Super finals deliver thrilling climax to iQFOiL U23 World Championships

After five days of racing in Portimão, the iQFOiL U23 World Championships have already put the young athletes through a full spectrum of challenges. The opening two days were dominated by strong winds that rewarded raw speed and power. Midway through the week, conditions shifted to lighter and more unstable breezes, demanding sharp strategic thinking and adaptability. Over the course of the event, every format in the iQFOiL playbook has been tested, Course Racing, Sprint Slalom, and Upwind Sprint. As a result, whoever lifted the World Championship trophy today would not only be the fastest, but also the most complete sailor across all conditions and race formats.

By mid-afternoon, the racecourse served up yet another new puzzle. A northwesterly breeze, much further left than the athletes had experienced so far in the week, reshaped the tactics: laylines and upwind choices were less straightforward, and those who read the angles best could gain significantly. Warm by nature, the wind was also unstable, pulsing in pressure and shifting in direction, which made it harder for sailors to lock into a consistent mode.

In feel, it was a breeze that tested sensitivity, never brutal, but never settled either. On the water, the surface remained slightly choppy yet generally flat, rewarding precision in pumping and board handling. The Women’s Quarter Final opened proceedings at 15:53, setting the stage for an afternoon where adaptability would be as decisive as raw speed.

In the U23 Women’s Medal Series, the quarter-finals saw Estonia’s Emma Millend (EST) take the win, with Nela Sadílková (CZE) also advancing to the semi-finals. There, strategy reshuffled the cards once again: a costly fall for Millend opened the door for Stella Bilger (NZL) and Maya Gysler (NOR) to book their spots in the final. The showdown was anything but predictable. Despite leading the Opening Series, Mina Mobekk (NOR) was edged out by Aimee Bright (NZL), forcing a Super Final to decide the title.

In that decisive race, tension ran high for eight thrilling minutes before Stella Bilger (NZL) emerged victorious, seizing the world crown. Aimee Bright (NZL) finished second, while Mina Mobekk (NOR) had to settle for third place on the podium.

“I just managed to win the U23 iQFOiL Worlds, I don’t know how… I got a nice left shift and didn’t fall in, so I’m stoked, it is my first!!,” said Stella Bilger.

In the U23 Men’s Medal Series, Italy’s Federico Pilloni (ITA) clinched the quarter-final win, with Émile Roullet (FRA) showing resilience to secure second place despite a premature start and five-second penalty. The semi-final brought high drama: Duncan Monaghan (GBR), third in the overall standings, saw his Medal Series run cut short when he lost support at speed — a reminder of how fine the margins are at this level, where even the smallest slip can change the outcome — paving the way for Nacho Baltasar Summers (ESP) and Pilloni to advance.

The first final added another twist, as overall leader Grae Morris (AUS) slipped to fourth, leaving Nacho to seize victory and momentum heading into the Super Final. But when everything was on the line, Grae Morris (AUS) made no mistake: launching off the start, he reasserted his dominance to secure the world title. Nacho Baltasar Summers (ESP) followed in second, Leonardo Tomasini (ITA) in third, and Federico Pilloni (ITA) wrapped up the championship in fourth.

“Just finished up the U23 iQFOiL Worlds Medal Series here in Portimao, I didn’t manage to pull it off at the first time, but the second race I had a bit more luck on my side and used my speed to the advantage.. and I am pretty happy, I had such a good week and I love this place, it’s been great!!,” commented Grae Morris.

Text and images courtesy of iQFOiL Class.