The 2026 Formula Kite World Championships came down to the finest of margins for Australian rider Breiana Whitehead, with every point proving critical in a dramatic week of racing in Portugal.  

Whitehead narrowly missed qualifying for the top-10 final series after finishing tied on points for tenth overall, ultimately losing out on countback and being forced to watch the final day from shore.  

It was a rollercoaster regatta for the Australian, who suffered an early setback on day one after a high-speed kite tangle with competitors took her out of racing, before mounting an impressive comeback through consistent performances across the remainder of the championship.  

“I had a pretty shocking day,” admitted Whitehead after the final fleet race of the day. “I had a pretty good day yesterday and climbed up but I think I put too much pressure on myself and made a few mistakes that cost a fair bit. It was wavy out there, so you had to be on it.” 

Despite the disappointment of missing the finals, Whitehead showed resilience throughout the week in a challenging venue known for its waves, strong breeze and demanding conditions.  

“It was a tough championship and a really demanding venue, but Brei showed a lot of resilience throughout the week,” said Australian Sailing Team Technical Director Michael Blackburn."

“After losing the first day, she did a great job to reset and fight her way back into finals contention. To miss out on the top 10 on countback is obviously disappointing, especially when it comes down to such small margins, but there are a lot of positives to take from the way she competed across the regatta.” 

Looking ahead, Whitehead will continue building towards the second half of the season, with the next major international at the LA2028 Olympic venue in Long Beach.  

In the men’s fleet, State Sailing Performance Program athlete Oscar Timm finished 37th overall, delivering a strong performance against a world-class field and continuing his development at senior international level. 

Full list results can be found here  

Formula Kite – Women (31 entries) 

11th - Brieana Whitehead (AST)  

Formula Kite – Men (53 entries) 

37th - Oscar Timm (SSPP)  

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About Australian Sailing   

Australian Sailing is the governing body for the sport of Sailing in Australia. We are responsible for the administration, promotion and development of sailing. We are a member-based organisation that represent the interests and provides services and support to over 360 clubs across Australia as well as more than 160 accredited Discover Sailing Centres.   

The Australian Sailing Team is the national representative team for Olympic-class sailing, bringing together Australia’s elite athletes and rising stars through a unified high-performance pathway within Australian Sailing.   

Media Contact    

Lisa Darmanin – Australian Sailing Team Communications & Brand Lead    

lisa.darmanin@sailing.org.au