2026 Princess Sofia Regatta, Day 2: George Gautrey, Stella Bilger lead the charge as Kiwis shine in Palma

New Zealand sailors delivered strong performances on Day 2 of the 2026 Princess Sofia Regatta, with George Gautrey leading the charge after claiming the country’s first race win of the regatta.

Gautrey surged into fourth on the ILCA 7 leaderboard following victory in the penultimate qualifying race. Although a seventh-place finish in the day’s final race saw him slip slightly, he remained just five points behind the early leader. Fellow Kiwi sailors George Pilkington and Caleb Armit sit further back in the 199-boat fleet, in 87th and 88th respectively.

Racing conditions on Day 2 were challenging, with shifty offshore winds testing sailors’ tactical skills and patience. Many fleets spent long periods waiting for suitable breeze, while those on the water had to navigate constantly changing wind shifts and gusts, demanding sharp decision-making at every stage.

Caleb Armit in action on Day 2 of the Princess Sofia Regatta. Photos / Sailing Energy

In the ILCA 6 fleet, Paris 2024 Olympian Greta Pilkington underlined her potential by winning the second of three qualifying races, briefly climbing to 15th overall before finishing the day in 26th.

The women’s iQFOiL fleet also saw impressive results from New Zealand’s Stella Bilger, the defending under-23 world champion. With scores of 4, 2, 3, and a discarded 9, Bilger is sixth overall and firmly in contention near the top of the leaderboard. Veerle ten Have sits 19th and Aimee Bright 35th.

Eli Liefting is the top Kiwi in the men’s iQFOiL fleet in the absence of Paris 2024 Olympian Josh Armit, holding 32nd, while Blake Hinsley is 94th. In the women’s kitefoil, Lucy Bilger has made an early mark in 27th, while Lukas Walton-Keim and Toby Wigglesworth are neck-and-neck in 30th and 31st in the men’s event, with Lochy Naismith 37th.

Micah Wilkinson and Kate Stewart have moved up the Nacra 17 leaderboard. Photos / Sailing Energy

New Zealand’s double-handed crews are also climbing the ranks. Micah Wilkinson and Kate Stewart have moved up five places to 17th in the Nacra 17, while Francesco Kayrouz and Hamish McLaren have improved three spots to 16th in the 49er fleet, currently the leading Kiwi pair. Mattias Coutts and Oscar Gunn are 22nd, with Sam Bacon and Blake McGlashan at 61st.

With the Bay of Palma’s more reliable sea breezes not expected until later in the week, maintaining focus and managing risk will be key for the Kiwi team in the lead-up to Saturday’s finals.

Click here for the full results and latest standings.