2026 Bonaire PWA Youth Slalom World Cup

Bonairean Riders Make Flying Start as Eight Eliminations Ignite Youth Tour

The opening day of the 2026 Bonaire PWA Youth Slalom World Cup 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 Bonairean's topped every fleet.

Beautiful Bonaire

Tycho Smits (Future Fly / Point-7) made an exceptional start in his first event in the U21 division. The young Bonairean won seven of the eight eliminations completed and immediately established himself as the sailor to beat. Despite the scoreline, the racing was far closer than it suggests. Tour leader Storm Nicolai (Starboard) was the only sailor able to deny Smits a bullet and consistently kept the pressure on throughout the day. Behind them, Diederik Leemans (JP / NeilPryde) 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.

Tycho Smits dominates the opening day

In the Girl’s fleet, Kit de Jong continued her impressive form to lead overnight ahead of her sister Lone de Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde), with both girls regularly mixing it with the U17 Boy’s throughout the day.

The U15 division produced more great racing as the rivalry between Kenny Abrahamsz and Julien Blom continues to grow. 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 (Flikka) and Bjorn Saragoza, providing a fitting end to an excellent opening day in Bonaire.

Racing resumes tomorrow with the skippers’ meeting scheduled for 8:30am (GMT-4) ahead of a first possible start at 9:30am.

Bonaire Continues to Deliver with a Further Three Fin and Five Foil Eliminations Being Completed

Day Two of the 2026 Bonaire PWA Youth Slalom World Cup saw another full day of racing as the trade winds once again delivered excellent racing conditions.

The day started with the Fin fleet hitting the water first, which saw another three eliminations completed across all age groups, while during the afternoon the wind began to drop, so the decision was made to switch to Foil Slalom.

In the U21 division, Germany's Mario Boekstegers bounced after a somewhat mixed opening day by claiming two bullets from the three eliminations completed. However, Bonairean Tycho Smits (Future Fly / Point-7) continues to hold a commanding 10.1 point lead at the front of the back ahead of Storm Nicolai (Starboard / NeilPryde) and Diederik Leemans, who currently completes the top three. However, after his couple of victories earlier, Boekstegers has put himself in contention for the podium if he can maintain that level.

Mario Boekstegers bounces back on Day 2

In the U17 fleet, the boys and girls are racing together, and Kit De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde) was once again the standout sailor as she regularly beat the boys across the finish line and she comfortably leads U17 Girl’s division.

Kit De Jong continues to impress

In the U17 Boy’s Fin, Arxon Gomperts (Future Fly / North Sails) continues to comfortably lead the event after winning eight of the eleven races completed thus far, but there was a bit of turn around on the second day as Adolfo Fernandez claimed two bullets and is now firmly in contention for the podium with just 1.7 points separating the Venezuelan and Curacao’s Thomas Michael.

Adolfo Fernandez finds his form

In the U15 Boy’s Fin fleet, Kenny Abrahamsz continued his excellent form to strengthen his grip on the event lead after rattling off a brilliant hat-trick today, while the top three is currently completed by Bonaire’s Julien Blom and Curaçao's Adam Adriaans Tap at the close of play.

Kenny Abrahamsz celebrates completing a hat-trick

As the wind began to drop during the afternoon, the decision was made to switch to Foil Slalom, which allowed a further five eliminations to be completed.

In the U21 Boy’s Foil there is a great battle developing between Diederik Leemans and Tycho Smits with the two sailors continually exchanging bullets and second places, so after the opening five rounds Leemans holds a slender 1.3 point advantage at the top of the rankings.

Diederik Leemans narrowly ahead after opening Foil eliminations

In the U21 Girl’s fleet, Bobbi-Lynn De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde) is in command after winning four out of the five eliminations completed today, but her sister Kit De Jong, pushed her all the way and denied Bobbi-Lynn a clean sweep after winning Elimination 4.

Bobbi-Lynn De Jong makes a strong start in Foil Slalom

With another windy forecast on the cards, the stage is set for an exciting third day in Bonaire as several divisions remain wide open. The skippers’ meeting has been set for 8:30am (GMT-4) with a first possible start at 9:30am.

