the-line waves, Chapuis found his rhythm, dispatched some heavyweight opposition and sailed his way to victory and the prestigious Tiree sword. We caught up with Miguel to find out how the event unfolded!

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WINDSURF MAGAZINE: First of all, why did you decide to come to Tiree this year?

MIGUEL CHAPUIS: There was a decision to make between Maui and Tiree because we didn’t get a result in Sylt, and I was expecting to count on that result. When I compared the chances of getting good points with the budget involved, it made a lot of sense to come here.

It turned out great, honestly. I knew we could get a wide variety of conditions here and that they could suit me well, so that’s why I chose Tiree.

WINDSURF MAGAZINE: The warm-up days were all starboard tack, which is your favourite. Did you enjoy them?

MIGUEL CHAPUIS: Yeah, I had fun. I hadn’t sailed starboard tack since my injury, so I was really out of practice and could feel it. But I was getting better as the days went on.

Then, when I saw the conditions on finals day, I was pretty happy. It was port tack, down-the-line, which is what I’m most comfortable with, and I’d been training in those conditions in Réunion in September. That definitely helped.

WINDSURF MAGAZINE: Do you think that trip made a difference?

MIGUEL CHAPUIS: For sure. It’s obviously Scotland rather than the Indian Ocean, but it definitely helped because I was sailing in 42-knot winds, really powered up, and hitting some really big, thick lips.

So when I saw those lips here today, I felt pretty comfortable going for them. It didn’t feel too radical compared with what I’d been doing in Réunion. It definitely helped.

WINDSURF MAGAZINE: When you first arrived at the beach this morning, what were you thinking? Were you excited, or were you wondering whether it was even sailable?

MIGUEL CHAPUIS: When I first got there, I thought, “What the hell is going to happen?” I didn’t know what to expect.

But as the day went on, I started to see some cleaner lines and more open waves. When I got down to the beach and saw it from there, it looked quite different from up on the hill, and I started to get excited.

Then, when I sailed my first heat, I knew these conditions would suit me.

WINDSURF MAGAZINE: Did you decide to go for it from the start, or were you planning to sail more conservatively?

MIGUEL CHAPUIS: No, I just got into the flow and suddenly realised I could do the moves, so they started happening.

Before sailing, I was actually thinking I should be more conservative because I saw people crashing all the time. I told myself I should at least try to get two scores on the board.

But in the end, it was easier for me to go for a bigger move and back it up with a few turns. As the heats progressed, I felt more comfortable and knew I could go for a few moves, so I landed the goiter.

WINDSURF MAGAZINE: Marino Gil knocked out Philip Koester, which was a big name out of the competition. But then you had to face Marc Paré in the semi-finals. That was a massive heat. What was that like?

MIGUEL CHAPUIS: Yeah, it was. Marc and I are friends, so we walked down to the gear together and wished each other good luck. But once the heat starts, each of us does our own thing.

I knew I’d sailed pretty well in that heat, but I’d never underestimate Marc, so I wasn’t sure what was going to happen.

When I found out I’d made it through, I couldn’t believe it. It was a shock for me, but at the same time, it made sense because some part of me knew I was going to make that heat.

WINDSURF MAGAZINE: And what about the final?

MIGUEL CHAPUIS: It was the same. I got into the final and somehow knew I was going to get my hands on the sword. I was feeling really confident.

WINDSURF MAGAZINE: So you were just in the flow today?

MIGUEL CHAPUIS: Yeah, sometimes it happens. When I finished third in Pozo, I was in a similar flow. I kept making heats and sailing with a lot of confidence.

Today, I crashed a few times, but most of my moves were successful. And especially, I had a lot of fun. Even though it might have looked pretty terrible from the outside at times, I really enjoyed it!

I think we all put on a great show, and I had a lot of fun sailing.

WINDSURF MAGAZINE: So, thumbs up for Tiree?

MIGUEL CHAPUIS: Definitely! It’s a great place with a real variety of conditions, a nice atmosphere around windsurfing and lots of good sailors. It’s definitely somewhere to come.

WINDSURF MAGAZINE: I don’t know if you were near the judges’ tower earlier, but everyone was cheering for the moves. The atmosphere was pretty cool.

MIGUEL CHAPUIS: No, I didn’t see that, but I can imagine the atmosphere. That’s cool to see.

WINDSURF MAGAZINE: And you’re happy to win the sword! Is this your first one?

MIGUEL CHAPUIS: I’m insanely happy! Yeah, it’s my first one.

I came second in 2023, so when I was sailing the final, I was thinking about that final against Lucas, which I lost. I was so happy that he won the title back then, but this time I knew it was my moment. That’s why I came here…to get the sword.

So, yeah, I got it, and everything worked out as it should!

WINDSURF MAGAZINE: Perfect. Thanks very much, Miguel and congratulations!