Here we are - the final race day of the Optimist World Championship 2025 in Portorož has delivered exciting moments, challenging conditions, and the crowning of the new world champions.
On the final day of the Optimist World Championship in Portorož, sailors completed one last race for all fleets in a light northeast breeze. As expected, the morning wind lasted a bit longer than usual, so the race committee sent the sailors onto the water shortly after 10 AM, hoping to make the most of the easterly breeze before it faded and, hopefully, shifted to the maestral sea breeze later in the day. The final start was scheduled for 3 PM.
Just before 11 AM, the gold fleet successfully started under the black flag and sailed a good race in stable wind conditions. The silver, bronze, and emerald fleets followed, but unfortunately, the wind shifted significantly towards the end of the first race, forcing the race committee to abandon the races for the bronze and emerald fleets. Only the gold and silver fleets finished their races.
The sailors then waited on the water for the sea breeze to fill in. When by 2 PM there still wasn’t enough wind for a fair start, the race committee sent the emerald fleet ashore, marking the end of their regatta. The gold, silver, and bronze fleets stayed out, hoping for one last opportunity to race, but despite waiting until the final starting time at 3 PM, the wind never returned. The race committee officially ended the championship.
With the final rankings confirmed, Nikolaos Pappas (GRE) was crowned the 2025 Optimist World Champion.
Mihael Zobec (SLO) finished second overall, claiming the title of World Vice-Champion, while Carl Wincent Birgersson (DEN) took the bronze.
Among the girls, the World Champion title went to Olha Lubianska (UKR), the silver to Ines Amaia Mendez Larminaux (PUR), and the bronze to Margaux Nguyen-Minh (HKG).
World Champion Nikolaos Pappas (GRE): "This regatta was very difficult, but I did it. I want to thank the organizers for this amazing event, and my family and my coaches."
World Vice-Champion Mihael Zobec (SLO): "I finished second at the Worlds and I’m super happy. I want to thank all my coaches, my parents, and other sailors from my club."
Bronze Medalist Carl Wincent Birgersson (DEN): "I was third. I pushed my limits and I sailed really well. This event is really well hosted by Slovenia and the Pirat Sailing Club. We had a lot of good days with good wind, lots of sun, and nice weather. The sailors were very fair and very fun."
World Champion (Girls) Olha Lubianska (UKR): "Today, I’m a world champion. I’m really happy and proud of myself. I want to thank my coach Paulo, my parents, everyone who supported me, my sponsors, and everybody else. I’d like to add that I respect everyone who was racing with me. Thank you, everyone!"
World Vice-Champion (Girls) Ines Amaia Mendez Larminaux (PUR): "I just got second in girls and top ten in the championship. I’m really happy and proud to represent Puerto Rico. This was a really tough championship because the conditions were really light. You had to be really consistent, use all the approaches at the start, and take every opportunity in every race."
Bronze Medalist (Girls) Margaux Nuyen-Minh (HKG): "I just got third girl at the Optimist World Championship. I feel really great, and I’m really, really happy with the result. This championship could not have gone any better. I’d like to thank all my coaches and my parents, who helped me achieve this very long dream of mine. Thanks to all the organizing authorities for making this championship happen. It’s really well organized and I’m really thankful for everyone."
Race Officer Bojan Gale added: "Today we managed to run one race for the gold and silver fleets in the northeast wind. Unfortunately, due to a massive wind shift, we were forced to abandon the race for the bronze and emerald fleets.
After that, we waited on the water for the sea breeze, but the clouds didn’t allow it to develop properly. At 3 PM, the final scheduled starting time, we were forced to hoist AP over Alpha and end the championship.
I hope all the sailors, the coaches, and their support teams are happy with our work here in Portorož, that they will have great memories, and that they will return for other events. We would love to see you back here!"
Mitja Margon, President of JK Pirat Portorož: "We’ve reached the end of this beautiful championship. It was a successful week, with almost two weeks of hard work from our club members and volunteers, to whom I give my heartfelt thanks. Thanks to all the officials, to IODA for this opportunity, and to everyone who contributed — even just a small piece — to this puzzle, which came together beautifully. The kids did an amazing job on the water, even on the toughest days with high temperatures and light wind, where sailing skills truly made the difference. We’re extremely proud to have hosted this championship with sailors from all over the world. Hosting 64 countries is an absolute record for our club, and I hope to welcome such a large fleet again in the future. And of course, the success of the Slovenian sailors — with a vice-world champion, another sailor in sixth place, and three in the top 20 — is truly the cherry on top."
