OpenSkiff World Championship 2026 in Calasetta, Italy - Day 4
by Elena Giolai 30 Jul 10:46 PDT
25-31 July 2026
In the Under 17 division, Ukraine's Yasnolobov moves closer to the boys' title, while Italy's Milanese leads the girls. In the Under 13 fleet, Hungary's Karolyi Tertak tops the boys' standings and Poland's Kowalik takes the provisional girls' lead.
The 2026 OpenSkiff World Championship will enter its final day on Friday, 31 July, with twelve of the fifteen scheduled races completed.
Organised by Lega Navale Italiana Sezione Sulcis in the waters off Calasetta, Sardinia, the championship has so far delivered varied and ideal conditions, giving sailors with different physical and technical characteristics the opportunity to perform. Three more races were completed on the penultimate day, this time in lighter winds. The change in conditions favoured some competitors while making the pursuit of the podium more difficult for others, producing the most significant movement in the Under 13 standings.
Strong coordination between the organisers, mark-laying team, the Italian Sailing Federation race committee chaired by Alessandro De Felice and the international jury has supported the smooth running of the event. The jury has closely monitored racing on the water while remaining available ashore to clarify rules and decisions for the young competitors.
Under 13
Hungary's Barnabas Karolyi Tertak continues to lead the Under 13 boys' division. With scores of 6, 6 and 1, he increased his tally to six race victories and retains a 28-point advantage over fellow Hungarian Zsigmond Endre Tosoky, who recorded a first, a third and a fifth. Italy's Gianmaria Iannuzzi produced the standout performance of the day in the lighter breeze.
After finishing second in Wednesday's final race as the wind began to ease, he added scores of 2, 1 and 2 to climb into third overall, 18 points behind Tosoky. Iannuzzi holds a nine-point advantage over Hungary's Miklos Karolyi Tertak, the leader's brother. Australia's Owen Harris is fifth, only four points behind Miklos Karolyi Tertak. Italy's Gabriele Lizzulli slipped to sixth after finishing 24th, 17th and 15th.
The provisional lead has also changed in the Under 13 girls' standings, with protests still under consideration. Poland's Roza Kowalik moves into first place, 21 points ahead of Italy's Anna Ruggiero, who completed a difficult day with scores of 32, 13 and 17. Japan's Haru Kuwata is third, only two points behind Ruggiero. Italy's Cecilia Parise remains fourth in the girls' ranking, 19 points away from the podium.
Under 17
In the Under 17 Gold Fleet, the boys' title appears to be heading towards Ukraine's Sviatoslav Yasnolobov. The leader has recorded eleven victories and one second place from twelve races, building a 29-point advantage over his nearest rival. Italy's Fabio Serra has moved into second place after maintaining his consistent form. Scores of 3, 5 and 5 allowed him to overtake his closest opponents and enter the final day firmly in a medal position.
Italy's Aurora Milanese remains the leader of the girls' standings and sits third overall. With two costly results already absorbed by her discards, Milanese stayed focused and added scores of 4, 13 and 4. Italy's Gianluca Pilia is third in the boys' ranking, eight points behind Serra.
Among the girls, Milanese holds a 33-point advantage over France's Clara Zunquin, who is an impressive fifth overall. Poland's Paulina Szczepa occupies third place in the girls' standings, while Italy's Elena Telisca remains in medal contention despite a more difficult day with scores of 16, 29 and 37. She is now 16 points away from the podium.
The final day will therefore begin with medal battles still open across all four divisions. Serra and Milanese hold provisional podium positions in the Under 17 fleet, while Iannuzzi and Ruggiero remain in the medal places in the Under 13 standings. Sailors, coaches and families will gather for the official dinner this evening before the conclusion of a championship that has confirmed Calasetta as a versatile racecourse, well suited to the young OpenSkiff fleet.
Weather permitting, the organisers will aim to complete the remaining three races on Friday and conclude the full fifteen-race programme.
The 2026 OpenSkiff World Championship is organised by Lega Navale Italiana Sezione Sulcis, under the authority of the Italian Sailing Federation, in cooperation with the Italian OpenSkiff Class and the International Open Skiff Class Association, with the support of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia and the Municipality of Calasetta.