The 2026 U21 World Championships delivered exactly what sailors expect from Lanzarote in January: breeze, waves, and no shortage of physical racing. Known for its strong, reliable winds, the island lived up to its reputation from day one.
The opening races were sailed in a punchy 20-25 knots, and although the middle of the week brought slightly more moderate but very shifty conditions, the breeze remained consistently strong right through to the final day.
A total of 147 sailors travelled to Playa Blanca for the championship — 95 men and 52 women — making it one of the most competitive youth ILCA events of the season. Team GBR fielded 12 sailors (nine men and three women), all aged between 17 and 20.
The level of competition was exceptionally high, particularly from the Italian and Spanish squads, whose depth and physicality proved decisive in the heavy-air conditions. Bigger, more powerful sailors thrived, and the week rewarded those able to stay fully hiked and fast in the relentless breeze.
For the British men, Hamish Collingridge and Alfie Noel excelled in the stronger winds, both earning places in the Gold Fleet. Leo Yates, competing as an U19 sailor, narrowly missed the Gold cut by just two places, leading the remainder of the GBR men in Silver Fleet.
The women's ILCA 6 fleet raced as a single group throughout the week. Poppy Luxton showed impressive pace in the breeze, consistently punching forward in the heavy conditions. However, the intensity of the fleet led to multiple general recalls, and all three GBR women having to carry BFDs, adding an extra challenge to their overall scores.
Final GBR Results - ILCA 7:
27 Hamish Collingridge
36 Alfie Noel
52 Leo Yates (U19)
57 Sam Grayton
60 Robbie Phipps
62 Joe Rowe
69 Hugh Andrews
72 Nathan Russell
93 Julian Rowhart
Final GBR Results - ILCA 6 - Female:
18 Poppy Luxton
39 Megan Thompson
43 Flo Tovey (U19)
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