iQfoil U23 World Championships: Pilloni and Bright set the pace on opening Day in Puck
The 2026 iQFOiL U23 World Championships got underway today on the Bay of Puck, bringing together 148 sailors from 34 nations for a week of racing featuring some of the most promising young iQFOiL athletes from around the world.
The opening day delivered an excellent welcome to Poland, with 15–18 knots across the racecourse allowing the Race Committee to complete a full program of four Course Races for all fleets.
In the Men’s fleet, Federico Alan Pilloni (ITA) made the strongest start to the championship, putting together a consistent opening series to take the provisional overall lead after four races. The Italian, who recently finished tenth in the Qualification Series at the Senior World Championships in Weymouth and advanced to the Medal Series, immediately established himself at the front of the U23 fleet in Puck. Côme Joly (FRA) was another standout performer of the day, taking two race wins to put himself firmly in contention. Leonardo Tomasini (ITA) completes the provisional top three, giving Italy two sailors on the opening-day podium.
The Women’s fleet saw Aimee Bright (NZL) take control of the leaderboard after the opening four Course Races. Bright ends Day 1 at the top, with a strong Norwegian challenge immediately behind her. Maya Gysler (NOR) sits second overall, while compatriot Tuva Oppedal (NOR) completes the provisional top three after the first day of competition.
With four races already on the scoreboard and the first leaders established, the 2026 iQFOiL U23 World Championships are off to a strong start on the Bay of Puck. Racing continues tomorrow, with another day of action scheduled as the battle for the U23 World Championship titles develops.
