Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta qualifying series comes to a dramatic close

With one day of racing remaining, the top 10 competitors in each fleet have earned their place in the final series. Under the event’s elimination format, the top two qualifiers advance directly to the Finals, third and fourth move straight into the Semi-Finals, while sailors finishing fifth through tenth will battle through the Quarterfinals for the opportunity to continue their run toward the podium.

Today’s lighter conditions produced some of the closest racing of the week. An 8-12 knot breeze, with gusts reaching 15 knots over flat water, rewarded smart tactical decisions and precise board handling. Tight mark roundings and frequent lead changes kept spectators engaged throughout an exciting afternoon of competition just offshore of Belmont Pier.

Watching these athletes race on foiling boards continues to be one of the most impressive spectacles in modern sport. Reaching remarkable speeds while balancing on hydrofoils above the water, competitors combine elite athleticism, split-second decision making and exceptional precision as they navigate demanding racecourses.

Spectators are invited to experience the excitement free of charge from the beaches and the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier, where the racecourse offers exceptional views of the world’s best Formula Kite and iQFOiL athletes competing just offshore.

Top 10 after Qualifying:

iQFOiL Men

1. Grae Morris (AUS)
2. Kun Bi (CHN)
3. Johan Søe (DEN)
4. Noah Lyons (USA)
5. Rory Meehan (AUS)
6. Tom Arnoux (FRA)
7. Nicolas Goyard (FRA)
8. Andy Brown (GBR)
9. Eli Liefting (NZL)
10. Pawel Tarnowski (POL)

iQFOiL Women

1. Emma Wilson (GBR)
2. Aimee Bright (NZL)
3. Zheng Yan (CHN)
4. Tamar Steinberg (ISR)
5. Stella Bilger (NZL)
6. Veerle ten Have (NZL)
7. Marta Maggetti (ITA)
8. Sharon Kantor (ISR)
9. Wenqi Li (CHN)
10. Islay Watson (GBR)

Formula Kite Men

1. Maximilian Maeder (SGP)
2. Riccardo Pianosi (ITA)
3. Toni Vodišek (SLO)
4. Benoit Gomez (FRA)
5. Gian Stragiotti (SUI)
6. Qibin Huang (CHN)
7. Noah Runciman (USA)
8. Kameron Maramenidis (GRE)
9. Valentin Bontus (AUT)
10. Vojtech Koska (CZE)

Formula Kite Women

1. Jessie Kampman (NED)
2. Elena Lengwiler (SUI)
3. Lauriane Nolot (FRA)
4. Wan Li (CHN)
5. Daniela Moroz (USA)
6. Breiana Whitehead (AUS)
7. Lily Young (GBR)
8. Chenxue Liu (CHN)
9. Si Wang (CHN)
10. Izabela Satrjan (POL)

The Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta serves as the final event of the 2026 Sailing Grand Slam season for the Formula Kite and iQFOiL classes, with Thursday’s medal races crowning the final champions of the series. The competition also provides athletes with invaluable experience on the future Olympic waters of LA28.

Text courtesy of Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta. Images by Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta – Simone Staff.