Tasar World Championship
The 2026 Tasar World Championship reached its fifth day of racing, with three races (Races 8-10) completed in northerly winds of 6-7 knots.
In stark contrast to the previous day’s strong breeze, competitors encountered a challenging combination of light winds and powerful tidal currents. As the day progressed, the wind gradually weakened, while the strength and direction of the current fluctuated significantly between the starting area and the windward mark. This created a difficult tactical situation for many teams, forcing them to make difficult decisions throughout the course.
Amid these tricky conditions, Yumi Noishiki and Jun Yasukawa delivered an outstanding performance to win Race 8. At the helm was skipper Yumi Noishiki, who only began sailing three years ago.
The team had set qualifying for the World Championship as a major goal and spent countless hours training alongside friends at their home club in Enoshima. Their hard work paid off in impressive fashion, and they were clearly delighted with the result after crossing the finish line.
This year’s championship has also featured several family teams competing together on the world stage.
Among them are Australia’s Luke Owen and Ivy Owen, a father-and-daughter team. Ten-year-old Ivy, sailing as crew, is one of the youngest competitors in the fleet. Despite having taken up sailing only six months ago, she now finds herself sharing the same start line as some of the world’s most accomplished sailors.
For the Owen family, sailing is more than just a sport; it is an important part of family life. Even on the World Championship stage, that family bond was evident in the smiles they shared throughout the event.
With ten races now completed, the championship has entered its final phase. While the battle for the overall title remains intense, attention is also turning to the emerging young sailors and new heroes making their mark on the fleet. The action on the waters of Okinawa’s Yanbaru region concludes Friday with the final day of racing.