World Champions!

The Mallorcan crews of Neus Fernández and Martina Gomila, and of Amalia Coll and Laia Mattos, have been crowned women’s world champions in the overall and Under 17 categories, respectively.

The Spanish national team competing at the 420 World Championship, which concluded in the Turkish town of Urla, secured a total of three podium finishes. Sailors from Club Nàutic S’Arenal, Neus Fernández Darder and Martina Gomila Darder, claimed the women’s world title, while their teammate Amalia Coll and Laia Mattos from Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa took gold in the U17 women’s category. Spain’s success was rounded off with a bronze medal in the mixed overall category for Bruno García and Isabel Laiseca.

The 420 World Championship was held on Turkey’s western coast from July 4 to July 9, with challenging conditions in the early days and calmer weather toward the end, allowing the full program of 12 races to be completed. The event featured a total of 434 sailors, 70 coaches, and 217 teams from 20 countries.

The Mallorcan female crews were especially outstanding. Neus Fernández Darder and Martina Gomila Darder, from Club Náutico Arenal, were crowned women’s world champions with absolute authority, finishing 22 points ahead of their closest rivals, the Greek team of Georgia Faviou and Amalia Papanikita.

The U17 women’s world title also went to a Mallorcan crew, Amalia Coll (CN Arenal) and Laia Mattos (CM San Antonio de la Playa). Laia Serena Mattos and Amalia Coll had a strong start and consistently remained at the top of the fleet. They entered the final phase with a slight lead and finished with a 10-point advantage over the second-place team, the French sisters Agathe and Sixtine Sauge-Merle. In addition to winning the female category, Laia Serena Mattos and Amalia Coll also achieved third place overall in the U17 category.