iQFOiL YOUTH & JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2026 COSTA BRAVA

Nearly 400 sailors from 36 nations hit the water on Day 1 as ideal conditions deliver a full schedule of Upwind Sprint racing in Sant Pere Pescador

Sant Pere Pescador, Costa Brava, Spain – July 4, 2026 – The 2026 iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championships got off to a flying start today at Club de Vela La Ballena Alegre, with excellent racing conditions allowing the world's best young windsurfers to begin their quest for the season's most prestigious youth titles.

Organized by Club de Vela La Ballena Alegre together with the International iQFOiL Youth & Junior Class Association, the championship has attracted nearly 400 athletes from 36 nations, confirming once again its status as the largest and most important event on the international iQFOiL Youth & Junior calendar.

Set against the spectacular backdrop of Spain's Costa Brava, the event brings together the next generation of Olympic windsurfing talent for eight days of competition across the Under 19 and Under 17 categories. Alongside the racing, the championship continues its commitment to sustainability through a series of environmental initiatives throughout the week, while also welcoming back the successful Emerging Nations Programme, which saw 25 young sailors from around the world training together before the start of the championship.

With registration and equipment checks completed and the Opening Ceremony officially launching the event on Friday evening, attention turned to the racecourse on Saturday, where ideal conditions greeted the competitors. The Race Committee opted for the Upwind Sprint format, producing fast-paced and highly dynamic racing from the very first start.

The U19 Men completed four races, immediately showcasing the depth of talent assembled in Costa Brava. Three sailors emerged as the early pace-setters. Itamar Levi (ISR), Mattia Saoncella (ITA) and Artun Senol (TUR) each dominated their respective groups, winning all of their races and ending the opening day tied at the top of the provisional standings.

In the U17 Boys, three Upwind Sprint races were completed, with six sailors sharing the provisional lead after dominant performances in their respective groups. Frantisek Burda (CZE), Enric Patiño Riutord (ESP), Gonzalo Ruiz Mendez (ESP), Swann Manhaval (FRA), Moritz Schleicher (GER) and Luca Pacchiotti (ITA) all sit tied at the top of the leaderboard after winning their races, setting up an especially close battle in one of the largest and most competitive fleets of the championship.

In the U19 Women, three Upwind Sprint races were completed before conditions began to ease. Greece’s Danai Giannouli (GRE) made the strongest impression on opening day, posting two race victories to take the provisional lead. Just behind her, Taisiia Stopchenko (AIN) and Turkey’s Rüya Uğurlu (TUR) are tied on points in second place after both sailors opened their championships with two race wins of their own, setting up what promises to be a fascinating battle at the top of the leaderboard.

The U17 Girls managed to complete two races before the wind gradually faded. Turkey's Parla Kabasakal (TUR) enjoyed a perfect start to the championship, winning both races to take the provisional lead. Fellow Turkish sailor Ece Melis Baş (TUR) sits in second place after opening scores of first and third, while Poland's Michelle Urzykowski (POL) rounds out the top three thanks to a race win in the second heat. With only two races completed, the standings remain extremely close heading into Day 2.

With six more days of racing still to come and a variety of disciplines expected to be used throughout the championship, the battle for the 2026 world titles is only just beginning. Early leaders have emerged, but with hundreds of athletes representing every corner of the globe, the competition remains wide open as the Costa Brava spectacle continues.

Racing resumes tomorrow with another full day scheduled for the 2026 iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championships.

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EVENT AT A GLANCE

Where: Club Nautico La Ballena Alegre, Sant Pere Pescador, Costa Brava, Spain
When: 3 - 10 July 2026
Who: 393 athletes from 36 nations
Follow: iQFOiL Youth&Junior Instagram and YouTube

Website: https://us.list-manage.com/AduFf0pKlYv?e=…be34e1f33927cd7

Entry List: https://us.list-manage.com/5bkZz2QeXhj?e=…be34e1f33927cd7

Image credit: Sailing Energy / iQFOiL International Class

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2026 iQFOiL YOUTH & JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - Club de Vela La Ballena Alegre - ESP

July 4th - 11th 2026

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iQFOiL YOUTH & JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: RACING RESUMES IN COSTA BRAVA AFTER WEATHER DELAY

Levi, Saoncella and Şenol remain inseparable at the top of the U19 Men while Ruiz Mendez, Manhaval and Schleicher share the lead in the U17 Boys

Sant Pere Pescador, Costa Brava, Spain – July 6, 2026 – Racing finally returned to the 2026 iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championships today after a weather-affected second day, with sailors once again taking to the waters off Club de Vela La Ballena Alegre under brilliant sunshine and intense summer temperatures.

The championship, which has brought together nearly 400 athletes from 36 nations, continued to experience extreme weather conditions ashore. Air temperatures climbed to around 36°C, while the Orange Heat Warning issued by the Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET) remained in force throughout the day, making hydration and heat management a key priority for athletes, coaches and officials alike.

On the water, however, the conditions proved far more complex than the clear skies suggested. A light east-south-easterly thermal breeze established itself over the racecourse, generally ranging between 6 and 13 knots, but its strength fluctuated considerably throughout the day. Pressure repeatedly built and faded across the racing area, creating a challenging environment that demanded constant attention from both the Race Committee and competitors.

Although the breeze never became particularly strong, its changing nature rewarded sailors capable of adapting quickly to shifting conditions and maintaining consistency through the different heats.