Tycho Smits Edges Ahead of Diederik Leemans, while Bobbi-Lynn De Jong Continues to Dominate as Foil Slalom

Takes Centre Stage

Foil Slalom took centre stage on day three of the 2026 Bonaire PWA Youth Slalom World Cup as lighter winds greeted sailors. However, while the wind may have been on the lighter side of the spectrum, a further ten eliminations of Foil Slalom were still completed.

Having traded bullets during yesterday’s racing, Bonairean Tycho Smits (Future Fly / Point-7) and Dutchman Diederik Leemans continued to go head-to-head in the U21 Boys’ Foil Slalom today and by lunchtime there was nothing to separate them.

However, during the afternoon, Smits gained the upper hand as he stepped up his level at a crucial time, using his local knowledge to his advantage, to claim the last four eliminations of the day, and seven out of the ten eliminations completed today, which gives the local boy a 3.9 point lead heading into the final day. Smits won’t be resting on his laurels though, while Leemans will know that there is still everything to play for, so tomorrow promises to be a thrilling decider.

Meanwhile, Mario Boekstegers completes the overall top three after recording a sole second place and nine thirds to cement his place on the podium.

Tycho Smits powers into the lead

In the U21 Girls’ fleet, Bobbi-Lynn De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde) continued her dominant display and remains firmly in control of the event having won an impressive thirteen out of the fifteen races completed. However, her younger sister, Kit De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde), once again kept the pressure on and continues to demonstrate huge potential for the future. Fellow sister, Lone De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde) currently completes the top three.

Bobbi-Lynn De Jong in cruise control

With one day of competition still to come, there is still plenty to play for across both the fin and foil disciplines. Several podium positions remain up for grabs and with another windy forecast to come the stage is set for a grandstand finale.

To see how this year’s edition concludes, make sure you tune into the livestream from 09:30am (GMT-4).

The current standings can be found HERE.

Champions are Crowned as Bonaire Delivers Thrilling Finale

Lac Bay continued to deliver on the last day of the 2026 Bonaire PWA Youth Slalom World Cup as a further five fin eliminations were completed in trademark Caribbean conditions to provide a fitting finale to what has been a great event.

The U21 Boys’ Fin division remained open until the very end as Storm Nicolai (Starboard) tried to launch one final attack to deny local favourite Tycho Smits (Future Fly / Point-7). However, Smits held his nerve under severe pressure to deservedly defend his event title - having won here in 2025 as well - while Nicolai was left to settle for second place. Diederik Leemans (JP / NeilPryde) completes the podium after fending off a late surge from Mario Boekstegers.

Tycho Smits takes home a thoroughly deserved victory

Arxon Gomperts (Future Fly / North Sails) walks away from the 2026 edition with a thoroughly deserved victory after winning eleven out of the sixteen eliminations completed to cap a truly dominant display. Meanwhile, Thomas Michael claimed a crucial victory in Elimination 15 to leapfrog Trevor Antony to claim second place, while Antony completes the podium just ahead of Adolfo Fernandez, who narrowly misses out by just 2.1 points.

Arxon Gomperts claims a clinical win

The U17 Girls’ belonged entirely to Kit De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde). The young Bonairean was unstoppable throughout the week, regularly beating many of the boys across the finish line. Such was her level of domination De Jong finished the week with an unblemished record with a remarkable sixteen wins from the sixteen eliminations completed to earmark her as one of the brightest young talents in the sport. Twin sister Lone De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde) finished second, while Kimora Dammers celebrated her maiden PWA podium in third.

Kit De Jong in a league of her own

In the U15 Boys’ division, Kenny Abrahamsz continued his excellent form to claim victory after another thrilling battle with Julien Blom. The pair have now shared victories in Aruba and Bonaire and the two Bonaireans are kindling a growing rivalry. Meanwhile, Curaçao’s Adam Adriaans Tap earned his first top three finish on the PWA as he completed the podium.

Kenny Abrahamsz claims victory

With no further foil racing possible, the results from Day Three stand, meaning Tycho Smits and Bobbi-Lynn De Jong (Starboard / NeilPryde) claimed the foil victories.

After four brilliant days of racing, the PWA Youth & Junior Slalom Tour now goes on a summer hiatus, but will return in the autumn when the next generation of racers and wave sailors will be in action once again in Cold Hawaii, Denmark, between 14th-22nd September.