2026 Formula Kite European Championships, Day 3: New Zealand's Lukas Walton-Keim holds top-20 spot as Lucy Bilger climbs in Türkiye
Lukas Walton-Keim has maintained his place inside the top 20 at the 2026 Formula Kite European Championships, producing another consistent day of racing as he continues to apply pressure to the leading pack.
Walton-Keim recorded four top-10 finishes across six races on Day 3 in Akyaka, Türkiye, backing up his strong opening performances and keeping him firmly in contention as the championship moves into its crucial next phase.
The men's fleet faced a demanding afternoon of changing breeze, with sailors repeatedly switching between 15m and 21m kites as conditions fluctuated between around 10 and 14 knots.
The six-race schedule also tested the fleet's endurance, with competitors spending more than an hour at full intensity on the water.
In the women's fleet, Lucy Bilger also made encouraging progress, climbing five places to 25th overall.
The fleet stuck with 15m kites throughout the day, with crowded top-mark roundings proving one of the biggest challenges as the sailors battled for position.
At the front, Singapore's Maximilian Maeder and Switzerland's Gian Stragiotti remain locked together on eight points in the men's standings, while the Netherlands' Jessie Kampman leads the women's fleet on 14 points.
The competition continues tonight (NZ time), with the men's fleet splitting into Gold and Silver fleets. The top 25 sailors will contest the Gold Fleet, while the women will continue racing as a single fleet.
Latest results and standings here.
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New Zealand’s leading men’s kitefoiler Lukas Walton-Keim has made a solid start to the 2026 Formula Kite European Championships, sitting inside the top 20 after two days of racing in Akyaka, Türkiye.
