The line-up for the Medal Series at the 2026 iQFOiL Youth & Junior European Championships is now complete, following a decisive sixth day of racing in Varkiza, Greece. The final qualification races determined the top ten in all four fleets, with the leading sailors securing their places in Saturday’s Grand Finals.

Light and unstable winds delayed the start of racing in the morning, but conditions improved as the afternoon progressed. The strengthening breeze allowed the Race Committee to complete the scheduled Downwind Slalom races, bringing significant changes to several leaderboards and setting up the final battle for the European titles.

In the U19 Men’s fleet, Artun Şenol of Türkiye and Leon Jankowski of Poland secured the two direct places in the Grand Final. Şenol finished the qualification series at the top with 18 points, holding a narrow two-point advantage over Jankowski. Israel’s Kfir Nov took third place, followed by Canada’s Valentino Blewett, with both advancing directly to the Semi-Final.

The Netherlands also secured three places in the top ten, with Peyton Dits, Finn Brüll and Merlijn Boswijk all progressing to the Medal Series.

The U17 Boys’ fleet saw a dramatic change at the top. Enric Patiño Riutord of Spain moved into first place with 24 points, just one ahead of France’s Swann Manhaval. Both earned direct qualification for the Grand Final. František Burda of the Czech Republic, who had led the championship for much of the week, dropped to third with 26 points and will now enter the Semi-Final.

Latvia’s Viljams Preiss was among the biggest movers of the day, climbing six positions to finish fifth overall.

In the U19 Women’s fleet, reigning World Champion Taisiia Stopchenko delivered a commanding performance, winning three races on the final qualification day to finish first with 20 points. Home sailor Danai Giannouli secured second place with 58 points, earning the other direct Grand Final position.

Alba Klein of Israel and France’s Thea Le Borgne Zibetti finished third and fourth respectively, advancing to the Semi-Final. Türkiye’s Rüya Uğurlu completed the top five and will begin the Medal Series in the Quarter-Final.

The U17 Girls’ fleet produced another strong performance from reigning World Champion Parla Kabasakal, who won all four races completed on Thursday. Kabasakal finished the qualification series with 14 points, securing first place and a direct Grand Final berth.

Her compatriot Ece Melis Baş also qualified directly for the Grand Final after finishing second with 38 points. Nisa Üstündağ placed third with 48 points, just one point ahead of Poland’s Maria Miarczyńska.

Greece’s Iliana Panagi, competing in the U15 category, finished ninth overall after recording two second-place finishes and a race victory.

Saturday’s Medal Series will determine the European champions through a progressive elimination format. Sailors ranked fifth to tenth will start in the Quarter-Finals, with the two qualifiers joining the third- and fourth-placed sailors in the Semi-Finals. The two sailors progressing from the Semi-Finals will then face the top two from the qualification series in the Grand Final.

With the qualification stage complete, attention now turns to the final races in Varkiza, where the four European titles will be decided.