With the sun shining over the historic hillsides of the cities of Porto, Matosinhos and Vila Nova de Gaia and the Douro sparkling under a blue sky, the quiet morning quickly gave way to an electrifying afternoon of racing at the highest level.
Both race courses were active, with Course A – Porto / Matosinhos providing a privileged view for spectators, who lined up along the harbor wall to watch the exciting races against the stunning backdrop of the city of Porto.
The start was challenging, with the fleets facing the Atlantic swell and a light breeze, and finding it difficult to hold the start line. Several general recalls and disqualifications for early starts (BFD) piled up until, finally, the long-awaited sea breeze came in at around 13:30. From then on, the conditions progressively improved – each race with more wind than the last – giving the 29er fleet exactly what they were hoping for. All four fleets – Yellow, Blue, Red and Green – completed four races each in almost perfect conditions, albeit challenging for some of the lighter teams on the downwind legs.
Hungary Maintains Leadership
The Hungarian duo of Soma Kis-Szölgyémi and András Juhász continue to dominate the overall standings, holding on to first place after an excellent performance in the Yellow fleet with the results 3-2-1-4. Their second race was marked by an exciting duel with France’s Jocelyn Le Goff and Jules Vidor, who overtook them on the last downwind leg because they had more speed and executed impeccable maneuvers. Back on land, the sporting spirit shone through, with both teams reviewing the drone footage together – laughing, learning and celebrating the true spirit of sailing.
French duo Le Goff and Vidor are now in 3rd place overall, climbing positions with consistency and speed.
Also outstanding in the Yellow fleet were Swedes Selma Hård and Lukas Wolfgang, who finished third in three of the four races. “We were a bit lucky,” they confessed modestly, but after a port start, they showed the fleet who was boss. This is the duo’s last regatta together before they move on to the 49er and 49erFX Olympic classes – so they’re savoring every moment.
Shine of the Blue Fleet with Norway
Norwegians Nicklas Holt and Philip Forslund shone in the Blue fleet with a powerful performance: 2-2-1-1. They narrowly failed to win every race of the day and showed some frustration at this, but their performance was solid and they now sit in 2nd place overall – clearly in the fight for the title.
Red Fleet: Italian Consistency
Italian duo Giuseppe Montesano and Enrico Coslovich have shown a real lesson in consistency, dominating the Red fleet with top 3 finishes in every race so far. Their only slip-up of the day was a 5th place in Race 4, which will be discarded – proof of their solidity in competition.
Green Fleet: Mixed Teams and Young People in the Spotlight
In the Green fleet, Olivia Riesgo and Martin Díaz Tamayo, from Argentina, won Race 2 and lead the mixed team standings, occupying 7th place overall – the only non-European team in the top 10.
At the head of the women’s teams are Italians Bianca Marchesini and Lucia Finato, who not only lead the all-female teams but also the under-17s, occupying 14th place overall – a young and promising duo to watch out for.
Fernando Gomes on day 3 of the World Sailing Championships, 29er class Porto 2025
The President of the Portuguese Olympic Committee met with the Portuguese coaches leading the international teams present at the event.
Fernando Gomes followed the sailors’ preparations for the third day of qualifying races and spoke to the three Portuguese coaches who guide the crews from Hungary, Austria, Finland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
The President of the Olympic Committee recognized the leadership capacity of national coaches and the country’s sense of opportunity in organizing internationally renowned events. “Portugal has an innate ability to welcome visitors and the extraordinary conditions for organizing events of this scale are remarkable. We are internationally recognized for these capabilities.”
Regatta dinner with Olympic sailors Carolina João and Diogo Costa
Despite a demanding day at sea, there was still room for celebration and sharing at the traditional regatta dinner. Quinta do Fojo was the stage for the meeting between sailors, coaches and the organization, in a relaxed atmosphere with the special presence of Portuguese Olympic athletes Carolina João and Diogo Costa. The highlight of the evening was led by Diogo Barros, CEO of BBDouro Nautical Experiences, who opened the event with an informal and inspiring talk in which Carolina and Diogo shared stories of their sailing career, from their first steps to the transition to professional sailing, revealing the behind-the-scenes that are rarely seen. In addition to their personal experiences, they gave valuable advice on teamwork and overcoming challenges – on and off the water – leaving a strong inspiration for the young sailors present.
What's Next: Series Finale Starts Tomorrow
With the Qualifying Series completed, everything is ready for the Final Series. The top 50 boats advance to the Gold Fleet, while the rest of the fleet will be divided into the Silver, Bronze and Emerald fleets for the rest of the championship.
After two days of light winds and no racing on the second day, today’s classic sea breeze in Porto gave the fleet the test it needed – and they delivered. With the championship on the line and the leaderboard tighter than ever, all eyes are now on the Gold Fleet as the fight for the world title heats up.
