Leo Goes for Gold in the 2026 Worlds in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland with Eyes on LA 2028

Leo recently competed at the 2026 Worlds in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland, just south of Dublin. This was the peak event of the summer, and Leo was excited to see where all the hard work from a long summer of traveling, training, and competing would put him on the international circuit.

Leo arrived in Dun Laoghaire on August 18th, giving the team a day to get settled into their accommodations and get the lay of the land. They located the local grocery store, sailing shops, and the best route to the venue. Their plan was to have three days of training starting on August 19th, followed by a rest day, then two more days of training before taking August 24th off, the day before the Worlds began.

Preparing for a major championship involves significant work in the days before racing begins. The ILCA World Championships require competitors to use charter boats, so sailors do not know exactly how their assigned equipment will perform. Although the boats are new, each requires a brief break-in period, making careful preparation and adaptability essential.

After picking up the charter boat, one of Leo’s first tasks was measuring the mast rake. This critical step had to be completed on the first day while the lower mast section was still brand-new, as even a slight bend could affect the accuracy of the measurement.

During the training period, Leo also tested several sails. Like the boats, each sail performs a little differently. Comparing a few options in advance gave him confidence that he was making the best possible choice for the regatta, even when the differences were subtle.

Another essential part of Leo’s preparation was having all the new equipment officially measured and approved for competition. Although straightforward, this step was critical to ensuring everything met the event’s requirements. This year’s Worlds included an additional task: measuring the event-provided Vakaros mounts and configuring the Vakaros units with RaceSense for the regatta.

This year’s World Championship followed a different format from previous editions. Traditionally, sailors compete in a three-day qualifying series followed by a three-day final series, with two races scheduled each day. This year, the qualifying series was shortened to two days, while the final series was extended to four.

The change made qualifying for the Gold Fleet even more difficult. Sailors had only five qualifying races instead of six, while still being allowed to discard one result. With fewer opportunities to demonstrate their abilities, every finish carried greater weight and left little room for error. Although changing formats can be challenging, Leo remained focused on what he could control: approaching each start ready to sail his best race.

Leo was especially pleased with his performance on the starting line, delivering four starts he was proud of during the five qualifying races. He credits the Vakaros RaceSense system with helping strengthen his starting skills while promoting greater discipline across the fleet. By keeping the line open longer, the system allowed him to see both ends throughout more of the starting sequence and better judge his position.

Although those strong starts did not produce the results he had hoped for, they revealed a clear opportunity for growth. Shifting pressure, cloud cover, and current made it difficult to identify the best route upwind and approach the windward mark consistently. Leo often emerged from the start among the leading group, but he recognized that committing more decisively to one side of the course will be essential to securing stronger first-mark roundings.

In addition to the challenges he faced approaching the windward mark, Leo encountered difficult downwind conditions off the coast of Ireland. On many race days, the waves moved faster than the breeze, making it difficult to load the boat effectively and connect with the waves. The unfamiliar conditions pushed Leo outside his comfort zone and highlighted another skill he plans to strengthen through continued training.

"Overall, I was happy with my performance at the regatta. I have seen improvements in certain areas of my sailing that I felt were lacking in years past, which was encouraging. I was also excited to walk away with a race win in the Silver Fleet, along with a few other solid finishes throughout the event."

Leo is looking forward to his next training block, which starts in mid-October and runs through the end of November. He will be focusing on a few of the areas that he struggled with during the Worlds and working to turn those weaknesses into strengths heading into the next phase of the campaign.

"I want to thank the AYCF Foundation for their continued support and for helping me chase the dream of LA 2028. There is still a long road ahead, but it is great to have such a supportive group behind me every step of the way."