2024 iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championships at Sa Ràpita, Spain – Day 4
by iQFOiL Class Communications 31 Oct 10:02 PDT
27 October – 2 November 2024
Day Four of the iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championships kicked off with fantastic racing conditions, following a windless day yesterday.
The fleet of 375 competitors from 35 countries took to the water, facing a strong northeast wind that varied from 8 to 18 knots along with choppy waters, resulting in a thrilling day of competition. All divisions – U19 Women, U17 Women, U19 Men, and U17 Men – completed five Course races, with the U19 Men now divided into Gold and Silver fleets.
In the U19 Women’s category, Great Britain’s Darcey Shaw (GBR 309) maintained her lead, trailed closely by Maya Gysler (NOR 2) in second and Nela Sadílkova (CZE 80) in third. Reflecting on her performance, Gysler noted, “I had a tough start due to some stomach issues in the morning, so I wasn’t sure how I would perform. However, I pulled it together and did well, which makes me quite happy.”
In the U19 Men’s division, Italy’s Federico Pilloni (ITA 286) kept his top position with consistent finishes, despite being challenged by his competitors today. His winning streak was interrupted in the first race but he bounced back to win the last race. Igor Lewinski (POL 30) moved up to second place, with Kylian Manhaval (FRA 1908) in third. “I’m pleased to have climbed a bit and now be second in the provisional standings. I managed to win two races today, making it a good day for me. The conditions were variable, shifting from 8 to 15 knots, but I enjoyed the challenge,” said Igor Lewinski.
In the U17 Women’s fleet, Alba Klein (ISR 205) sustained her significant lead with strong performances, while Rüya Ugurlu (TUR 5835) and Julia Przybyl (POL 977) followed in second and third place, respectively. Klein shared her strategy: “I focused primarily on my sailing and doing my best. My starts weren’t always as good as I wanted, but I concentrated on going fast and recovering with solid tactics and maneuvers, which paid off.”
The U17 Men’s race remains competitive, with Itamar Levi (ISR 203) in the lead, followed by Leopold Brisedou (FRA 834) in second and David Aleshko (ISR 688) in third, while Marius Polo (FRA 908) is close behind in fourth, all showing impressive racing skills under tough conditions and setting up a fierce competition at the top.
Looking ahead, tomorrow’s forecast is uncertain with heavy rain predicted, leading the Balearic Island authorities to issue a general alert. Racing is tentative, pending further updates on weather.
With only two days remaining in the competition, excitement is building as the young sailors pursue the 2024 iQFOiL Youth and Junior World Championship titles.
