iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championships: medal series line-up is set in Costa Brava

The 2026 iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championships reached a decisive milestone today at Club de Vela La Ballena Alegre, as the Opening Series came to an end and the athletes who will battle for the world titles in Friday's Medal Series were officially decided.

 After six days of racing in a wide variety of conditions, from powerful thermal breezes to light and unstable winds, the field has now been reduced to the top 10 sailors in each of the four championship categories. With the qualifying phase complete, only these athletes remain in contention for the 2026 World Championship titles.

 The Medal Series will once again follow the iQFOiL elimination format. Sailors ranked sixth to tenth after the Opening Series will begin in the Quarter Final, with the top two progressing to the Semi Final, where they will be joined by the sailors ranked third, fourth and fifth. The first two finishers in the Semi Final will then advance to the Grand Final, where the top two qualifiers from the Opening Series await, each carrying one match point into the final showdown. The first sailor to collect two match points will be crowned World Champion.

 The U19 Women fleet saw a reshuffle at the top of the standings. Taisiia Stopchenko (AIN) retained first place to secure one of the two direct places in the Grand Final, joined by Britain's Sophie Clark (GBR) after an excellent qualifying series. One of the championship's standout stories belongs to reigning U17 World Champion Théa Le Borne Zibetti (FRA), who, competing in the U19 category this season, stormed from 24th place earlier in the week to finish third overall. Turkey's Rüya Uğurlu (TUR) secured fourth place, while France's Salomé Simon (FRA) completed the top five, with all three advancing directly to the Semi Final.

 In the U19 Men, Italy's Mattia Saoncella (ITA) completed a superb Opening Series to finish comfortably at the top of the standings and heads into Friday's Grand Final carrying one match point. Poland's Leon Jankowski (POL) also earns a direct place in the Grand Final after an outstanding week. Israel's Itamar Levi (ISR), Turkey's Artun Şenol (TUR) and the Netherlands' Merlijn Boswijk (NED) complete the top five and advance directly to the Semi Final.

 The U17 Girls once again belonged to Turkey's Parla Kabasakal (TUR), who finished the Opening Series in commanding fashion to earn her place in the Grand Final. Poland's Michelle Urzykowski (POL)joins her directly in the deciding stage after a remarkably consistent championship. Behind them, Turkey's Nisa Üstündağ (TUR) climbed onto the provisional podium in third overall, followed by Israel's Noa Koren (ISR)and Poland's Marta Gajdzinska (POL), all of whom advance directly to the Semi Final. Dutch sailor Anna Jannieke Korevaar (NED) secured the final qualifying position for the Medal Series in tenth place.

 The U17 Boys also completed their Opening Series with Italy's Luca Pacchiotti (ITA) securing the overall lead ahead of Germany's Moritz Schleicher (GER). Both sailors advance directly to the Grand Final after leading the fleet throughout the week. Czech sailor Frantisek Burda (CZE), Spain's Enric Patiño Riutord (ESP) and France's Mahé Givernaud (FRA) move straight into the Semi Final, while Latvia's Viljams Preiss (LAT) produced one of the day's best performances by climbing into eighth place to keep his medal hopes alive.

 After a week of intense racing on the Costa Brava, attention now turns to Friday's Medal Series, where consistency earned throughout the Opening Series provides an advantage, but the world titles will ultimately be decided on the water. Four new Youth & Junior World Champions will be crowned at Club de Vela La Ballena Alegre.

 TOP 10 – U19 WOMEN

Taisiia Stopchenko (AIN)
Sophie Clark (GBR)
Théa Le Borne Zibetti (FRA)
Rüya Uğurlu (TUR)
Salomé Simon (FRA)
Danai Giannouli (GRE)
Martina Mantovani (ESP)
Garance Chatelier-Daisay (FRA)
Naama Palatnik (ISR)
Alba Klein (ISR)

TOP 10 – U19 MEN

Mattia Saoncella (ITA)
Leon Jankowski (POL)
Itamar Levi (ISR)
Artun Şenol (TUR)
Merlijn Boswijk (NED)
Garrett January (USA)
Peyton Dits (NED)
Ulysse David (FRA)
Kfir Nov (ISR)
Gustaw Trybek (POL)

TOP 10 – U17 WOMEN

Parla Kabasakal (TUR)
Michelle Urzykowski (POL)
Nisa Üstündağ (TUR)
Noa Koren (ISR)
Marta Gajdzinska (POL)
Maria Miarczyńska (POL)
Martyna Figura (POL)
Ece Melis Baş (TUR)
Elettra Fulgenzi (ITA)
Anna Jannieke Korevaar (NED)

TOP 10 – U17 MEN

Luca Pacchiotti (ITA)
Moritz Schleicher (GER)
Frantisek Burda (CZE)
Enric Patiño Riutord (ESP)
Mahé Givernaud (FRA)
Gonzalo Ruiz Mendez (ESP)
Malo Bontemps (FRA)
Viljams Preiss (LAT)
Davide Mecucci (ITA)
Jan Serafiński-Melsztyński (POL)