Dinghy racing
ILCA U21 Europeans in Bodrum: 191 Sailors, Day 1 Leaders
Published · Last checked October 2026
191 young sailors are racing the ILCA U21 European Championships and Open European Trophy in Bodrum, Türkiye, from 11 to 16 October 2026. After a slow first day, Spain's Karol Krupski Teterycz leads ILCA 7 and Italy's Maria Vittoria Arseni leads ILCA 6.
Day 1
The first starts at 13:30 were abandoned in patchy 8-knot wind. After about 90 minutes' wait the breeze settled at 7 to 11 knots, and every fleet completed a race. A second race started around 17:00 in about 10 knots.
| Fleet | Leader | Chasing |
|---|---|---|
| ILCA 7 | Karol Krupski Teterycz (ESP), 7 pts | Andreas Pedersen (DEN) and Semen Kashchyna (UKR), 12 pts |
| ILCA 6 | Maria Vittoria Arseni (ITA), 5 pts | Katrina Micallef (MLT) and Hannah Rogowska (POL), 10 pts |
Why the ILCA matters
The ILCA (formerly the Laser) is one of the world's most-sailed racing dinghies and the Olympic single-handed boat. Under-21 championships like this are a key step for sailors aiming at LA 2028 and beyond. Racing continues daily to 16 October; we'll follow the results.
What is the ILCA dinghy?
The ILCA dinghy, originally the Laser, was designed by Bruce Kirby in 1970 and has become one of the most popular racing dinghies ever, with more than 200,000 built. It's a strict one-design: every boat is identical, so results come down to the sailor. The class was renamed ILCA (International Laser Class Association) after a trademark dispute, and its rigs are now the ILCA 4, ILCA 6 and ILCA 7.
| Rig | Formerly | Typical sailors |
|---|---|---|
| ILCA 4 | Laser 4.7 | Younger and lighter juniors |
| ILCA 6 | Laser Radial | Women's Olympic class; lighter men and youths |
| ILCA 7 | Laser Standard | Men's Olympic class |
Bodrum: a sailing capital
Bodrum, on Türkiye's Aegean coast, is a major yachting centre famous for its traditional wooden gulets, busy marinas and reliable afternoon breezes. It regularly hosts international dinghy championships.
Light wind racing skills
Day 1's patchy 7 to 11 knot breeze rewards sailors who read gusts on the water, keep the boat flat and trim with tiny adjustments. Our guides on apparent wind, telltales and what luffing means cover the basics.