OpenSkiff World Championship 2026 in Calasetta, Italy - Day 1
by Elena Giolai 27 Jul 10:04 PDT
25-31 July 2026
Three races, a northwesterly wind ranging from 14 to 17 knots, and waves that were never difficult, but simply great fun. The 2026 OpenSkiff World Championship got off to the best possible start in Calasetta, giving the 166 sailors from 13 nations long planing reaches and a spectacular setting, with the town in the background.
The World Championship, organised by the Italian Naval League, Sulcis Section, on behalf of the Italian Sailing Federation, together with the Italian and International OpenSkiff Classes, began on Sunday with the practice race. It provided an opportunity to become familiar with the venue and the racecourse, while also allowing the organisers to test the entire operation both ashore and on the water, involving the Race Committee, Jury, safety teams ashore and afloat, and mark-laying crews.
Later in the afternoon, the impressive opening ceremony took place, with the parade starting from the Savoy Tower, at the highest point of the town, overlooking Sottotorre beach, the historic centre and the harbour.
The teams then made their way through the streets of Calasetta to the stage set up in the event area, where the 13 participating nations were presented. Among them were Australia and New Zealand, two of the delegations travelling the furthest, together with India and Japan. Flags, excited runs towards the stage and big smiles allowed the organisers to achieve one of their main goals even before the racing began, seeing boys and girls happy to meet one another, represent their countries and share an international sailing experience.
This morning, before the first race starts, the Australian delegation exchanged club pennants with the Italian Naval League, Sulcis Section. It was a symbolic gesture linking Calasetta with the Keppel Bay Sailing Club in Yeppoon, Queensland, the club that had originally been due to host the 2026 World Championship in Australia. The event was later moved to Sardinia because of uncertainty surrounding the availability of the charter boats required to stage the competition.
The smiles became even wider once the first three races were completed. Seeing the entire fleet planing along the reaching leg, with Calasetta in the background, provided one of the most memorable images of the opening day.
In the Under 17 category, Ukraine's Sviatoslav Yasnolobov lived up to expectations. He has lived and trained in Italy with Club Nautico Rimini since the beginning of the conflict and is representing his country of origin in Calasetta. Yasnolobov leads the boys' standings after winning all three races, with a scoreline of 1, 1, 1. Behind him are Italy's Gianluca Pilia, representing Polisportiva Mare Quartu, with 2, 3, 3, and Lithuania's Garudis Radkevicius, with 4, 1, 6.
Among the girls, Italy's Aurora Milanese of Circolo Vela Arco leads with finishes of 1, 4, 2. She is followed by France's Clara Zunquin, with 2, 7, 1, and Italy's Bianca Paesani of Club Nautico Rimini, with 3, 5, 7.
In the Under 13 category, Raffaele Guadagno of Circolo Nautico Posillipo leads with finishes of 1, 2, 4. Three points behind is Hungary's Barnabas Karolyi Tertak, winner of the final two races. A further three points back in third place is Gabriele Lizzulli of Circolo Nautico e della Vela Argentario.
Hungary's Zsigmond Endre Tosoki lies fourth, two points behind Lizzulli, while Anna Ruggiero of Circolo Nautico Posillipo is fifth overall and the leading girl, with a comfortable advantage over Cecilia Parise, representing the host club, the Italian Naval League, Sulcis Section. Germany's Helena Mila Stevanovic is third among the girls.
In the Under 13 boys' fleet, several starting penalties are also worth noting, as the introduction of the discard could allow some of the affected sailors to move back up the standings. Sergio Pasini of Circolo Vela Arco recorded a DNF after finishes of 5 and 9. Poland's Filip Zbyrt also has a UFD, a starting disqualification, followed by finishes of 13 and 2, and could therefore become a contender once the discard comes into effect after the fourth race.
The 2026 OpenSkiff World Championship is supported by the Autonomous Region of Sardinia and the Municipality of Calasetta. Racing is scheduled to resume on Tuesday at 12:00, with the forecast again calling for sunshine and a Mistral wind between 10 and 15 knots.