2026 Musto iQfoil World Championships: Steinberg and Van Opzeeland lead after opening day

All eyes are on Weymouth and Portland this week as the 2026 MUSTO iQFOiL World Championships get underway at one of the most iconic venues in Olympic sailing. With 186 athletes from 41 nations, the championship brings together the world’s leading Olympic windsurfers for six days of racing at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, venue of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Adding to the significance of racing on British waters, both defending World Champions are local sailors. Emma Wilson and Andy Brown begin their title defences at a venue they know intimately, facing exceptionally deep international fleets in the battle to retain their rainbow crowns.

The opening day delivered racing conditions from the outset, allowing the Race Committee to launch straight into Upwind Sprints. The short, intense format immediately put acceleration, speed and tactical decision-making under pressure, providing a fast-paced start to the championship.

The Women’s fleet was later able to complete two additional Course Races, bringing its opening-day programme to four races. Tamar Steinberg (ISR) could hardly have asked for a better start. The reigning European Champion produced a flawless performance, winning all four races to establish herself firmly at the top of the leaderboard. Behind her, Stella Bilger (GER) put together a strong opening series to sit second overall, while Maya Gysler (NOR)ended Day 1 in third.

For the Men, the conditions did not remain suitable for the planned Course Racing, and the fleet instead completed four Upwind Sprints. With the fleet divided into six heats, the racing produced an exceptionally tight leaderboard, with four sailors ending the day level on points.

eigning European Champion Luuc van Opzeeland (NED) emerged on top after the tiebreak to take the early overall lead. But there is virtually nothing separating the frontrunners, with Paweł Tarnowski (POL), Nicolas Goyard (FRA) and Yoav Omer (ISR) all level on points and firmly in contention after the opening day.

With the first races now on the scoreboard and little separating many of the leading contenders, the 2026 MUSTO iQFOiL World Championships are already shaping up for an intense week in Weymouth. Racing continues tomorrow as the fleets look to build momentum on the road towards Saturday’s decisive Medal Series.