At the Club de Vela La Ballena Alegre in Sant Pere Pescador, the 2026 iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championships reached a crucial milestone. The Opening Series came to an end after six days of racing, whittling the field down to the top ten in each of the four categories. The format follows the established iQFOiL system, comprising quarter-finals, semi-finals and the Grand Final. Athletes ranked sixth to tenth compete in the quarter-finals, with the top two advancing to the semi-finals. There, they face the sailors ranked third to fifth. The top two from the Opening Series secure a direct place in the Grand Final and start there with a one-match-point lead.
Stopchenko and Clark through to the Grand Final
In the U19 Women’s category, there was a change at the top of the overall standings. Taisiia Stopchenko retained first place, thereby securing one of the two direct places in the Grand Final. Sophie Clark from Great Britain rounded off the top two following a strong qualifying series. One of the most remarkable stories of the championship came from the reigning U17 World Champion, Théa Le Borne Zibetti from France. Competing in the U19 category for the first time, she fought her way up from 24th place to third overall. Rüya Uğurlu from Turkey finished fourth, whilst Salomé Simon from France rounded off the top five. All three advance directly to the semi-finals.
Saoncella dominates the U19 Men’s competition
Mattia Saoncella from Italy finished the U19 Men’s Opening Series with a comfortable lead at the top of the table. He takes a match point into Friday’s Grand Final. Leon Jankowski from Poland also secured a direct place in the final after an outstanding week. Itamar Levi from Israel, Artun Şenol from Turkey and Merlijn Boswijk from the Netherlands rounded off the top five and advance directly to the semi-finals. Places six to ten went to Garrett January from the USA, Peyton Dits from the Netherlands, Ulysse David from France, Kfir Nov from Israel and Gustaw Trybek from Poland.
Kabasakal leads the way in Turkish dominance
The U17 Girls Opening Series was won by Parla Kabasakal from Turkey. She finished the qualifiers in dominant fashion and secured her place in the Grand Final. Michelle Urzykowski from Poland joined her in the final after a remarkably consistent performance throughout the event. Nisa Üstündağ from Turkey climbed onto the provisional podium, finishing third overall. Noa Koren from Israel and Marta Gajdzinska from Poland followed in fourth and fifth place respectively. All three advance directly to the semi-finals. Anna Jannieke Korevaar from the Netherlands secured the tenth and final qualifying spot for the Medal Series.
Pacchiotti and Schleicher at the top
The U17 Boys Opening Series concluded with Luca Pacchiotti from Italy in first place. Moritz Schleicher from Germany followed in second place. Both led the fleet throughout the week and have qualified directly for the Grand Final. Czech sailor Frantisek Burda, Enric Patiño Riutord from Spain and Mahé Givernaud from France qualified directly for the semi-final. Viljams Preiss from Latvia put in one of the best performances of the day and climbed to eighth place, keeping his medal hopes alive. Ninth and tenth places went to Davide Mecucci from Italy and Jan Serafiński-Melsztyński from Poland.
Medal Series iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championships 2026
U19 Women
- 1. Taisiia Stopchenko (AIN)
- 2. Sophie Clark (GBR)
- 3. Théa Le Borne Zibetti (FRA)
- 4. Rüya Uğurlu (TUR)
- 5. Salomé Simon (FRA)
- 6. Danai Giannouli (GRE)
- 7. Martina Mantovani (ESP)
- 8. Garance Chatelier-Daisay (FRA)
- 9. Naama Palatnik (ISR)
- 10. Alba Klein (ISR)
U19 Men
- 1. Mattia Saoncella (ITA)
- 2. Leon Jankowski (POL)
- 3. Itamar Levi (ISR)
- 4. Artun Şenol (TUR)
- 5. Merlijn Boswijk (NED)
- 6. Garrett January (USA)
- 7. Peyton Dits (NED)
- 8. Ulysse David (FRA)
- 9. Kfir Nov (ISR)
- 10. Gustaw Trybek (POL)
U17 Women
- 1. Parla Kabasakal (TUR)
- 2. Michelle Urzykowski (POL)
- 3. Nisa Üstündağ (TUR)
- 4. Noa Koren (ISR)
- 5. Marta Gajdzinska (POL)
- 6. Maria Miarczyńska (POL)
- 7. Martyna Figura (POL)
- 8. Ece Melis Baş (TUR)
- 9. Elettra Fulgenzi (ITA)
- 10. Anna Jannieke Korevaar (NED)
U17 Men
- 1. Luca Pacchiotti (ITA)
- 2. Moritz Schleicher (GER)
- 3. Frantisek Burda (CZE)
- 4. Enric Patiño Riutord (ESP)
- 5. Mahé Givernaud (FRA)
- 6. Gonzalo Ruiz Mendez (ESP)
- 7. Malo Bontemps (FRA)
- 8. Viljams Preiss (LAT)
- 9. Davide Mecucci (ITA)
- 10. Jan Serafiński-Melsztyński (POL)
All results at 2026iqyjworldscostabrava.sailti.com
