Congratulations to Daniel Kemp and his team Isabella Holdsworth, Louis Tilly, Hayley Fisher and Lachlan Wallace from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club on a great regatta..
Team USA has clinched victory at the Youth Match Racing Worlds after a thrilling final that was decided in the final 200 metres of the last race. The team, comprising Morgan Pinckney, Kelly Holthus, Cam Spriggs, Jacob Posner, and Alice Schmid, triumphed in Middelfart, Denmark.
The championship, which took place amidst a heatwave, concluded with all 104 races completed despite challenging light and shifting winds throughout the week. The event saw 12 teams from 11 nations competing at the highest levels of skill and endurance.
After a five-boat tie in the round-robin stage, Team USA advanced through the semifinals, overcoming a formidable French team before facing Australian skipper Daniel Kemp in the finals.
The final series was tightly contested, with the outcome uncertain until the last race. Morgan Pinckney commented on the intense competition, saying, “Even though we got the start right, and the umpires gave Daniel (Kemp, AUS) a penalty, I got a little nervous on the first beat, and he reeled us back in. He got ahead and killed his penalty, then we got ahead just before the last windward mark and managed to stay in the lead until the finish thanks to great crew work.”
Daniel Kemp, who finished in second place, reflected on the close race, stating, “Morgan gave us a penalty in the pre-start, but we managed to fight our way back. Even though we managed to do our penalty while we were ahead, Morgan and his team fought their way back. So, right now the result stings a little but I am sure that we will be happy about the result in a couple of weeks.”
Meanwhile, Danish skipper Mathias Rossing secured the bronze medal, expressing satisfaction with the outcome despite the challenges faced during the races.
The Youth Match Racing Worlds is a crucial event for emerging sailing talent, providing a platform for young sailors to showcase their skills. The event has also been a highlight for the region, with local officials and sponsors noting the importance of such international competitions for the development of sailing in Denmark.
As part of the event, local leaders have praised the newly renovated marina in Middelfart for providing a vibrant environment for spectators and participants alike, enhancing the overall experience of the championship.
Results:
1. USA: Morgan Pinckney, Kelly Holthus, Cam Spriggs, Jacob Posner, Alice Schmid
2. AUS: Daniel Kemp, Isabella Holdsworth, Louis Tilly, Hayley Fisher, Lachlan Wallace
3. DEN: Mathias Rossing, Hanna Gaskell-Brown, Emil Wolfgang, Oliver Lloyd
4. FRA: Marin Micoulot, Camille Pfaff, Aristide Delin, Blanche Le Goff, Armel Le Carrer
5. NZL: Ethan Fong, Lucas Day, Hugo McMullen, Harry McMullen, Amelia Angus
6. GBR: Jamie Tylecote, Terry Hacker, Issy Leetch, Freya Pembery, Sam Osborne
7. DEN: Victor Melchior, Clara Bjørn, Mikkel Krogh, Simon Kaiser, Markus Graffe
8. SWE: Theo Westerlind, Charlie Allen, Will Platten, Marina Dryer, Robbie Upton
9. IRL: Daniel Copithorne, Matt Mapplebeck, Ciara McMahon, Jacob Collins, Dónal Walsh
10. SVK: Christopher Oben, Bryce Musto, Ricard Garriga, Camilla Svensson
11. JPN: Hiyori Sato, Haruki Furukawa, Kentaro Fujinami, Kiri Nakano, Hiroki Yamamoto
12. NOR: Philip Forslund, Emil Forslund, Eskil Ova, Sarah Skirstad Pollen, Julia Herje
Event Information
If you’d like to follow the event, here are some useful links:
Event website: https://gosail.dk/youth-match-racing-worlds-2026/
Results: https://www.matchracingresults.com/2026/youth-world-championship/
Official photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gosailworlds2023/albums
Official videos: https://www.youtube.com/@gosail2017/videos
Social media: https://www.facebook.com/gosaildk
Event facts
- Youth Match Racing Worlds 2026 – powered by Bunker One takes place from 21–25 June 2026 in Middelfart, Denmark.
- The event is organised by GoSail in cooperation with Middelfart Sailing Club and other partners.
- Racing takes place directly off the newly renovated Middelfart Marina.
- The marina provides one of the best spectator venues in international match racing.
- Match racing is a sailing discipline where two boats compete head-to-head in tactical duels.
- Denmark has a proud tradition in match racing, highlighted by Jesper Bank’s Olympic gold medal in Sydney in 2000.
@gosaildk #YouthMatchRacing #rpayc
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