2024 iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championships at Sa Ràpita, Spain – Overview
by iQFOiL Class Communications 2 Nov 11:20 PDT
27 October – 2 November 2024
The iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championship wrapped up in Sa Ràpita, Mallorca, celebrating its new group of champions from a pool of 375 young sailors representing 35 countries.
These competitors showcased exceptional skill and determination, overcoming challenging weather conditions to secure their spots on the 2024 iQFOiL Youth & Junior podiums.
Following a week of competitive racing that concluded on Thursday amidst strong conditions, an official weather alert from the Balearic Authorities kept sailors off the water on Friday due to storm predictions, while Saturday offered sunny weather but no wind.
Consequently, Thursday’s results finalized the 2024 champions:
U19 Women
1. Darcey Shaw (GBR 309)
2. Maya Gysler (NOR 2)
3. Nela Sadílkova (CZE 80)
“I am the Under 19 World Champion; it feels incredible!” exclaimed Darcey Shaw. “I definitely aimed for a medal, but I’m not sure if I expected to win it. It feels amazing to have the Gold.. I attribute my victory to a very solid first day, and I think my overall speed was quite impressive this week.”
U19 Men
1. Federico Pilloni (ITA 186)
2. Igor Lewinski (POL 30)
3. Kylian Manhaval (FRA 1908)
“I can’t believe I am the 2024 Youth World Champion,” Federico Pilloni remarked as the AP flag over A was raised. “It was an incredible week; we had two fantastic days of Course racing that led me to victory here. Unfortunately, there was no racing yesterday or today, but it was a wonderful event. I want to thank all my supporters, my family, my club Young Azzurra, the Italian Sailing Federation, and huge congrats to Polands’ Igor, France’s Killian, and my training partner Leonardo, who faced significant challenges; well done to him!”
U17 Women
1. Alba Klein (ISR 205)
2. Rüya Ugurlu (TUR 5835)
3. Julia Przybyl (POL 977)
“I am overjoyed,” said a teary-eyed Alba Klein. “I want to share this achievement with my friends, family, and coach, especially my mom and dad.”
U17 Men
1. Itamar Levi (ISR 203)
2. Leopold Brisedou (FRA 834)
3. David Aleshko (ISR 688)
“Becoming the new Under 17 World Champion is incredibly exciting!!” Itamar Levi stated. “I’ve put in a lot of effort to arrive here, so I must thank my coach and my parents for their support. Being well-trained and slightly heavier than my rivals gives me an advantage in strong winds—I’m grateful for that.”
The iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championship was made possible through the hard work and commitment of many. Club Nàutic Sa Ràpita, the City of Campos, and everyone who dedicated time and effort contributed to the event’s success. Their dedication established Sa Ràpita as a premier venue in the international sailing community.
“It was a highly demanding event. We faced a wind shortage almost every other day, and the storm warning on the final day of the opening series prevented us from completing our scheduled races. Nevertheless, the venue was beautiful as always, and it was fantastic to be part of this event!” remarked Principal Race Officer Ewa Jodkowska.
As we celebrate the conclusion of this championship, we anticipate watching these champions and competitors motivate the next generation of windsurfing talent worldwide. The first international competition in 2025 will be the iQFOiL International Games in Cadiz in March, while the next World Championship will take place in July in Brest, France.
