The 2026 Optimist World Championship came to a spectacular close on Saturday evening at Tangier Marina, bringing to an end a historic edition of the world’s premier youth sailing competition. The event gathered the most promising young sailors from across the globe in an atmosphere defined by sportsmanship, friendship, and international unity.
The closing ceremony was attended by prominent international sports officials, including World Sailing President Quanhai Li and International Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA) President Ricardo Navarro, alongside Moroccan officials and representatives of the Ministry of National Education, Preschool and Sports.
The Royal Yacht Club of Tangier hosted the official awards ceremony, where trophies and medals were presented to the world champions following an intense week of competition on the waters of Tangier Bay.
Brazil Dominates Individual Competition
Brazil emerged as the standout nation in the individual championship, with Manuel Bragança capturing the World Champion title after delivering an outstanding performance throughout the regatta.
The final individual standings were:
- World Champion (Gold Medal): Manuel Bragança (Brazil), winner of the Beacon Challenge Cup and recipient of the Peter Barclay Trophy as the championship’s best sailor.
- Silver Medal: Elliot Novara (Switzerland).
- Bronze Medal: Andrei Zhakov (Malta).
Brazil Wins Best Nation Trophy
Brazil’s remarkable performance continued as it secured the prestigious Jacobsen Trophy, awarded to the best-performing nation based on the collective results of its sailors.
Final rankings:
- 1st: Brazil
- 2nd: Spain
- 3rd: Greece
Spain Claims Team Racing World Title
Spain delivered an exceptional performance in the Team Racing Championship, winning the IODA Challenge Cup and claiming the World Team Championship title.
Final standings:
- Gold Medal: Spain
- Silver Medal: Turkey
- Bronze Medal: Argentina
Girls’ Championship
The girls’ competition also showcased outstanding talent and high-level racing. Ines Mendez Larminaux of Puerto Rico claimed the IODA Helen Mary Wilkes Trophy after finishing as the top female sailor.
Girls’ podium:
- Gold: Ines Mendez Larminaux (Puerto Rico)
- Silver: Margaux Nguyen-Minh (Hong Kong)
- Bronze: Mara Penalver (Spain)
Tangier Hands Over to Spain
One of the ceremony’s most symbolic moments was the official handover of the IODA flag. Representing the host nation, the Moroccan delegation presented the flag to the Spanish delegation, which will host the next edition of the Optimist World Championship.
Following the flag handover, IODA President Ricardo Navarro officially declared the 2026 Championship closed, praising Morocco for its outstanding organization and commending the Royal Yacht Club of Tangier for delivering one of the most successful editions in the history of the event, both from a sporting and logistical perspective.
With the successful conclusion of the championship, Tangier has once again demonstrated its ability to host world-class sporting events, reinforcing its reputation as an international destination where excellence in sport, friendship, cultural exchange, and peaceful coexistence come together.
