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Which trophies are awarded at the Youth Sailing World Championships?
The 2025 Youth Sailing World Championships closing ceremony saw 13 trophies handed out, with the world’s best young sailors following in the footsteps of legendary names who have gone before.
And each trophy has a particular story behind it…
Female Skiff/29er – The Malaysia Sailing Association Trophy
This trophy has been named in honour of the Malaysia Sailing Association since 2015, when Langkawi hosted the event.
Olympic champion Pippa Wilson, of Great Britain, is among the previous winners of the trophy, lifting it alongside Jenny Marks in 2002.
Male/Mixed 29er – The Prince Henry the Navigator Trophy
The 15th-century Portuguese explorer lends his name to the trophy in the male/mixed 29er category, as he does to several other sailing events in his homeland – including the Cascais Dragon Winter Series.
Australian Nathan Outteridge, who went on to win 49er gold at London 2012 and silver at Rio 2016, won this trophy alongside Ayden Menzies in 2002, while two years later it was claimed by Blair Tuke, who won 49er gold in Rio.
Male Windsurfer – iQFOiL – The Paul Phelan Trophy
The male iQFOiL trophy is named in honour of Paul D. Phelan, who created Wind Athletes Canada through the support of the P.J. Phelan Sailing Foundation.
It has been awarded to RS:X winners and now goes to the leading male windsurfer.
Female Windsurfer – iQFOiL – The St. Moritz Board Sailing Championship Trophy
The leading female windsurfer lifts a trophy which gives recognition to the annual Swiss event.
Italy’s Laura Linales is a three-time winner of this trophy, while Olympic champions Lu Yunxiu and Emma Wilson are among others to have their names engraved.
Female Kiteboarding – Formula Kite – The Steph Bridge Trophy
Five-time world champion Steph Bridge lends her name to the trophy handed to the leading young female kiteboarder.
The list of winners includes Gal Zukerman, Julia Damasiewicz, Derin Atakan and Catalina Turienzo.
Male Kiteboarding – Formula Kite – The Johnny Heineken Trophy
Johnny Heineken, who won the Rolex Yachtsman of the Year in 2012 and a finalist in the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award in 2013, is the man whose name adorns the male Formula Kite trophy.
It was a regular fixture on Max Maeder’s mantlepiece, the Singaporean winning it three times in succession between 2021 and 2023, while Lucas Pes picked up the prize in 2024.
Female Dinghy – ILCA 6 – The Royal Netherlands Centennial Trophy
Maria Erdl, who won World Championship gold in 2023, is among the recipients of The Royal Netherlands Centennial Trophy.
Norway’s Line Flem Høst, who claimed Olympic bronze at Paris 2024, won this event in 2013.
Male Dinghy – ILCA 6 – The St. Lawrence Trophy
Cypriot legend Pavlos Kontides made history in 2008 by defending The St Lawrence Trophy and becoming the only person to win it twice.
Josh Armit, of New Zealand, lifted it in 2018 while Mattia Cesana and Antonio Pascali made it back-to-back Italian triumphs in 2023 and 2024.
Female Two-Person Dinghy – 420 – The Royal Yachting Association Trophy
The winners of the Royal Yachting Association Trophy have often gone on to achieve Olympic success.
Elise Rechichi won it twice, the second of which was alongside Tessa Parkinson in 2004, and the Australian pair went on to win 470 gold at Beijing 2008.
Back-to-back Olympic champions in the 49er FX in Rio and Tokyo, Brazil’s Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze, lifted the RYA Trophy in 2009, while Paris 2024 470 mixed gold medallist Lara Vadlau, of Austria, did so in 2011.
Male/Mixed Two-Person Dinghy – 420 – The Youth Sailing World Championship Trophy
This class became male/mixed in 2021 and two of the winners so far have been Italian pairs, with Lisa Vucetti and Vittorio Bonifacio claiming gold on home waters in Lake Garda in 2024.
Ukraine’s Sviatoslav Madonich and Dmytro Karabadzhak claimed the honours in Vilamoura.
Mixed Multihull – Nacra 15 – The Paul Henderson Trophy
The Nacra 15 trophy is named to honour Paul Henderson, who won World Championship gold in 1959 and later became President of what was then known as the International Sailing Federation.
French pairs have won it twice since 2016, while Lorenzo Sirena and Alice Dessy have now recorded back-to-back victories for Italy in 2024 and 2025.
Nations Trophy
This is awarded to the most successful nation at a Youth Sailing World Championships. It was first introduced in 1991 and has been awarded every year since, becoming one of the most prestigious prizes in youth sailing.
France have the most historical victories while Italy claimed the honours for a third consecutive year in 2025.
Bengt Julin Trophy
First awarded in 1990, the ISAF Bengt Julin Trophy is a unique trophy which is awarded to a competitor or a National Team that has done the most to foster understanding and displaying attributes that are encouraged at the ISAF Youth Worlds.
