European Sailors Dominate 2025 ILCA 4 Youth World Championships

The 2025 ILCA 4 Youth World Championships concluded off the Californian coast, showcasing exceptional talent from European sailors who swept all four gold medals available, securing nine out of twelve podium positions across both age divisions and genders. Over six days of competitive sailing, the event featured participants from over thirty nations, further emphasizing Europe’s preeminence in youth sailing development.

In the highly anticipated championships, Spanish sailor Blanca Ferrando Babe and Greek sailor Konstantinos Portosalte emerged victorious in the Girls’ and Boys’ fleets, respectively. Their performances were characterized by remarkable consistency and composure under pressure, culminating in their championship titles. Portosalte expressed his elation, stating, "I feel amazing. All the hard work from this year has paid off. I lost the European Championship in the last race, so I’m very happy to win the Worlds."

In the Under 16 category, Turkey's Derin Bartan and France's Nathan Wehrle also displayed commendable skill, with Bartan finishing third overall in the Girls' fleet and Wehrle securing fifth in the Boys' category. This impressive performance underscores the growing prominence of European youth sailors in the international sailing arena.

The dominance of European sailors was evident not only in the medal tally but also in overall standings, with European nations accounting for 30 of the 40 top-10 finishes in the four categories, representing a staggering 75% of the top spots. The strong showing included participants from Spain, Greece, Turkey, France, Italy, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Great Britain, Switzerland, and Croatia.

**Medal Summary**: - **Girls’ Fleet**: - **Gold**: Blanca Ferrando Babe (ESP) - 56 points - **Silver**: Isabella Suazo (PER) - 66 points - **Bronze**: Derin Bartan (TUR) - 79 points

- **Boys’ Fleet**: - **Gold**: Konstantinos Portosalte (GRE) - 46 points - **Silver**: Erik Scheidt (BRA) - 77 points - **Bronze**: Sadrihan Suer (TUR) - 83 points

- **Under 16 Girls’**: - **Gold**: Derin Bartan (TUR) - 79 points - **Silver**: Gabriela Mascarenhas (USA) - 162 points - **Bronze**: Monica Osha Perez (ESP) - 185 points

- **Under 16 Boys’**: - **Gold**: Nathan Wehrle (FRA) - 86 points - **Silver**: Nikko Palou (ESP) - 89 points - **Bronze**: Stefanos Samaras (GRE) - 92 points

The 2025 ILCA 4 Youth World Championships not only highlighted the prowess of European sailors but also set the stage for the upcoming 2025 ILCA 6 Youth World Championships, where many of these talented athletes will continue their pursuit of excellence on the water. The resounding success of this year's event reinforces the importance of youth sailing as a vital component of sport in Europe and beyond.