2026 29er World Championship in Kiel - Notice of Race published
by 29er Class 17 Feb 03:08 PST
2-9 July 2026
A strong performance by the 2025 World Champions Nicklas Holt and Philip Forslund, securing the 29er title at Kieler Woche 2025 © Sascha Klahn
The Notice of Race for the 2026 29er World Championship, to be held in early July at the Olympic Sailing Centre in Schilksee, Kiel, is now published online, officially opening entries for the event.
The championship will bring together the world's top young sailors for a week of high-level competition on the waters of the Kiel Fjord, renowned for its reliable winds and open race areas.
For many years, the 29er class has played a central role in Kiel's youth sailing landscape. The class is firmly anchored in major formats such as YES (Young Europeans Sailing), one of Europe's leading international youth regattas, and has been an established part of the Kieler Woche program for decades. Our cooperation with the 29er class has grown steadily over this time. As part of this partnership, Kiel has also been hosting the 29er Euro Cup during Kieler Woche for many years, offering young sailors a high-level, internationally recognized racing platform.
The upcoming World Championship will once again benefit from the demanding conditions of the Kiel Fjord and the proven infrastructure of the Olympic Center in Kiel-Schilksee, which has been a home to international sailing competitions for decades.
Kieler Yacht-Club Chairman Dr. Hauke Berndt emphasizes the sporting significance of the event: "We are very pleased that Kiel will be hosting the 29er World Championship in July. As a traditional sailing location, the fjord offers the best conditions for exciting races and international sailors. The cooperation with the 29er class underlines our common goal of promoting youth and competitive sports and giving young talents a platform to compete at the highest level."
In the lead-up to the World Championship, Kiel will also host a Eurocup 29er during Kieler Woche, one of the largest and most prestigious sailing festivals in the world. This Eurocup offers teams the opportunity to compete on the same race areas and familiarize themselves with local conditions ahead of the World Championship.
Last year's Eurocup 29er in Kiel saw an impressive performance by the Norwegian duo Nicklas Holt and Philip Forslund, who not only took victory in front of a strong international fleet but also went on to win the 2025 29er World Championship. Their achievements on the Schilksee waters set a high benchmark for competitors attending this year's event.
Highlighting the significance of the event and the global strength of the class, Pippa Kenton-Page, Executive Director of the International 29er Class Association, said:
"We are very excited to have the opportunity to host our 2026 29er World Championships in the historic Olympic sailing waters of Kiel, Germany. A prestigious and outstanding venue both on and off the water, this event is shaping up to be our largest 29er Worlds in history - with attendance from all over the world, demonstrating the strength and ongoing growth of the global 29er class.
The 29er World Championships is the pinnacle event of our annual circuit and this year promises to exceed expectations, delivering world class racing on the water with 6 days of closely contested racing in up to six fleets and three race courses. Coupled with many opportunities for the young sailors to enjoy new experiences off the water - socialising and making new friends from all around the world, learning new skills through our longstanding collaboration with Kidzink, our title sponsor, and experiencing all this uniquely exciting event has to offer, not least to crown the 2026 29er World Champions Men, Women and Mixed categories.
The International 29er Class is a fast paced, high octane youth sailing class, requiring very high levels of team work and collaboration - making it a fantastic step into high performance sailing, quick decision making and most importantly having a lot of fun both on and off the water!"
The Olympic Sailing Centre in Schilksee combines world-class onshore facilities with direct access to open and varied racecourses. Its Olympic heritage and long-standing role within Kieler Woche provide a unique setting for an event that blends sporting excellence with the vibrant atmosphere of one of sailing's most historic venues.
With the Eurocup serving as a key preparation event, teams will have the chance to fine-tune their performance and gain valuable experience on the local courses ahead of the World Championship. The combination of these two major events positions Kiel as a central hub of the 29er international circuit in early summer.