San Pedro, Los Angeles, USA | July 30, 2025.
Yesterday marked an exciting milestone in Los Angeles as the 2025 ILCA 6 Youth World Championships officially got underway at Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club. A total of 288 sailors from across the globe are set to compete for the world titles here in Los Angeles.
Sailors arrived early to complete the final rounds of measurement and registration ahead of the week’s highly anticipated racing. By early afternoon, around 13:00, the boat park came alive as sailors began launching for the official practice race, scheduled to start at 14:00.
The breeze remained light through the morning, but as the marine layer burned off, the wind filled in right on cue—setting the stage for a promising week of competition. While not all sailors chose to participate in the practice race, many took advantage of the opportunity to tune up, observe the course, and familiarize themselves with the race area. Others opted for rest and final boat prep, preserving energy for tomorrow’s opening races.
The practice race provided valuable time on the water, not just for the sailors, but also for the Race Committee to refine race management and settle into the regatta rhythm. Most teams returned to shore around 15:00, shifting focus to the evening’s opening ceremony.
Coaches gathered for the 17:00 meeting, which was informative, efficient, and a strong indication that the momentum from last week’s ILCA 4 Youth event continues smoothly into this championship.
Excitement built as sailors began lining up for the opening ceremony and flag parade—many waving flags and cheering well ahead of the official start. The festive parade looped around Cabrillo Beach Harbor and concluded at the venue’s auditorium.
The ceremony began with a welcome from Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club Commodore Jerry Beaver, followed by opening remarks from ILCA Head Andrus Poksi, who shared words of encouragement and enthusiasm for the competition ahead. Each nation was introduced on stage to loud cheers and enthusiastic photo ops.
The evening concluded with a festive Mexican dinner, catered by a local restaurant and enjoyed by sailors, coaches, and volunteers alike.
With the opening ceremony complete and spirits running high, the 2025 ILCA 6 Youth World Championships are now officially underway. Racing begins today.
If you missed it, be sure to check out our Preview article highlighting the top medal contenders and sailors to watch this week in Los Angeles.
Stay tuned for results, updates, and daily coverage right here and across ILCA’s digital channels.
How to follow the 2025 ILCA 6 Youth World Championships
We’ll be publishing a daily report with links to results and photos at ilcasailing.org. You can find all information about the competition on the event website: https://2025ilca6youth.ilca-worlds.org/. Live action with interviews, videos, and pictures will also be posted daily across ILCA’s social media channels. We encourage you to follow and subscribe to stay instantly notified about the latest updates:
About ILCA 6 Youth World Championships
The ILCA 6 Youth World Championships is a premier international sailing event that brings together the world’s top youth sailors to compete at an elite level in the ILCA 6 class. Often a key stepping stone toward Olympic and professional sailing, the championship offers a high-performance platform for rising talent to test their skills, gain international experience, and forge lasting connections within the global sailing community.
Report by Agustín Argüelles – ILCA / Source: Annie Samis | Photos by Simone Staff – Seaster Media.