USA Wins Gold, Bronze at the 2025 Youth Sailing World Championship
by US Sailing, December 19, 19:52 PST
December 13-20, 2025
Men’s ILCA 6 gold for David Coates at the Youth Sailing World Championships 2025 in Vilamoura, Portugal © Nuno Fortinho Mendes / World Sailing
After five days of intense competition in Vilamoura, Portugal, David Coates from Coconut Grove, Florida, secured the Gold medal in the ILCA 6 Male event at the 2025 Youth Sailing World Championships. Coates sailed with remarkable poise and consistency, overcoming diverse weather conditions that ranged from calm to winds exceeding 30 knots throughout the week.
“From the beginning of last year, it has been my goal to be at this event, and winning feels amazing,” Coates shared. “As I sailed back in, I just started crying; I felt so emotional. I really wanted to prove that America has a place on the podium, especially in ILCA 6. Seeing my name alongside the legends on the St. Lawrence Trophy is insane.”
In addition to Coates’s success, the USA’s Nacra 15 Mixed team of Dylan Tomko and Casey Small claimed a bronze medal, improving from their fifth place finish at the 2024 event. Initially, Belgium’s Lotte Meynen and Simon Jacobs occupied third, but they were later disqualified due to an incident in race 12 with Spain. The Americans and Belgians finished with tied points at 48, but Tomko and Small advanced on tiebreak criteria.
All 16 athletes on the 2025 US Sailing Youth Worlds Team showcased determination throughout the event, receiving support from six US Sailing coaches. In individual events, Garrett January finished fourth overall in the IQFOiL Male category, while as a team, the US ranked fifth in the Nations Trophy standings.
USA Overall Results: (Full Results)
- 1st – David Coates, ILCA 6 Male
- 3rd – Dylan Tomko / Casey Small, Nacra 15 Mixed
- 4th – Garrett January, iQFOiL Male
- 10th – Molly O’Brien, Formula Kite Female
- 11th – Harrison Gandy / JP Panebianco, 420 Male/Mixed
- 12th – Kevin Cason / Holland Vierling, 29er Male/Mixed
- 14th – Elizabeth Xydas / Alexandra Kolaya, 420 Female
- 16th – Quincy Radkowski, Formula Kite Male
- 19th – Sophie Niemann / Matilda Niemann, 29er Female
- 22nd – Graceanna Dixon, iQFOiL Female
- 29th – Louise Martin, ILCA 6 Female
“I’m extremely proud of our team for coming together and supporting each other through the myriad of conditions,” said Phil Muller, Team Leader and Youth Performance Manager. “Congratulations to our medalists, David Mateo Coates in the ILCA 6 – Male and Dylan Tomko and Casey Smalls in the Mixed Nacra 17. This is the first time in 23 years that a US boy has stood atop the ILCA 6 podium!”
Muller continued, “We had an amazing coaching staff who dedicated immense time and wisdom to this very young group of athletes, many of whom still have a year of eligibility left. A heartfelt thank you to the Trevor Moore Fund and the Sailing Foundation of New York for their support of this 2025 Youth Team.”
The championship drew 413 athletes representing 67 countries, offering a platform that has historically served as a proving ground for youth sailing talent since its inception in 1971. The event’s regatta format closely resembles the Olympics, featuring distinguished young athletes across male, female, and mixed categories. The selection of US Sailing’s Youth Worlds Team was a competitive process, held at the 2025 U.S. Youth Championship, where over 200 sailors competed. Notably, prior to the event, the Team convened for a Thanksgiving Training Camp in Miami, Florida, marking their final opportunity to prepare.
Wind conditions varied significantly throughout the week, testing the sailors’ skills. Day 1 brought light winds that limited racing opportunities, while Day 2 presented heavy winds and waves, truly pushing the competitors’ endurance. The following days experienced a return to light-to-moderate breezes, culminating in an exhilarating final day with puffy offshore winds that added a tactical layer to the racing strategies.