The IQFoil Youth & Junior World Championship Costa Brava 2026 is launching a pioneering wetsuit recycling initiative that aims to transform how the sailing community handles end-of-life neoprene gear. Beyond crowning the next generation of elite windfoil sailors, the event will serve as a platform for real environmental action on the Costa Brava this summer.
Organised in line with the long-term sustainability vision of Club de Vela La Ballena Alegre, the championship will host a Wetsuit Downcycling and Reutilisation Initiative. Sailors, coaches, and teams from around the world are invited to actively participate in reducing waste across water sports.
Dedicated collection points will be available throughout the championship for anyone wishing to donate old or damaged wetsuits and technical neoprene gear. Wetsuits still in good condition will be reused or donated to youth sailing development programs and emerging sailing communities worldwide. Non-reusable neoprene will be transformed into new circular products, preventing landfill disposal and promoting innovative material solutions within the nautical sector.
In addition to wetsuits, organisers will also collect used sailing equipment with the aim of reusing it in sailing development programmes for emerging communities, in collaboration with the ROPE Program and Indigolife.org. Participants are encouraged to engage their teammates and national teams, helping to spread awareness and amplify the impact of the initiative.
To recognise the commitment of athletes toward climate action, the first 50 sailors who donate a wetsuit will receive an exclusive circular wallet crafted from neoprene collected during World Championships hosted at Club de Vela La Ballena Alegre since 2023. This symbolic reward connects the values of sustainability, community, and circularity at the heart of the project.
The initiative addresses one of the growing environmental challenges in water sports: the disposal of technical equipment at the end of its lifecycle. By participating, sailors contribute to reducing neoprene waste, supporting youth sailing programs in underserved communities, and advancing circular economy practices across the sport.
More than a sporting event, the IQFoil Youth & Junior World Championship Costa Brava 2026 seeks to generate a measurable sustainability legacy by engaging athletes directly in climate action. Through small individual gestures such as donating an old wetsuit, the global sailing community can collectively create a positive impact for the future of sailing and the protection of our oceans.
