2026 ILCA 6 Youth European Championships: New Zealand's Chloe Turner powers to first under-19 medal with commanding win for bronze on final day
Chloe Turner has continued New Zealand's remarkable run of international sailing success in recent days, claiming bronze at the 2026 ILCA 6 Youth European Championships in Thessaloniki overnight.
The 17-year-old secured her first under-19 medal in the class after producing a superb performance across the week, capping her regatta by winning the final race by more than a minute to seal third overall behind Greece's reigning youth world champion Hermione Ghicas and Italy's Sofia Bertoletti.
Turner had featured among the leading contenders for most of the championship, but ensured there would be no late drama on the final day with a dominant victory in the deciding race. It was her second race win of the regatta and also confirmed her as the highest-placed non-European sailor in the fleet.
The result marks another significant milestone in the Murrays Bay Sailing Club sailor's rapid rise through the international ranks.
Last August, Turner was crowned ILCA 6 under-17 world champion at the Youth World Championships in Los Angeles after finishing 13th overall in the girls' fleet and comfortably ahead of her nearest age-group rival.
Chloe Turner on her way to bronze at the ILCA 6 Youth European Championships in Greece. Photo / Maria Vogiatzopoulou
Her latest podium came in one of the strongest youth fleets assembled this year, with overall winner Ghicas arriving in Thessaloniki as the reigning ILCA 6 Youth World Champion and taking advantage of home waters to add the European title to her growing list of achievements.
"I loved racing against the world's best this week and to top it off with my first under-19 medal made it even more special," Turner said.
The championship concluded with a dramatic final day after racing was initially delayed by light winds. The breeze steadily built throughout the afternoon from around 4-5 knots to 14 knots, allowing organisers to complete both scheduled races and bring the championship to a total of 12 races.
Turner now heads to the British Open National Championships next week before turning her attention to the ILCA 6 Youth World Championships in Aarhus, Denmark, next month.
Her medal continues an extraordinary fortnight for New Zealand sailors on the international stage.
On Friday, windfoiler Aimee Bright claimed silver at the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta, held at the venue that will host sailing at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
A week earlier, Bella Jenkins and Jess Handley were crowned female under-19 world champions as New Zealand won the Nations Cup at the 29er World Championships in Germany.
Seb Menzies and George Lee Rush then successfully defended their 49er European title on Monday, just two months after becoming the youngest 49er world champions in history, before Sean Herbert claimed the first WingFoil Racing World Cup medal of his career with silver in Italy later the same day.
Final results and standings here.
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