Patricia Suárez / Melania Henke

Patricia Suarez, from Galicia, leads a new Spanish 49erFX project alongside Mallorca's Melania Henke, the pair coached by Olympic champion Anton Paz.

Together since late 2024 with their sights on Los Angeles 2028, they announced themselves on the big stage by topping the leaderboard after the opening day of the 2026 World Championship in Quiberon.

It was a statement of intent from one of the fleet's most promising young crews.

Melania Henke, a 20-year-old from Mallorca, crews for Galician helm Patricia Suarez under the guidance of Olympic champion coach Anton Paz.

At only her second senior World Championship, Henke helped the young Spanish pair lead the fleet after day one of the 2026 Worlds in Quiberon.

The duo, formed in late 2024, are building toward a Los Angeles 2028 campaign.