January 23, 2026
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Standings tighten as the ILCA Under-21 Worlds move deeper into the Finals
With the final series now fully underway in Lanzarote, margins at the top of both fleets continue to shrink. A demanding fourth day of racing delivered shifting conditions, decisive moments and further changes in the standings, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion with two crucial days still to come.
The 2026 ILCA Under-21 World Championships completed their fourth day of racing on Thursday at Marina Rubicón, Lanzarote, firmly established in the final series, where every point is proving decisive in the race for the world titles.
The wind began lightly over the Canary Islands race course, offering variable and tricky conditions through the morning before gradually settling at 9–12 knots from the west, with the current flowing in the same direction. These conditions allowed the full scheduled programme to be completed once again, with two races for all fleets, although they demanded precise, tactical sailing throughout the day.
ILCA 7: dead heat at the top
In the ILCA 7 fleet, the fourth day once again reshaped the overall standings. Spain’s Karol Krupski reclaimed the provisional lead, tied on 30 points with Slovenia’s Luka Zabukovec, highlighting the remarkable closeness at the top of the leaderboard.
Just ten points behind the joint leaders is Spain’s Fernando Abella, who climbs two places into a solid third overall, underlining his consistency across the championship. Israel’s Rem Pulci Magen and Italy’s Antonio Pascali complete an exceptionally compact ILCA 7 top five, sitting just four and five points respectively behind Abella.
Reflecting on the day, Abella highlighted the complexity of the conditions: “It was a day with lots of cloud, many wind shifts and different pressure, very tricky, where you had to keep your head up and anticipate what was coming. Patience was key, knowing when to wait for the right moment to cross. I’m very happy with the level I’m showing at this championship.”
He also underlined the physical demands of racing in Lanzarote: “There is quite a lot of wind every day, and you really feel it in your legs.”
Looking ahead to the penultimate day, the Spaniard outlined his approach: “The forecast is for more wind tomorrow, so the idea is to stay on the same line as today, try to keep results inside the top ten, avoid adding too many points and stay alert to what the others are doing in order to hold onto a podium position.”
Also noteworthy is the performance of Tim Lubat, currently second overall in the Under-19 category, while fellow Spaniard Sergio García Garrido sits fourth.
ILCA 6: Caracciolo extends her lead as de Tomás climbs
In ILCA 6, Ginevra Caracciolo continues to assert her dominance, extending her lead at the top of the provisional standings after a flawless day in which she proved unbeatable, winning both races.
The Italian now holds a commanding 31-point advantage over her closest challenger, Spain’s Irene de Tomás. The RCN Valencia sailor and reigning Youth World Champion delivered one of the standout performances of the day, climbing from fourth to second overall, placing herself firmly among the leading title contenders as the championship enters its final phase.
Speaking ashore, de Tomás described the day as particularly challenging: “It was quite a difficult day because the conditions were very unstable. There was a lot of cloud and rain, and the wind direction was constantly changing. The main goal was to keep your eyes open, read where the wind was going to come from and try to put yourself in the right place. Today the key was to be fast and get a good start. I managed to maintain good boat speed, find my way and keep sailing with focus.”
On the battle at the top of the standings, the Valencian sailor acknowledged the level of the Italian leader: “The Italian sailor is really very fast, you have to recognise that. She has a boat speed that no one else in the fleet has right now.”
De Tomás cannot afford to relax, however, as Greece’s Hermione Ghicas sits in third place, just one point behind, while Spain’s Adriana Castro holds fourth position, reinforcing the strong showing of the Spanish ILCA team at this World Championship.
Two decisive days ahead
With the final series in full swing and two crucial days remaining, the 2026 ILCA Under-21 World Championships in Lanzarote enter their decisive phase. Racing continues tomorrow, Friday, at Marina Rubicón, with further races scheduled from 12:00 local time.
Provisional results – ILCA 6 Women U21
- Ginevra Caracciolo ITA 18 pt
- Irene de Tomas ESP 49 pt
- Hermione Ghicas GRE 50 pt
- Adriana Castro ESP 61 pt
- Alina Shapovalova UKR 61 pt
Provisional results – ILCA 6 Men U21
- Karol Krupski Teterycz ESP 30 pt
- Luka Zabukovec SLO 30 pt
- Fernando Abella ESP 40 pt
- Rem Pulci Magen ISR 44 pt
- Antonio Pascali ITA 45 pt
Provisional results – ILCA 6 Men U19
- Alessandro Cirinei ITA 58 pt
- Tim Lubat ESP 68 pt
- Federico Cittadini ITA 104 pt
- Sergio Garcia Garrido ESP 107 pt
- Peter Jessop HKG 115 pt
A total of 12 races are scheduled from 19 to 24 January, culminating in the crowning of the 2026 ILCA Under-21 World Champions.
A fleet of 148 sailors — comprising 96 ILCA 7 men and 52 ILCA 6 women — from all seven ILCA regions around the world has gathered in the Canary Islands for a week of top-level racing, international camaraderie, and memorable on-the-water experiences.
Text and images courtesy of ILCA Sailing.