South Africa’s Kira Bester and Portugal’s Bernardo Pereira opened the 2026 ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Series in dominant fashion, claiming victory at the Madeira Ocean Racing Challenge, the first stop of the season.

Pereira delivers at home

Racing on familiar waters, Bernardo Pereira confirmed his status as one of the sport’s rising leaders. The reigning U23 world champion and senior world bronze medallist controlled the men’s SS1 race, taking the win in 1:15:19.60.

Portugal showcased impressive depth, placing four paddlers in the top five. France’s Marin Lanee was the only athlete to break the Portuguese dominance, finishing second (1:15:50.07). He was followed by Mateus Ornelas in third, with Joao Santos and Celio Alves rounding out the top five.

The conditions played a key role in the race dynamics, offering long sections of favorable downwind, allowing paddlers to fully exploit the ocean runs, something Pereira highlighted as a major factor in what he described as “almost perfect” racing conditions.

Bester in control of the women’s race

In the women’s SS1, world champion Kira Bester delivered a commanding performance, pulling away from the field to secure victory in 1:21:29.83.

Great Britain’s Rosemary Edwards claimed second place (1:26:30.03), while Portugal’s Carlota Duarte completed the podium. The top five also included South Africa’s Julia Williams and Portugal’s Rafaela Costa.

Despite forecasts of flat water, athletes encountered helpful wind, swell, and current alignment, creating fast, assisted conditions that shaped the race.

Short race format gains traction

Beyond the main event, Madeira also hosted short course racing over a 5km circuit in Calheta Bay. The format, designed for spectator engagement, brought racing closer to shore and added a dynamic, high-intensity element to the weekend.

Pereira welcomed the format, noting its value for both athletes and audiences, while Emanuel Silva, Olympic silver medallist in sprint kayaking, also praised the event’s organisation and potential to attract more paddlers to ocean racing.

A strong start to the World Series

The Madeira leg sets the tone for the 2026 season, combining elite competition, accessible race formats, and high-quality ocean conditions. The World Series now heads to Tahiti (July 31 – August 2), before continuing to Fortaleza and Réunion, promising a diverse and demanding global circuit for the world’s best ocean paddlers.

ICF Canoe Ocean Racing Stop #2 – Tahiti