Tamar Steinberg (ISR) and Luuc van Opzeeland (NED) are the 2026 iQFOiL World Champions, claiming the sport’s biggest titles after a fast and decisive Medal Series on the final day of racing in Weymouth and Portland.

Grey skies, a strong breeze and classic Weymouth conditions greeted the top ten men and women for the championship finale. Racing started exactly on schedule at 12:00, with the Quarter Finals opening a Medal Series in which every race carried the possibility of advancement – or elimination.

In the Women’s Quarter Final, Sara Wennekes (NED) took the win ahead of Daniela Peleg (ISR), earning both sailors a place in the Semi Final. They joined Medea Falcioni (ITA), Stella Bilger (AUS) and Veerle ten Have (NZL), who had qualified directly for the next stage thanks to their positions in the Qualification Series.

The Women’s Semi Final ran smoothly, with Stella Bilger and Daniela Peleg securing the two available places in the Grand Final. Waiting for them were the top two from qualification, Tamar Steinberg and Sharon Kantor (ISR), both carrying one match point into the fight for the World title.

For Steinberg, only one race was needed. The Israeli had controlled the championship from the opening day, when she began with four consecutive wins, and entered the Grand Final with one match point as winner of the Qualification Series. Kantor had a great start and lead at the first mark, Steinberg didn’t let go and pumped and tried her hardest to finally overtake her to win the first Final race to reach the required two match points immediately and become the 2026 iQFOiL Women’s World Champion. Kantor takes the silver medal, while Bilger completes the World Championship podium with bronze.

The Men’s Medal Series produced more drama. Tom Reuveny (ISR) won the Quarter Final, with Federico Alan Pilloni (ITA) taking the second qualifying position into the Semi Final, where they joined Johan Søe (DEN), Nicolas Goyard (FRA) and Kiran Badloe (NED).

The first attempt at the Men’s Semi Final had to be re-sailed following an error in the starting procedure, adding another twist to the battle for the two Grand Final places. In the re-sail, Nicolas Goyard and Johan Søe came through to advance, while Reuveny, Badloe and Pilloni saw their challenge end at the Semi Final stage.

They joined Qualification Series winner Noah Lyons (USA) and runner-up Luuc van Opzeeland in the Grand Final. Both Lyons and Van Opzeeland entered with one match point, meaning either could secure the World Championship with a victory in the opening race.

Van Opzeeland seized the opportunity. The Dutchman won the first Grand Final race and, with it, reached two match points to claim the 2026 iQFOiL Men’s World Championship. Lyons takes silver after an impressive week in which he led the standings through the closing stages of qualification, while Søe claims the bronze medal in the last reach overtaking Goyard in the very last few meters, for an incredible closure of the Championship.

For both champions, the Weymouth victory completes an extraordinary European and World Championship double in 2026. Steinberg and Van Opzeeland arrived in Great Britain as the reigning European Champions after their victories in Portimão and leave Weymouth at the very top of the iQFOiL world.

FINAL PODIUMS

WOMEN

Tamar Steinberg (ISR)
Sharon Kantor (ISR)
Stella Bilger (AUS)

MEN

Luuc van Opzeeland (NED)
Noah Lyons (USA)
Johan Søe (DEN)

The Medal Series brought to a close six demanding days of competition at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, where 186 athletes from 41 nations faced virtually the full spectrum of iQFOiL racing conditions. From light and unstable winds to strong westerlies and challenging chop, the championship tested speed, tactical ability, consistency and versatility across Upwind Sprint, Sprint Slalom and Course Racing before the titles were decided in Saturday’s Finals.

And after a week in which both champions had repeatedly demonstrated those qualities, it was Tamar Steinberg and Luuc van Opzeeland who delivered one final race win when it mattered most, leaving Weymouth as the 2026 iQFOiL World Champions.