iQFOiL Youth & Junior European Championships - Day 4
by iQFOiL Communications 22 Oct 2025 18:45 BST
18-25 October 2025
Day four of the 2025 iQFOiL Youth & Junior European Championship opened with moderate westerly winds ranging from 10 to 15 knots, lighter than the forecasted Mistral conditions.
A slightly overcast sky gave a softer light over the bay of Cannigione, but anticipation remained high as the fleet gathered for the morning briefing. Today marked the start of the Final Series, with both U19 and U17 Men now split into Gold and Silver fleets, setting the stage for decisive battles ahead.
The race format for the day featured a mix of Course Racing, Slalom, and the exciting Upwind Sprint, a new format introduced this year, combining an upwind start with a compact slalom-style course.
U19 Women: Schleicher takes the lead
The U19 Women completed five Slalom races in light winds that barely touched 10 knots. Emma Johanna Schleicher (GER) emerged as the new overall leader, winning two races and discarding a third place and a BFD. Medea Falcioni (ITA), who also picked up a BFD today after a UFD yesterday, now sits just two points behind. Nurhayat Güven (TUR) holds third, though with a significant gap.
"I prefer not to look at results while I'm racing," said Schleicher. "I focus on myself, try to do good races, and it worked. Yesterday I struggled downwind but improved that today. I love every iQFOiL format and this tight battle with Medea makes racing even more exciting".
U19 Men: Slalom interrupted by dying wind
The U19 Men were the last to hit the water and completed just two Slalom races due to fading wind and numerous general recalls - 49 starting procedures were recorded on Bravo course between all fleets.
Mattia Saoncella (ITA) extended his dominance, winning both heats and sitting confidently at the top with 10 points. Maciej Dabek (POL) follows in second, thanks to a win in race two, while Kay Rozeboom (ARU) edges into fourth after winning his final heat of the day. A third race started and a heat - won by Saoncella - was completed, but to record the results the other two heats must be sailed.
U17 Women: Champions tighten their grip
On Bravo course, the U17 Women completed five Slalom races. Théa Le Borgne Zibetti (FRA), reigning World Champion, continued her strong form with three wins, extending her lead. However, Naama Palatnik (ISR) made a serious charge with four victories, closing the gap. Just behind, Ruya Ugurlu (TUR) remains in close contention, setting up a thrilling finale.
U17 Men: Dutch duel on course alpha
The U17 Men started with two Course Races before switching to three Upwind Sprint heats, completing five races in total. Merlijn Boswijk (NED) dominated the day with four victories, dropping an eighth from the opening race. His countryman Finn Brüll (NED) responded with three wins of his own, keeping the pressure high. Frantisek Burda (CZE) holds third overall but trails the leading duo.
"Racing was tough today, but I stayed focused and tried to read the wind well," said Boswijk. "Now that we're in Gold Fleet, the competition is even tighter, it's a challenge but a fun one. We've been working a lot on foil tacks, and that's been a real asset. A sharp turn, a solid push with the feet, and staying on the foil, those are the keys".
Looking ahead: Gold fleet battles and mistral winds
Starting tomorrow, the U17 and U19 Men will continue racing in Gold and Silver fleets, as the final series unfolds. Conditions are expected to change, with the much-anticipated Mistral arriving tomorrow, with 20+ knot winds forecast to build into Friday, potentially reshaping the leaderboard and demanding peak performance from every sailor.