On the final day of the Optimist World Championship in Portorož, sailors completed one last race for all fleets in a light northeast breeze. As expected, the morning wind lasted a bit longer than usual, so the race committee sent the sailors onto the water shortly after 10 AM, hoping to make the most of the easterly breeze before it faded and, hopefully, shifted to the maestral sea breeze later in the day. The final start was scheduled for 3 PM.
Just before 11 AM, the gold fleet successfully started under the black flag and sailed a good race in stable wind conditions. The silver, bronze, and emerald fleets followed, but unfortunately, the wind shifted significantly towards the end of the first race, forcing the race committee to abandon the races for the bronze and emerald fleets. Only the gold and silver fleets finished their races.
The sailors then waited on the water for the sea breeze to fill in. When by 2 PM there still wasn’t enough wind for a fair start, the race committee sent the emerald fleet ashore, marking the end of their regatta. The gold, silver, and bronze fleets stayed out, hoping for one last opportunity to race, but despite waiting until the final starting time at 3 PM, the wind never returned. The race committee officially ended the championship.
With the final rankings confirmed, Nikolaos Pappas (GRE) was crowned the 2025 Optimist World Champion.
Mihael Zobec (SLO) finished second overall, claiming the title of World Vice-Champion, while Carl Wincent Birgersson (DEN) took the bronze.
Among the girls, the World Champion title went to Olha Lubianska (UKR), the silver to Ines Amaia Mendez Larminaux (PUR), and the bronze to Margaux Nguyen-Minh (HKG).
World Champion Nikolaos Pappas (GRE): "This regatta was very difficult, but I did it. I want to thank the organizers for this amazing event, and my family and my coaches."
World Vice-Champion Mihael Zobec (SLO): "I finished second at the Worlds and I’m super happy. I want to thank all my coaches, my parents, and other sailors from my club."
Bronze Medalist Carl Wincent Birgersson (DEN): "I was third. I pushed my limits and I sailed really well. This event is really well hosted by Slovenia and the Pirat Sailing Club. We had a lot of good days with good wind, lots of sun, and nice weather. The sailors were very fair and very fun."
World Champion (Girls) Olha Lubianska (UKR): "Today, I’m a world champion. I’m really happy and proud of myself. I want to thank my coach Paulo, my parents, everyone who supported me, my sponsors, and everybody else. I’d like to add that I respect everyone who was racing with me. Thank you, everyone!"
World Vice-Champion (Girls) Ines Amaia Mendez Larminaux (PUR): "I just got second in girls and top ten in the championship. I’m really happy and proud to represent Puerto Rico. This was a really tough championship because the conditions were really light. You had to be really consistent, use all the approaches at the start, and take every opportunity in every race."
Bronze Medalist (Girls) Margaux Nuyen-Minh (HKG): "I just got third girl at the Optimist World Championship. I feel really great, and I’m really, really happy with the result. This championship could not have gone any better. I’d like to thank all my coaches and my parents, who helped me achieve this very long dream of mine. Thanks to all the organizing authorities for making this championship happen. It’s really well organized and I’m really thankful for everyone."
Race Officer Bojan Gale added: "Today we managed to run one race for the gold and silver fleets in the northeast wind. Unfortunately, due to a massive wind shift, we were forced to abandon the race for the bronze and emerald fleets.
After that, we waited on the water for the sea breeze, but the clouds didn’t allow it to develop properly. At 3 PM, the final scheduled starting time, we were forced to hoist AP over Alpha and end the championship.
I hope all the sailors, the coaches, and their support teams are happy with our work here in Portorož, that they will have great memories, and that they will return for other events. We would love to see you back here!"
Mitja Margon, President of JK Pirat Portorož: "We’ve reached the end of this beautiful championship. It was a successful week, with almost two weeks of hard work from our club members and volunteers, to whom I give my heartfelt thanks. Thanks to all the officials, to IODA for this opportunity, and to everyone who contributed — even just a small piece — to this puzzle, which came together beautifully. The kids did an amazing job on the water, even on the toughest days with high temperatures and light wind, where sailing skills truly made the difference. We’re extremely proud to have hosted this championship with sailors from all over the world. Hosting 64 countries is an absolute record for our club, and I hope to welcome such a large fleet again in the future. And of course, the success of the Slovenian sailors — with a vice-world champion, another sailor in sixth place, and three in the top 20 — is truly the cherry on top."
Photo gallery: https://2025worlds.optiworld.org/en/default/races/race-photogallery/text/OptimistWorldChampionship2025-en/gallery/134880
