The 2026 PWA Youth Slalom World Cup in Bonaire delivered four days of spectacular racing in Caribbean conditions. The trade winds in Lac Bay allowed for a full programme comprising a total of 16 fin eliminations and 15 foil eliminations across all age groups. The final showdowns on the fourth day were particularly thrilling, as Storm Nicolai attempted to knock local hero Tycho Smits off his throne.
Smits holds his own against Nicolai
In the U21 Boys Fin Division, a fierce battle for the overall title unfolded. Tycho Smits started the final day with a comfortable lead of 10.1 points over Storm Nicolai. On the final day, Nicolai went all out and attempted to close the gap with aggressive manoeuvres. However, Smits withstood the pressure and secured victory, having already triumphed in Bonaire in 2025. Mario Boekstegers staged a remarkable comeback after a mixed first day. The German won two of the three heats on the second day, thereby working his way back into the running for a podium place. Diederik Leemans completed the podium in third place after successfully fending off Boekstegers’ late challenge.
Gomperts dominates the U17 Boys’ competition
Arxon Gomperts put in a flawless performance in the U17 Boys Fin class. The young athlete won eleven of the 16 heats contested, demonstrating impressive consistency in the process. Whilst Gomperts mostly left the competition trailing far behind, a close battle for the podium places unfolded behind him. Thomas Michael from Curaçao secured second place with a decisive victory in elimination 15, which saw him overtake Trevor Antony. Adolfo Fernandez from Venezuela found his form on the second day after initial difficulties and won two heats. The Venezuelan ultimately missed out on the podium by just 2.1 points and had to settle for fourth place.
The De Jong sisters shine in several categories
Kit De Jong made a big impression in the U17 Girls Fin division. The Dutch sailor, who lives on Bonaire, won all 16 heats, regularly beating male competitors in the process. Her twin sister, Lone De Jong, secured second place, whilst Kimora Dammers celebrated her first PWA podium finish with third place. In the U21 Girls Foil class, her older sister, Bobbi-Lynn De Jong, put in a similarly impressive performance. She won 13 of the 15 foil heats contested and controlled the action at will. Kit De Jong challenged her older sister and won heat four, but was unable to threaten her overall lead. Lone De Jong completed the family podium in third place.
Thrilling foil duels in the U21s
The U21 Boys Foil division turned into the scene of a thrilling head-to-head battle between Diederik Leemans and Tycho Smits. The two athletes took turns winning and finishing second throughout the first five elimination rounds. On the second day, Leemans held a narrow lead of 1.3 points. On the third day, however, Smits stepped up a gear and made the most of his knowledge of the course. The Bonaire local won seven of the ten heats held on the third day, including the decisive final four races. With this comeback, Smits extended his lead to 3.9 points and went into the final day as the clear favourite. As no further foil races were possible on the fourth day, Smits was confirmed as the winner. Mario Boekstegers secured third place overall in the foil standings with a series of consistent third-place finishes and a second-place result.
Abrahamsz comes out on top in the U15s
Kenny Abrahamsz put in a strong performance in the U15 Boys Fin class and secured overall victory. The Bonairean racked up a hat-trick on the second day, thereby consolidating his lead. His closest rival, Julien Blom, also from Bonaire, was locked in thrilling battles with Abrahamsz throughout the event. The two local heroes have already in Aruba They put on thrilling battles and are developing a growing rivalry. Adam Adriaans Tap from Curaçao celebrated his first top-three finish on the PWA with third place, rounding off the podium.
Next stop: Cold Hawaii
The next Junior World Cup will take place between 14 and 22 September in Cold Hawaii, Denmark. There, the up-and-coming talents will compete in both racing and wave events. The conditions in Denmark will be very different from those in the Caribbean and will present the athletes with new challenges.
All results at sailscores.com
