Ten have's fightback headlines Trans-Tasman women's iQFOiL battle

Veerle ten Have opened the women's 2026 Musto iQFOiL World Championships with a 31st. She closed it in 10th overall. In between, the Kiwi windfoiler put together three of the sharpest results of the opening day at Weymouth, and that arc says more about her Worlds campaign than the number next to her name.

Down but not out

Racing got underway on 7 September at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, with 186 athletes from 41 nations chasing rainbow jerseys across six days of Upwind Sprint and course racing. The women's fleet completed four races, and Ten Have's card read (31), 11, 9, 6, the discard swallowing that rough opener. The last three resutls are consistent, shows a sailor finding her rhythm. With LA28 selection racing already on the horizon, displaying that kind of recovery under pressure is exactly what officials will look for.

Israel's Tamar Steinberg had a dream start to the day, four bullets for 3 points and a clear lead. Norway's Maya Gysler sits third on 10.

The 'Aussie' in second

Second place belongs to Stella Bilger, racing under the Australian flag for the first time at a Worlds. Bilger is a dual Australian-New Zealand citizen, and Australian Sailing confirms she has been released by Yachting New Zealand and cleared by World Sailing to switch allegiance. As recently as April and May this year she was on the start line for New Zealand, at French Olympic Week and the European Championships, alongside Ten Have and Aimee Bright.

What's next

Six days of racing remain before Saturday's Medal Series. For Ten Have, the target is simple: keep stacking results like the last three of day one.