Day 1: Bonairian Riders Make Flying Start as Eight Eliminations Ignite Youth Tour
The opening day of the 2026 PWA Youth & Junior Slalom Tour in Bonaire couldn’t have asked for much more. Classic Caribbean conditions greeted the fleet with 18-25 knots of trade winds providing the perfect stage for eight eliminations across every division.
Thirty riders representing nine countries from the Caribbean, South America, North America, Europe and Asia lined up on Lac Bay, once again highlighting the growing international strength of the Youth Tour. However, by the close of play it was the home sailors who had laid down the marker as Bonairians topped every fleet.
Tycho Smits made an exceptional start in his first event in the U21 division. The young Bonairian won seven of the eight eliminations completed and immediately established himself as the rider to beat. Despite the scoreline, the racing was far closer than it suggests. Tour leader Storm Nicolai was the only sailor able to deny Smits a bullet and consistently kept the pressure on throughout the day. Behind them, Diederik Leemans and Mario Boekstegers endured a mixed opening day, but with three days still remaining there is plenty of time to work their way back into podium contention.
The U17 fleet once again produced some of the closest racing of the day. Although the boys and girls are scored separately, they raced together, and it was Kit de Jong who stole the headlines in the opening elimination by beating the entire fleet across the finish line. Arxon Gomperts quickly responded after a slower start, reeling off seven consecutive victories to end the day in control of the boys’ standings. Trevor Antony and Cle Burgers completed the provisional podium after a series of consistent second and third place finishes.
In the girls’ fleet, Kit de Jong continued her impressive form to lead overnight ahead of Lone, with both sailors regularly mixing it with the U17 boys throughout the day.
The U15 division produced another thrilling chapter in the growing rivalry between Kenny Abrahamsz and Julien Blom. The pair traded victories throughout the opening day, while Curaçao’s Adam Adriaans Tap impressed with several excellent finishes to end the day third overall.
The level of racing across every fleet was exceptional, with battles continuing from the front of the fleet right through to the final positions in virtually every elimination.
The action continued after racing concluded as riders headed into town to enjoy a spectacular sunset tow-in show featuring Youp Schmit and Bjorn Saragoza, providing the perfect end to an excellent opening day in Bonaire.
Racing resumes tomorrow with the skippers’ meeting scheduled for 8:30am ahead of the first possible start at 9:30am.
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