San Pedro, Los Angeles, USA | August 3, 2025.
Yesterday marked the highly anticipated first day of the Final series at the 2025 ILCA 6 Youth World Championships, signaling the start of Gold and Silver fleet racing. Sailors arrived early at the venue, eager to compete in their new fleets and climb the leaderboard.
The coaches’ meeting began promptly at 10:30, where the PRO announced updated starting assignments: Boy’s and Girl’s Gold fleets would race on the outer course, while the Silver fleets would compete on the inner course.
Conditions in the boat park were clear, with no fog, though a thick marine layer persisted offshore over the race venue. At 11:00, the AP flag was posted onshore as everyone waited for the sea breeze to establish. During the delay, sailors relaxed under the tent, playing cards, socializing, and avoiding the midday sun. Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club hosted a hamburger cookout at 11:30, which drew a big crowd of appreciative sailors.
By 12:30, the wind began to fill in, and at 12:55 the Delta and tow flags were raised, signaling the launch. The departure was swift, with sailors eager to get on the water and adapt to the new wind pattern.
Racing got underway with the Boy’s Gold fleet starting first. Only a couple of UFD penalties were recorded, while the Girl’s Gold start was all clear. The fleets raced in steady 10–12 knots of breeze with minimal chop. The Silver fleets experienced some delays due to course adjustments and shifting wind pressure, leading to staggered start times between Gold and Silver fleets.
All fleets successfully completed two races before returning to shore in the early evening. Sailors were welcomed back with plates of Alfredo pasta provided by a local restaurant.
It was a successful and well-run opening day of the Final series, with more exciting racing expected today.
After two new races, the standings are as follows:
Girls’ Championships leaders after Day 4
The battle for the top spot in the Girls’ Championship has tightened after yesterday’s two races. Ukraine’s Alina Shapovalova UKR –ILCA 6 Youth European Champion in 2024– now shares the lead with Dutch sailor Feline Van Ede NED –ILCA 4 Youth World Vice-Champion in 2024–, both tied at 17 points. Just one point behind sits Greece’s Hermione Ghicas GRE –the reigning 2025 ILCA 6 Youth European Champion– on 18 points, keeping the pressure high at the top of the leaderboard.
Rebecca Mantel ISR holds fourth overall with 37 points, while Spain’s Ainhoa Gomez ESP climbs into the top five with 39 points, showcasing steady progress as the Finals get underway. With the fleet closely packed and more races ahead, every start and shift could be decisive in the race for the World title.
Provisional Top 10 – Girls’ Overall
- Alina Shapovalova UKR – 17 pt
- Feline Van Ede NED – 17 pt
- Hermione Ghicas GRE – 18 pt
- Rebecca Mantel ISR – 37 pt
- Ainhoa Gomez ESP – 39 pt
- Hieke Schraffordt NED – 42 pt
- Valentina Araujo BRA – 44.6 pt
- Gaya Datiashvili ISR – 46 pt
- Sienna Wright IRL – 47 pt
- Hanna Rogowska POL 52 pt
The battle in the Girls’ Under 17 division has seen a major shift after yesterday’s races. After a challenging day with two high scores, Camille Vallotton SUI has slipped from the lead and now holds second place overall with 55 points.
Taking over the top spot is yesterday’s runner up Chloe Turner NZL, who has surged ahead to lead the U17 fleet with 75 points, holding a 20-point cushion going into the final four races.
Poland’s Lena Adamska POL remains in third place overall with 100 points, while Taylor Escola USA and Eirini Pegiazoglou SUI round out the top five in the U17 category with 128 and 129 points respectively.
Provisional Top 5 – Girls’ Under 17
- Chloe Turner NZL – 55 pt
- Camille Vallotton SUI – 75 pt
- Lena Adamska POL – 100 pt
- Taylor Escola USA – 128 pt
- Eirini Pegiazoglou SUI – 129 pt
Boys’ Championships leaders after Day 4
Alessandro Cirinei ITA –recently crowned 2025 ILCA 6 Men’s World Champion in Kiel– continues to dominate the Boys’ Championship with a commanding 25-point lead over new pursuer Benedek Héder HUN, who holds second place with 57 points.
Overnight runner-up Lorenzo Ghirotti ITA dropped to eighth overall after two challenging races yesterday, opening the door for fresh contenders. Rising stars Josip Tafra CRO, Joaquin Galvan ARG, and Kutsal Gunes Kurnaz TUR have all broken into the top five for the first time at this event.
Provisional Top 10 – Boys’ Overall
- Alessandro Cirinei ITA – 32 pt
- Benedek Héder HUN – 57 pt
- Josip Tafra CRO – 65 pt
- Joaquin Galvan ARG – 66 pt
- Kutsal Gunes Kurnaz TUR – 66 pt
- Alexander Hartsink NED – 71 pt
- Erotokritos Komianos GRE – 75.3 pt
- Lorenzo Ghirotti ITA – 80 pt
- Tim Lubat ESP – 85 pt
- Joan Fargas Cendra ESP – 85 pt
The Boys’ Under 17 Championship leaderboard remains unchanged at the top, with Alexander Hartsink NED holding first place on 71 points and Erotokritos Komianos GRE close behind on 75.3 points. The leading pair have now built a substantial gap, sitting 30 points clear of the new third-place sailor, Jiri Tomez CZE, who has climbed into podium position with 106 points.
Claudio Crocco ITA moves up to fourth, while overnight third-place Stefano Siebert Francavilla BRA drops to fifth. With four races still to come, the top two appear strong, but the fight for the final podium spot is far from over.
Provisional Top 5 – Boys’ Under 17
- Alexander Hartsink NED – 71 pt
- Erotokritos Komianos GRE – 75.3 pt
- Jiri Tomez CZE 73 pt – 106 pt
- Claudio Crocco ITA – 126.3 pt
- Stefano Siebert Francavilla BRA – 134 pt
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.