iQFOiL European Championship: Steinberg and Hawkins lead after opening day in Portimão

The iQFOiL Open European Championships kicked off on 18 May 2026 off the coast of Portimão. The Clube Naval de Portimão is hosting the six-day event, which runs until 23 May and features 192 athletes from 42 nations. The courses are located off Praia da Rocha near the historic Santa Catarina fortress. The opening day brought consistent conditions with twelve to 15 knots from the north-west, which increased during the afternoon and allowed for solid racing conditions.

The wind and the coastline with cliffs to the right of the course created highly tactical conditions. The interaction between wind and coastal geography created pressure differences and instabilities across the entire course. Those who could maintain a constant speed while reading the constantly changing wind patterns had a clear advantage. The conditions demanded precise steering and quick decisions when choosing a course. The transition zones between different pressure fields in particular required technical skill and tactical instinct. The Atlantic swell was an additional factor and placed further demands on board control and timing.

Steinberg dominates women's fleet

Tamar Steinberg from Israel took the overall lead in the women's event after four races. The silver medallist at the 2025 World Championships in Aarhus showed remarkable consistency with first, fourth, first and fifth places. Steinberg utilised her experience from major international events and came out on top against strong competition. Wenqi Li from China is in second place overall after a strong start. Maya Gysler from Norway completes the provisional podium. The runner-up at the 2024 U23 World Championships is in good form and is keeping up with the leaders. Best German is Sophia Meyer Germany's best iQFOiLer Theresa Steinlein has decided not to take part in the European Championships after a long break due to illness.

Hawkins ahead of Søe and Van Opzeeland

Finn Hawkins from Great Britain leads the men's fleet after three completed races, with two wins and a second place, demonstrating his current top form. Johan Søe, who recently decided not to compete in the World Cup in favour of the iQFOiL classis in second place. The Dane made a strong start and maintains close contact with the front runners. Luuc Van Opzeeland from the Netherlands is in third place overall. The Olympic bronze medallist put in a solid performance and remains in contention for the top places. The U23 athletes Duncan Monaghan from Great Britain and Nacho Baltasar Summers from Spain were particularly strong in seventh and ninth place respectively. Germany's starters Lenny Friemel, Max Körner and Finley Evans are in 72nd, 88th and 89th place respectively.

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