The 2026 ILCA 4 Youth European Championships & Open European Trophy kicked off today in Los Alcázares, Spain, with the first two races held on the Mar Menor. Excellent sailing conditions marked the day, with winds ranging from 16 to 22 knots and a small, choppy wave, providing both excitement and a demanding challenge for the competitors.
A total of 258 boys and 169 girls, representing 42 countries –37 of them European– are taking part in the competition, making this the second-largest edition of the ILCA 4 Youth Europeans in history.
In the girls’ fleet, 2025 European runner-up and fourth-place finisher at the World Championships, Derin Degisen TUR, took the lead after scoring two race wins today. Just one point behind is Elene Alchanati GRE, who placed fifth at the 2025 Worlds. The provisional podium is completed by the reigning ILCA 4 Youth World Champion and bronze medalist at the last European Championships, Blanca Ferrando Babe ESP.
The Girls’ Under-16 championship is led by Eleni Triantou GRE, currently 13th overall. She is followed by Melissa Falica ITA and Antonina Chomont POL, who stand in 18th and 24th place overall, respectively.
In the boys’ fleet, the top six sailors are separated by just two points. Switzerland’s Leo Gosling SUI—seventh in the Under-16 category at the Worlds and third at the Europeans—and Turkey’s Arel Hangul TUR—ninth Under-16 at the Worlds—are tied for the lead with perfect scores. Just one point behind are Spain’s David Sales ESP and Fernando Echavarri Castanedo ESP, both with three points.
Arel Hangul TUR also leads the Under-16 standings, followed by Alfonso Murube Cid ESP and Konstantinos Karakasidis GRE, who are 13th and 16th overall, respectively.
The event is kindly sponsored by CSD, RFEV, FVRM, Gobierno Regional, Ayuntamiento Los Alcázares, Autoridad Portuaria, Ingenio, Devoti, Meseguer, Gesa, CAR Region de Murcia, Punto Sur, Club Náutico Mar Menor, Siente el Mar Menor, Estación Náutica, Estrella, Veolia, ILCA Spain, and ETF.
For more information, please visit the event website: 2026-ilca4youth.eurilca-europeans.org
Keep smiling, keep sailing!
The EurILCA Team
Report by Agustín Argüelles – Photos by Thom Touw / EurILCA.
