2026 Musto iQfoil World Championships: top ten locked in for saturday’s Medal Series
It was the longest day yet at the 2026 MUSTO iQFOiL World Championships, as light and unstable winds stretched the Men’s final day of qualification over more than four hours of Sprint Slalom racing. With light winds forecast, the Men’s fleet started on schedule at 13:10, but fluctuating pressure and a series of General Recalls led to long waits between heats. Racing continued until 17:15, when the final heat of the fourth scheduled race could not be completed, bringing the Men’s Qualification Series to a close.
At the end of the Qualification Series, Noah Lyons (USA) emerged on top with 49 points. The American, who had regained the overall lead yesterday, reinforced his position today with back-to-back race wins and will head into Saturday’s Medal Series as the number one qualifier. Behind him, Luuc van Opzeeland (NED) moved up to second overall on 65 points, just one point ahead of Johan Søe (DEN) in third. Nicolas Goyard (FRA) qualifies fourth, followed by 2020 Olympic Champion Kiran Badloe (NED) in fifth. The second half of the top ten features another Olympic Champion, Paris 2024, Tom Reuveny (ISR) in sixth and Nicolò Renna (ITA) in seventh, with Yoav Omer (ISR), who led the championship after Day 3, qualifying eighth. Grae Morris (AUS) takes ninth, while Federico Alan Pilloni (ITA) secures the tenth and final ticket to Saturday’s Medal Series.
For the Women’s fleet, the long wait ultimately ended without racing. After initially remaining ashore while the Men completed their program, the women were sent out onto the water as the Race Committee looked for a suitable window to race. With the wind still too unstable to allow fair competition, racing was eventually abandoned and the fleet was sent back ashore at 18:25. With no races completed today, Thursday’s standings become the final Women’s Qualification Series ranking, confirming the ten sailors who will advance to Saturday’s Medal Series.
With the Final Series now complete for both fleets, the stage is set for Saturday’s Medal Series, when the top ten men and women will return to the water for the final battle of the 2026 MUSTO iQFOiL World Championships and the World Championship titles will be decided live in Weymouth and Portland.
Saturday, September 12 – Medal Series at 12pm BST (GMT+1)
MEN – TOP 10 AFTER QUALIFICATION
Noah Lyons (USA) – 49 pts
Luuc van Opzeeland (NED) – 65 pts
Johan Søe (DEN) – 66 pts
Nicolas Goyard (FRA) – 79 pts
Kiran Badloe (NED) – 80 pts
Tom Reuveny (ISR) – 114 pts
Nicolò Renna (ITA) – 115 pts
Yoav Omer (ISR) – 118 pts
Grae Morris (AUS) – 129 pts
Federico Alan Pilloni (ITA) – 133.3 pts
WOMEN – TOP 10 AFTER QUALIFICATION
Tamar Steinberg (ISR) – 44 pts
Sharon Kantor (ISR) – 73 pts
Medea Falcioni (ITA) – 105 pts
Stella Bilger (AUS) – 114 pts
Veerle ten Have (NZL) – 117 pts
Islay Watson (GBR) – 120 pts
Shahar Tibi (ISR) – 130 pts
Sara Wennekes (NED) – 138 pts
Anastasiya Valkevich (POL) – 141 pts
Daniela Peleg (ISR) – 150 pts