The U19 Men were the first fleet to launch, with racing getting underway shortly before 14:00. Three Sprint Slalom races were successfully completed and, remarkably, the top of the leaderboard remains unchanged. Itamar Levi (ISR), Mattia Saoncella (ITA) and Artun Şenol (TUR) continue to dominate the fleet, each maintaining a perfect scoreline after seven races. The three sailors remain tied at the top of the standings after winning every race they have contested so far, setting up what is rapidly becoming one of the most fascinating rivalries of the championship.

The U17 Boys followed later in the afternoon and completed four races, also Sprint Slalom. Here too, the battle for the lead remains exceptionally close. Spain's Gonzalo Ruiz Mendez (ESP), France's Swann Manhaval (FRA) and Germany's Moritz Schleicher (GER) continue to share first place overall after another flawless day on the water. All three sailors have maintained perfect consistency across seven races, like the older Men registering only wins, and remain impossible to separate at the top of the standings.

The lighter and less predictable conditions also allowed some racing for the girls' fleets. The U19 Women managed to complete one heat, although not enough races were sailed across all groups to establish an updated overall ranking.

The U17 Girls completed one Sprint Slalom race before the breeze once again became too unstable to continue the program. Turkey's Parla Kabasakal (TUR) extended her excellent start to the championship, winning the day's only completed race to maintain a perfect scoreline and the overall lead. Fellow Turkish sailor Ece Melis Baş (TUR) remains in second place, while Poland's Maria Miarczyńska (POL) moves into third overall after a solid performance in the challenging conditions. With only three races completed so far, the standings remain close and there is still plenty to play for as the championship progresses.

Despite the challenging conditions, the third day of competition marked an important step forward after Sunday's interruption, allowing the championship to continue building momentum as the battle for places in the Final Series and ultimately the Medal Series begins to take shape.

With several days of racing still ahead and weather conditions continuing to evolve across the Costa Brava, the fight for the 2026 iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championship titles remains wide open. Racing is scheduled to resume tomorrow at Club de Vela La Ballena Alegre.

iQFOiL YOUTH & JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: GOLD FLEETS TAKE CENTER STAGE IN COSTA BRAVA

Théa Le Borgne Zibetti storms up 20 places in the U19 Women while Mattia Saoncella remains the only sailor with a perfect scoreline at the halfway point of the championship

Sant Pere Pescador, Costa Brava, Spain – July 7, 2026 – The 2026 iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championships reached the halfway mark today at Club de Vela La Ballena Alegre, with sailors once again greeted by brilliant sunshine, intense summer temperatures and conditions very similar to those experienced on the previous racing day.

The championship, which has attracted almost 400 athletes from 36 nations, entered a crucial phase as the fleets split into Gold and Silver Fleets. From today onwards, the top half of the rankings in each category race directly against one another, raising the level of competition as athletes battle for places in the final stages of the championship.

The sea breeze followed much the same pattern as yesterday, building from the east-south-east and producing conditions that, while manageable, remained far from straightforward. The fluctuating breeze demanded constant adjustments from both sailors and race officials throughout the day.

The women’s fleets were first on the water, catching up on unfinished racing from the previous day before adding a full schedule of Sprint Slalom races. The U19 Women completed the remaining race from yesterday along with four additional races, producing significant changes in the standings.

At the top of the fleet, Taisiia Stopchenko (AIN) and France’s Salomé Simon (FRA) are now tied on points, with Stopchenko holding the overall lead on tie-break. Greece’s Danai Giannouli (GRE) drops to third after leading earlier in the championship. The story of the day, however, belonged to reigning U17 World Champion Théa Le Borgne Zibetti (FRA). Racing in the U19 category this season, the French sailor delivered a remarkable comeback, climbing from 24th to 4th overall after a superb series of results that puts her firmly back in contention for the podium.

In the U17 Girls, Turkey’s Parla Kabasakal (TUR) continues her dominant run and remains unbeaten after six races. Behind her, the standings have changed significantly, with Poland’s Michelle Urzykowski (POL) moving into second place after an outstanding performance that included five race victories. Fellow Polish sailor Maria Miarczyńska (POL) now occupies third overall, completing a reshuffled provisional podium.

Later in the afternoon, attention shifted to the Men’s and Boys’ fleets. The U19 Men Gold Fleet completed three races, while the U17 Boys completed four.

In the U19 Men, Italy’s Mattia Saoncella (ITA) continues to set the pace. After another flawless day, he remains the only sailor in the championship with a perfect scoreline and extends his lead at the top of the standings. Turkey’s Artun Şenol (TUR) sits second overall, while Poland’s Leon Jankowski (POL) moves into third as the fight for the championship intensifies.

The U17 Boys leaderboard also began to take a clearer shape following the introduction of Gold Fleet racing. Italy’s Luca Pacchiotti (ITA) emerges as the overall leader after another highly consistent day on the water. Czech sailor Frantisek Burda (CZE) holds second place, while Germany’s Moritz Schleicher (GER) remains third in one of the championship’s most competitive fleets.

Beyond the racing, sailors also had the opportunity to learn more about the championship’s innovative digital race management systems, including the use of video-assisted officiating technology that continues to enhance fairness and transparency on the racecourse.

With the championship now past its halfway point and Gold Fleet racing underway, every race is becoming increasingly important. As the battle for places in the Medal Series begins to take shape, the intensity is only expected to increase over the remaining days of competition on the Costa Brava.