The third day of the iQFOiL World Championships in Weymouth and Portland on 9 September 2026 saw the introduction of a new format that shook up the rankings. Following the gruelling The previous day’s course races Four sprint slalom races were on the programme. The conditions – with winds of seven to twelve knots – required the athletes to adopt a completely different approach to that needed for the strong winds of the second day. Race Officer Ewa Jodlowska opted for an early start at 11.00 am, as the weather forecast predicted the winds would drop off in the afternoon. This decision proved to be the right one – the Race Committee was able to complete the full four-race programme for both fleets before conditions deteriorated.
Omer ousts Lyons from the top spot
Yoav Omer made the most of the easy slalom conditions and took the lead in the men’s standings with 25 net points. The Israeli thereby pushed Noah Lyons from the USA – who had taken the lead the previous day with two course race victories – down to second place. Lyons is just one point behind Omer on 26 points. Johan Søe completes the top three in third place on 27 points. The Dane ended the day with two consecutive race wins, demonstrating his strength in the sprint-slalom format. The reigning European champion, Luuc van Opzeeland, follows in fourth place with 33 points. Kiran Badloe moved up to fifth place in the provisional overall standings. Lenny Friemel is the highest-placed German in 63rd place, whilst Max Körner is currently 82nd and Finley Evans 92nd.
Tamar Steinberg successfully defended her top position in the women’s standings. The reigning European champion had started the World Championships with four consecutive victories and added another race win on the second day. Despite the slalom conditions on the third day being less favourable for her, her points cushion from the opening day was enough to retain the lead. With 47 net points, she is well ahead of the competition. Stella Bilger from Australia holds second place with 61 points. Sharon Kantor put in a remarkably consistent performance in the sprint slalom. The Israeli secured three third places and a fifth-place finish, climbing to third place overall with 62 points. Medea Falcioni from Italy, aged just 15, who had impressed with a race win the previous day, lies in fourth place, just three points behind Kantor. British local favourite Islay Watson rounds off the top five. After a dip in form in the course races, Theresa Steinlein managed to climb two places to eleventh and is still in with a chance of qualifying for the medal races. Steinlein won one race in her group and finished ninth on one occasion. Sophia Meyer is in 45th place, Emma Schleicher in 59th.
Three formats in three days
After three days of competition, Weymouth has already offered a wide range of conditions and race formats. The first day began with upwind sprints, followed on the second day by course races in strong winds, and now the sprint-slalom format in light conditions.
From today, the World Championships will be broadcast live for the first time; there will also be a live stream on the website on Friday and during the Medal Series on Saturday The iQFOiL Class’s YouTube channel be available.
All the information and results can be found at iqfoilclassofficial.org
