Challenging conditions on day one of the iQFOiL Youth and Junior World Championship

The iQFOiL Youth and Junior World Championship commenced its racing schedule on Monday, with 375 athletes representing 35 nations taking to the waters off Club Nàutic Sa Ràpita (CNR) following yesterday’s opening ceremony. Light and delayed winds created a challenging first day, impacting the competition schedule.

 Despite the easterly breeze stabilizing only around 4:00 pm at 8 to 10 knots, the Men’s U19 fleet managed to complete one Slalom race. Divided into yellow and blue groups, each fleet ran three heats, with six athletes emerging as heat winners: Federico Pilloni and Leonardo Tomasini from Italy, Lucas Gadeyne from France, Skip Brüll from The Netherlands, Igor Lewinski from Poland, and Val Erzen from Slovenia.

 The U17 Men’s yellow fleet was able to run only a single heat, while unfortunately, the Girls' fleets were unable to race due to the conditions. The forecast predicts more favorable winds in the coming days.

 Pau Lladó, president of CNR, expressed his pride in hosting the championship, saying, “Organizing this youth world championship is a great honor for CNR and for Campos, as it helps to elevate the visibility of the club and the municipality at both a national and international level. We welcome all the many athletes, their coached and families, you help us position Sa Ràpita as a key reference point in the world of sailing.”

 With a full week of competition ahead, the iQFOiL Youth and Junior World Championship in Sa Ràpita is set to showcase the talent and determination of this fleet of young sailors.