Spain has recorded 48 top-ten finishes and 21 international medals in sailing’s development classes in 2026. A study by the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation (RFEV) places the country second for the second consecutive year by the number of top-ten results at World and European championships, behind Italy and ahead of Greece.

Of those 48 finishes, 24 came at World Championships, giving Spain its best tally in four years. The report will be presented at the RFEV’s Ordinary General Assembly on 21 November 2026 in Barcelona. It examines international results alongside participation at regional and national level.

The federation credits the clubs’ training work and the regional federations’ performance development programmes. The study also examines Italy’s sporting model to identify good practices, particularly for classes with lower participation and weaker international results.

21 medals across six classes

Optimist: five medals

At the Worlds, Spain took team gold and girls’ bronze through Mara Peñalver (CM Mar Menor). At the Europeans, Lluc Bestard (RCN Palma) won girls’ gold and Lucas Garrido (CN Arenys de Mar) took boys’ bronze. RCN Palma also claimed the Optimist European Team Racing title.

Spain’s Optimist team celebrates its medals at the Worlds in Tangier in June 2026.
Spain’s Optimist team celebrates its medals at the Worlds in Tangier in June 2026. © Matías Capizzano

420: five medals

Elena López and Giulia Sandri (CN El Balís) earned World bronze and European silver in the under-17 female category. Beatriz Quintana and Savina Vicens (CN Cala Gamba) won female World bronze. At the Europeans, Amalia Coll (CN Arenal) and Laia Mattos (CM San Antonio de Playa) took female silver, while Asier Jáudenes (CN Arenal) and Juan Benítez (RCN Port Pollença) won male bronze.

Spanish sailors and coaches at the 420 Junior Europeans in Lithuania in summer 2026.
Spanish sailors and coaches at the 420 Junior Europeans in Lithuania in summer 2026. © RFEV

Techno 293: five medals

Joshua Castro (CM San Antonio de la Playa) won under-15 gold at both the Worlds and Europeans. Cristina Iglesias (RCN Gran Canaria) claimed female World gold and European bronze, while Marcos Dasilva (RCN Rodeira) added under-15 World bronze.

ILCA 4, ILCA 6 and iQFOiL

  • ILCA 4, three medals: under-16 World gold for Xuacu García (RCN Palma) and silver for Ángel Peñalver (CN Mar Menor), plus female European gold for Marta Ferrando (RCN Valencia).
  • ILCA 6, two medals: Nikko Palou (RCN Palma) earned under-19 silver and under-17 gold at the Worlds.
  • iQFOiL, one medal: Enric Patiño (CN Arenal) became under-17 European champion.

The challenge of growing participation

International success contrasts with falling participation in national development-class competitions. The 2026 national rankings include 712 sailors, 48 fewer than in 2025, from 126 clubs, a decrease of four.

Trends differ between classes: ILCA 7 and 29er are growing, while the largest declines are in ILCA 6, Techno 293 and under-17 iQFOiL. The report calls on regional federations to analyse activity at their clubs, identify improvements and help sailors stay in the sport.

Total federation licences have reversed the decline seen in 2025, rising 1.52% to 18,300, with the Valencian Community, Catalonia and Andalusia leading the way. However, licences for children and young people continue to show a downward trend compared with 2022.

The RFEV has already carried out a dedicated study and launched initiatives to improve recruitment and retention among young sailors. The findings point to two complementary priorities: maintaining international competitiveness and expanding the participation base that underpins sailing’s future.

For more information, visit the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation’s official website.

Cover: Optimists at the 73rd Trofeo Ciutat de Palma. © Laura G. Guerra | Real Club Náutico de Palma