2025 iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championships - Day 4
by iQFOiL Communications 28 Jul 12:16 PDT
24-31 July 2025
It was another marginal wind day at the 2025 iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championships in Brest, but the persistence of the Race Committee and the patience of the sailors paid off.
By mid-afternoon, conditions stabilized just enough to allow one Sprint Slalom race for the U19 Women, U17 Boys, and U17 Girls divisions.
In the U17 Girls, the discard rule shuffled the standings, and now two athletes sit tied at the top. Naama Palatnik (ISR 890) and Parla Kabasakal (TUR 3504), both winners in their heats today, lead the fleet. Close behind is Tsz Yuet Cheung (HKG 24), who discards today's result but remains in contention thanks to her two previous wins.
"It was a very long day, we waited a lot ashore and then on the water. We moved area a couple of times and finished only one race, which went really well for me," said Naama Palatnik. "The start was tricky because the tide pushed me back, but I managed to pump and pass. By the first reach I was in front, and I gained even more on the downwind".
In the U17 Boys, it's an all-Dutch top three, with Peyton Dits (NED 241) continuing to dominate. He also won his heat in the race-in-progress. Finn Brull (NED 731) and Milo Zaal (NED 303) sit in second and third overall.
"I could win this race by just pumping, never stopping. That's the only secret: to keep the jersey, you need to be in front. With light wind, you have to pump and watch your surroundings at all times", said Dits after coming ashore.
In the U19 Women, Medea Falcioni (ITA 57) added another win to her scorecard and remains in the lead. Climbing to second is Yfke van der Meer (NED 252), thanks to a solid win of her own. Francesca Maria Salerno (ITA 9) rounds out the top three.
"My first race didn't start great, I was a bit late, but I managed to catch up with my speed and took the lead by the first mark," said van der Meer. "My setup? It's private of course," she added with a smile. "But I use what feels good. The 7.3 sail is super easy to trim - I love it".
With four days down and three more to go, the action in Brest remains wide open. Stay tuned!