The 2026 ILCA 4 Youth European Championships & Open European Trophy will take place from 11–18 April 2026 at the High Performance Centre (CAR Región de Murcia) in Los Alcázares, Spain, with racing held on the waters of the Mar Menor. The event is co-organised by EurILCA and the Federación de Vela Región de Murcia, bringing together Europe’s most promising young sailors for one of the most anticipated competitions on the youth sailing calendar.
This year’s championship is set to be the second-largest edition in history, with an impressive fleet of 438 sailors registered. Only the 2025 edition, held in Puck, Poland, surpassed this figure with 470 participants, highlighting the continued growth and popularity of the ILCA 4 class across Europe and beyond.
A World-Class Venue
Los Alcázares, located on the shores of the Mar Menor, offers ideal conditions for youth sailing. Known for its flat waters and consistent spring winds, the venue provides a fair and technically demanding racecourse that rewards tactical awareness and boat handling skills. The CAR Región de Murcia has become a reference point for elite sailing training and competition, making it a fitting host for a championship of this calibre.
Strong International Fleet
The 2026 edition will feature a highly competitive international fleet, with top sailors arriving from across Europe and overseas. Many competitors will be looking to build on their performances from the 2025 ILCA 4 Youth World Championships in California, USA, and the 2025 ILCA 4 Youth European Championships in Puck, Poland.
Girls Fleet – Sailors to Watch
The girls’ fleet will showcase some of the strongest young talents in the class, led by Spain’s own Blanca Ferrando Babe, the reigning ILCA 4 Youth World Champion and bronze medalist at the last European Championships.
Other key contenders include:
- Derin Degisen TUR – runner-up at the 2025 Europeans and fourth at the Worlds
- Elene Alchanati GRE – fifth at the 2025 Worlds
- Adele Ramm-Ericson SWE – seventh at the Worlds
- Monica Osha Perez ESP – third in the Under-16 category at the Worlds
- Sofia Berteotti ITA – fifth Under-16 at the Worlds
- Capucine Deltel FRA – sixth at the 2025 Europeans
With such depth of talent, the girls’ competition promises intense and closely fought racing throughout the week.
Boys Fleet – Sailors to Watch
The boys’ fleet will be equally competitive, featuring several rising stars who have already made their mark on the international stage:
- Stefanos Samaras GRE – seventh at the Worlds and fifth Under-16 at the Europeans
- Tiago Cheng de Villemor Salgado HKG – sixth Under-16 at the Worlds
- Leo Gosling SUI – seventh Under-16 at the Worlds and third Under-16 at the Europeans
- Arel Hangul TUR – ninth Under-16 at the Worlds
These sailors represent the next generation of elite competitors, and their performances in Murcia could signal future success at higher levels of the sport.
Building on Momentum
Following record participation in recent years, the ILCA 4 Youth European Championships continues to grow as a cornerstone event for youth sailing development. The 2026 edition in Murcia not only reinforces Spain’s strong position in international sailing but also provides a crucial platform for young athletes to gain experience at a high level of competition.
With excellent sailing conditions, a record-breaking fleet, and a lineup of top talent, the 2026 ILCA 4 Youth European Championships promises to deliver a week of exciting and high-quality racing on the Mar Menor.
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, official documents, and the full entry list, please visit the event website: 2026-ilca4youth.eurilca-europeans.org
Keep smiling, keep sailing!
The EurILCA Team
Report by Agustín Argüelles – EurILCA | Photos by Robert Hajduk – 2025 edition.
