Giannouli Rises on Home Waters

Stopchenko stretches her lead as unstable winds allow three races for the Women and Girls, while the Men and Boys stay ashore in Varkiza.

Danai Giannouli gave the Greek supporters something to celebrate on Day 5 of the 2026 iQFOiL Youth and Junior European Championships. On a difficult day of cloudy skies and shifting breeze, the local sailor broke into the provisional top three of the U19 Women’s fleet in Varkiza.

After yesterday’s racing in 20 knots and sunshine, conditions were completely different. The sailors waited ashore before being sent out, and the constantly shifting wind made racing a challenge. Both Women’s fleets first completed one Course Race. As the breeze faded, the U19 Women moved to Upwind Sprint and the U17 Girls to Downwind Slalom, and each fleet added one more Slalom race before the wind gave out, three races in total.

In the U19 Women, reigning World Champion Taisiia Stopchenko (RUS) won two more races and stretched her overall lead from seven points to 36. Julia Przybyl (POL) stays second, with Giannouli now third. Rüya Uğurlu (TUR) also claimed two race wins and sits sixth overall, just seven points behind Przybyl.

In the U17 Girls, reigning World Champion Parla Kabasakal (TUR) remains in control, and Ece Melis Baş (TUR) moved up to second. The Polish sailors in fourth to sixth pushed hard to challenge for the provisional podium, but a series of black flag disqualifications held them back.

The U19 Men and U17 Boys went out on the water but never got a start, so their standings are unchanged. Artun Şenol (TUR) leads the U19 Men, and František Burda (CZE) leads the U17 Boys, where the top three are separated by just one point.

Hosted by the Nautical Club of Vari-Varkiza, the championship has brought together 290 sailors from 31 nations. Friday’s final day of qualification will decide the top ten in each fleet who advance to the Medal Series, and the event concludes on 31 October.