June 24, 2026 – Middelfart, Denmark: As the clock passed 19:30, sailors returned to shore after nearly 10 hours on the water amidst a Danish heatwave. Both Morgan Pinckney from the USA and Daniel Kemp from Australia showcased their skills, each leading their semi-final matches 2-0.
The challenging conditions took a toll on many competitors, who sought respite in the water and shade during breaks. Despite the heat, Pinckney’s team displayed impressive tactics, overcoming initial struggles in the pre-start area against the British team, ultimately winning 3-0 in their quarter-final match.
“We were fatigued after several warm days but learned from our mistakes. The current took time to understand, and the limited space made things tricky. However, we managed to put it together against the British team,” said Pinckney after his victory over Jamie Tylecote from Great Britain.
Pinckney then faced French skipper Marin Micoulot in the semi-finals, continuing his strong performance with two wins before racing was concluded for the day. “Despite the fatigue, we were able to sail quickly and recover from our earlier mistakes. We’re excited to race again tomorrow,” he added.
Meanwhile, Kemp also excelled, winning 3-0 against Victor Melchior before facing Mathias Rossing in the semi-finals. “The breeze was fluky this morning, so we were pleased to secure our first win against Victor. After a break, we returned to face Rossing, and both races were very close, giving us a 2-0 lead,” Kemp commented on his performance.
The final day of racing at the Youth Match Racing Worlds 2026 will take place tomorrow, with the new champion set to be crowned in Middelfart. Weather forecasts predict similar conditions as previous days, with light winds and plenty of sunshine expected.
As the event progresses, updates will be provided through various channels, including official results, photos, and videos available online. The Youth Match Racing Worlds is organised in cooperation with several partners, including GoSail and the Danish Sailing Federation, showcasing the best of match racing talent from the youth sailing community.
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.
Skippers include Theo Westerlind (SWE), Daniel Kemp (AUS), Philip Forslund (NOR), Marin Micoulot (FRA), Morgan Pinckney (USA), Konosuke Miura (JPN), Mathias Rossing (DEN), Victor Melchior (DEN), Jamie Tylecote (GBR), and Ethan Fong (NZL).
@gosaildk #YouthMatchRacing
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 and Kemp (AUS) on course for finals at Youth Match Racing Worlds){kind=link}