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.