Lukas Walton-Keim is refusing to let the leaders out of his sights at the 2026 Formula Kite European Championships, holding his position inside the top 20 after another tidy day on the water in Akyaka, Türkiye.
Four top-10 finishes from six races on Day 3 tell the story. Consistent, not spectacular, but exactly the kind of racing that keeps a campaign alive as the regatta tightens up heading into its business end.
The men's fleet had their work cut out. Breeze fluctuated between roughly 10 and 14 knots through the afternoon, forcing sailors to chop and change between 15m and 21m kites as conditions shifted underneath them.
Six races in a single session is a lot to ask of anyone. Competitors were on the water at full intensity for more than an hour, no small effort in kiteracing.
Lucy Bilger was the other New Zealander making ground. She climbed five spots to 25th overall in the women's fleet, a solid step forward on a day when the fleet stayed on 15m kites throughout.
Crowded top-mark roundings caused most of the drama for the women. With the fleet packed tightly and everyone on the same size kite, positioning at the top mark became the difference between gaining and losing places.
Out front, nothing separates the top two men. Singapore's Maximilian Maeder and Switzerland's Gian Stragiotti are locked together on eight points apiece, a genuine two-horse race at this stage.
Jessie Kampman of the Netherlands leads the women on 14 points.
Racing continues tonight, New Zealand time, with the men's fleet splitting into Gold and Silver fleets. The top 25 sailors move into the Gold Fleet, raising the stakes for anyone near that cut-off line, while the women's fleet keeps racing as one group for now.
For Walton-Keim, staying inside that top-20 bracket matters more than ever with the split looming. Every race from here carries a bit more weight.
