After a slow start, the breeze arrived in Bodrum on day 3 of the 2026 ILCA Under-21 European Championships & Open European Trophy, and all fleets completed two races. That brings the total to four races for every fleet, which also completes the qualifying series for the men.
Racing was scheduled to start at 12:00, and the sailors were sent out on time at 11:00. However, unstable wind of around 5 knots led to the AP flag being displayed on the water for about an hour. The breeze picked up at around 13:00, and the women’s fleet started first, followed by the men’s yellow and red groups. In winds of 7 to 11 knots, all fleets completed a first race.
A second race was then started for all fleets, and the women managed to complete it straight away, with winds varying from 8 to 14 knots. A big wind shift on the first leg of the men’s yellow fleet led to the race being abandoned and restarted. The men’s second set of races started at 16:00.
While the women were waiting to start a third race, the Race Committee displayed the AP over Alpha flags and sent them back to shore.
The women arrived at around 16:30, with the men following at 17:30. Pasta was waiting for them at the club to recover after a long day.
In the provisional results, Ginevra Caracciolo ITA leads the ILCA 6 with 8 points, ahead of Katrina Micallef MLT on 12 points and Mirja Dohle GER on 15. In the ILCA 7, Marios Stathas GRE leads with 11 points, followed by Kutsal Güneş Kurnaz TUR and Karol Krupski Teterycz ESP, both on 13 points. Kurnaz also tops the ILCA 7 Under-19 ranking, ahead of Alessandro Cirinei ITA on 16 points and Sergio García ESP on 17.
Caracciolo summed up a long day on the water. “A lot of hours spent on the water today, but we completed two races in great conditions, around 8 to 14 knots,” she said. “I think the key today was to keep the boat as fast as possible. The plan is to keep the focus and have fun as always.”
Kurnaz had a day of contrasts. “My first race was a second, which was really good, and I like the wind conditions,” he said. “The second race was not really good, but the positions were changing and I finished eighth. Today was a good day for me.”
Provisional results – ILCA 6
- Ginevra Caracciolo ITA 8 pt
- Katrina Micallef MLT 12 pt
- Mirja Dohle GER 15 pt
Provisional results – ILCA 7
- Marios Stathas GRE 11 pt
- Kutsal Gunes Kurnaz TUR 13 pt
- Karol Krupski Teterycz ESP 13 pt
Provisional results – ILCA 7 Under-19
- Kutsal Gunes Kurnaz TUR 13 pt
- Alessandro Cirinei ITA 16 pt
- Sergio García ESP 17 pt
The final series starts tomorrow for the men, who will split into Gold and Silver fleets. The women will continue as a single fleet, as their championship is not run in a qualifying and final format.
For further information about the event and how to follow the racing, please visit the official event website.
The event is supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Türkiye, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye, the Governorship of Muğla, the District Governorship of Bodrum, AFAD, Muğla Metropolitan Municipality and Bodrum Municipality. The championship’s sponsors are Istanbul Marin Marine Fuels, Sport Works, Lapina Yachting, Parkım Ayaz Hotel, Bodrum Ada Yachting, Süperpar, Malipa Meşrubat and Galeri Binyıl.
Report by Agustín Argüelles – EurILCA | Photos by Gokay Peksev – Turkish Sailing Federation.