iQFOiL U23 World Championships at Portimão, Portugal - Day 3
by iQFOiL Communications 10 Sep 22:40 BST
6-13 September 2025
Tactical Twists and Podium Moves
After two days of powerful north-westerlies and full-throttle racing, the men's qualifying series has wrapped up with plenty of movement on the leaderboard. From today, the intensity rises another notch as the fleet splits into Gold and Silver groups, with the top 50% now battling head-to-head for the title. The women's fleet of 48 sailors continues as one, where every race remains wide open and fiercely contested.
Day 3 offered the sailors a very different field of play. With the breeze easing to 10-13 knots and shifting offshore, the game shifted from pure speed to tactical sharpness. Where the first two days rewarded those who had locked into the fastest gear, today's conditions demanded patience and precision. The key was to spot and seize the first usable pressure after the start, setting the tone for the rest of the leg. Unlike yesterday, when both sides of the course offered opportunities, choices were far more restricted: the beach option no longer paid, while the left side of the race area proved more convincing.
The flatter sea state added to the contrast, forcing athletes to rethink their approach. With less emphasis on handling waves and more on reading the shifts, success hinged on anticipation, positioning, and decision-making, a very different strategic puzzle compared to the high-wind duels of the first two days.
In the U23 Men's fleet, Grae Morris (AUS) retains the overall lead, but his day was far more contrasting than the flawless performances of the opening rounds. With finishes of 12th, 1st, 3rd, and 21st, the Olympic silver medalist showed both flashes of brilliance and the price of a missed call in today's trickier conditions.
The big mover of the day was Leonardo Tomasini (ITA) bronze medalist at the 2024 U23 World Championship in Silvaplana (SUI). Sixth overall last night, the Italian seized his chances in the lighter offshore breeze to climb into second place, marking the comeback of the day. Just behind him, Duncan Monaghan (GBR) has shown steady progress throughout the championship, moving from 6th on Day 1, to 5th on Day 2, and climbing to 3rd today, putting Great Britain firmly in the medal conversation.
It was a tougher outing for Federico Pilloni (ITA), who slipped from second to eighth. A costly 36th place highlighted how difficult it was to recover from a less informed strategic choice, even with speed to spare. Nacho Baltasar Summers (ESP), third yesterday, also lost ground, sliding to fifth, but remains in striking distance of the podium as the Gold fleet battles begin in earnest.
"Today I had really good races. The last one I won it, and I scored also a second, a third, and a seventh. It was a really tricky day with the wind that was shifting, but I managed to take the right decisions, maybe with a bit of luck. It is an amazing venue, with everyday wind around 15-20 knots, so I look forward in the next races", commented Leonardo Tomasini.
In the U23 Women's fleet, the leaderboard was shaken up once again. Nela Sadílkova (CZE) delivered the performance of the day, vaulting from fifth to first overall. A victory in the opening race, followed by two solid third-place finishes, rewarded the Czech sailor's consistency and boldness.
Behind her, Mina Mobekk (NOR) maintained her trademark steadiness to hold on to second place, keeping the pressure firmly on the leader. Aimee Bright (NZL) also made her mark, climbing onto the podium in third thanks to a race win and a strong series of results.
It was a tougher day for yesterday's front-runners. Emma Viktoria Millend (EST) slipped from first to fourth, while Maya Gysler (NOR) dropped from third to fifth, leaving the door wide open for further reshuffles as the regatta progresses.
"I'm currently leading and I have a funny story about today. I was carrying my sail to the water before the races and I saw this unknown man, without knowing him at all he told me 'let's win this' and I replied 'okay, I'll try' and now I'm leading.. I'm really happy about that. And today was so much fun, the racing was great and I'm really looking forward to tomorrow", said Nella Sadílkova.
Day three in Portimão has shown just how unpredictable and demanding this championship can be. Between shifts in the wind, changing strategies, and a leaderboard that refuses to settle, the U23 World Championship is turning into a true test of adaptability. With talent shining across nations and new names stepping into the spotlight, the coming days promise more drama, more intensity, and plenty of surprises before the titles are claimed.
Find out more at www.iqfoilclassofficial.org/all-info-portimao-25