2026 Princess Sofia Regatta, Day 1: Kiwis hold steady in shifty Palma opener

The New Zealand sailing squad has made a steady start to the 55th Princess Sofia Regatta, battling unstable conditions on the opening day in Spain.

Racing on the Bay of Palma tested adaptability, with large, unpredictable wind shifts sweeping across the course. A brisk northerly breeze early on faded and oscillated dramatically — at times shifting by as much as 100 degrees — making consistency elusive even for the world’s top crews. 

In the highly competitive 49er fleet, featuring more than 100 boats, Mattias Coutts and Oscar Gunn lead the New Zealand charge. The pair sit 12th overall after three races, highlighted by an impressive second-place finish. Francesco Kayrouz and Hamish McLaren ended the day in 19th, keeping themselves within striking distance, while Sam Bacon and Blake McGlashan are further back in 75th as they work to find rhythm in the volatile conditions.

Francesco Kayrouz and Hamish McLaren are 19th in the 49er competition after the opening day. Photos / Sailing Energy

In the ILCA 7 class, where nearly 200 sailors are competing, George Gautrey produced one of the standout Kiwi performances of the day. A fourth-place finish in the opening race set the tone for a strong start, leaving him 15th overall. Caleb Armit and George Pilkington sit 110th and 119th, respectively, after a long and physically demanding day on the water, with the fleet enduring extended delays as race management waited for stable breeze to settle across the course.

The ILCA 6 fleet saw Greta Pilkington open her regatta with a 21st-place finish in her sole qualifying race, placing her 41st overall in a fleet of more than 140 boats. 

Micah Wilkinson and Kate Stewart claimed two top-10 finishes in the Nacra 17. Photos / Sailing Energy 

Meanwhile, the newly formed Nacra 17 pairing of Micah Wilkinson and Kate Stewart made a promising start in the mixed multihull class. Posting two top-10 finishes within their qualifying group, the duo sits 22nd overall at the end of Day 1. 

The Princess Sofia Regatta is a cornerstone event in the international sailing calendar and marks an important early-season benchmark for Olympic classes. With many of the world’s best crews using Palma as a proving ground, the regatta provides a crucial opportunity to test combinations, refine race strategies, and build momentum toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.