Brazil's Francisco "Kiko" Dal Ri won the 2026 ILCA 6 Men's World Championship in Vilamoura, Portugal, at 17 years old. He led a Brazilian one-two with Erik Scheidt after a title fight that stayed open until the final races.
Two points between gold and silver
Dal Ri entered the last day with a two-point lead over Scheidt after the pair had swapped the top spot all week. He had retaken control on Thursday by winning races nine and ten.
On Friday he crossed third in race 11. That finish ended the contest. With gold secure, he did not start race 12 and discarded the 61 points of a final finish.
Twelve races, a Brazilian sweep
The championship brought 60 sailors from 18 countries to Vilamoura for six days of racing.
Scheidt took silver with 63 net points. The youth world champion withdrew from race 11, returned for race 12 and finished sixth, sealing the Brazilian one-two.
Croatia's Bepo Duplančić moved into bronze with 98 points after compatriot Toma Smirčić faltered in race 11. Felipe Strassburger and Lucas Anzolch also placed inside the top 20 for Brazil.
Dal Ri closed with 95 total points and 34 net, giving Porto Alegre a world champion in the former Laser class. The next title will be decided in Volos, Greece, in August 2027.
