A shifting 10 - 15 knot breeze delivered a tactical puzzle on Day 3 of the 2026 Türk Telekom Formula Kite European Championships. Changing conditions forced constant equipment calls for the Men, while the Women pushed through 6 back-to-back races on their 15m kites.
Men’s Fleet: Constant Kite Switches and Starting Line Battles
With the wind picking up and dropping throughout the afternoon, the men were locked in a continuous debate over kite selection.
"I think at least three times I came back for the 15m," said Poland's Jan Marciniak (18th overall). "When I got to the water it was 12 knots, so I had to swap to the 21m. Then it picked up, I did two races on the 21m, and came back again for the 15m. Everyone looks super tired today - pushing 100% for over an hour across six races was really hard."
© IKA media/Robert Hajduk
Racing at the front remained close and fast. Slovenia’s Toni Vodisek (5th overall) noted the high speeds across the fleet:
"Yesterday I saw people hitting 40 knots on the 21s, which is crazy for the big kite," Vodisek said. "Today we were on the 15s with more average wind. It’s been really good racing - Vojtech Koska, Qibin Huang, Sam Dickinson, and Max Maeder are all flying, but we’ve all got our own battles to get done to reach the top."
For the Netherlands’ Duuk van Hees (11th overall), execution at the start line was key.
"We started on our 21s, but we were quickly full powered, so almost everyone switched to 15s," van Hees said. "Six races is always tough with no time to rest in this heat. For me, today was all about a clean start - getting off the line with speed, getting left as soon as possible, and making the cross. On a short course, if you get to the top mark first, you can get into the reach, find clear air, and build a gap."
© IKA media/Robert Hajduk
Women’s Fleet: Sticking to 15m and Managing Top-Mark Traffic
Unlike the men, the women’s fleet had a straightforward equipment choice. Sticking unanimously with their 15m kites in the 10 - 14 knot breeze, the main challenge was managing congested top-mark roundings.
It was a solid day on home waters for Türkiye’s Derin Atakan (7th overall). She secured 2nd in race two right behind Lauriane Nolot (FRA) and backed it up with a consistent set of finishes across the rest of the day.
"For us, the best option is always the 15m, so we didn't need to think about other kites," said Turkey's Derin Atakan (7th overall). "The biggest thing today was the top mark - it was absolute chaos. You had to squeeze in and time your tack perfectly. If you make it through clear, the rest of the race is much easier."
© IKA media/Robert Hajduk
France's Lysa Caval (10th overall) highlighted the density of the fleet:
"The fleet is so dense and everyone is racing tight," Caval said. "Today was tougher compared to yesterday. If you make one mistake, everyone passes you. The top mark was crazy, and it was all about speed - if you aren't pushing your best, people overtake you right away."
© IKA media/Robert Hajduk
Top 5 Leaderboard After Day 3 I 2026 Türk Telekom Formula Kite European Championships
Despite the relentless pace and shifting breeze, the top five held firm in both the Men’s and Women’s standings heading into Day 4.
Men’s Fleet
- Maximilian Maeder (SGP) 8.0 pts
- Gian Stragiotti (SUI) 8.0 pts
- Riccardo Pianosi (ITA) 15.0 pts
- Vojtech Koska (CZE) 20.0 pts
- Toni Vodisek (SLO) 21.0 pts
Women’s Fleet
- Jessie Kampman (NED) 14.0 pts
- Lauriane Nolot (FRA) 15.0 pts
- Elena Lengwiler (SUI) 15.0 pts
- Wan Li (CHN) 23.0 pts
- Breiana Whitehead (AUS) 34.0 pts
Full results: www.kiteclasses.org/2026europeans
Looking Ahead: Thursday Schedule
Racing continues on Thursday, 10 September. The Men’s fleet will split into Gold and Silver fleets, bringing the top 25 men together in the Gold Fleet, while the Women’s fleet continues in its single-fleet format.
- First Warning Signal: 12:30 PM (local time)
Follow the championship through IKA’s official social media channels, with daily updates, race highlights and results available at www.kiteclasses.org
© IKA media/Robert Hajduk
