Kiel Welcomes the Fleet: 29er World Championship 2026 Kicks Off Tomorrow
by International 29er Class 2 Jul 11:32 PDT
3-9 July 2026
Registration for the 29er World Championship 2026 © Sascha Klahn
The 2026 29er World Championship is officially under way at the Kiel-Schilksee Olympic Sailing Center, and while the opening ceremony doesn't take the stage until tomorrow evening, the venue is already buzzing. Sailors from around the world have been arriving all day today, Thursday 2nd July, for the start of registration and measurement - the fleet is well and truly here.
Tomorrow evening, Friday 3rd July, we officially kick off the Championship with the Opening Ceremony at the stage, right after the Competitors' Briefing at 1800. It's the moment the whole week has been building towards - but make no mistake, the action has already begun.
Already Underway
Today the Race Office and Registration & Measurement are open from 0900 to 1800, and teams are steadily checking in and getting their boats through inspection.
At 15:00 sustainability took the stage! Chloe Goodman — representative of Sailors for the Sea — hosted a sustainability talk for our sailors, breaking down what the Sustainability Board is all about and how everyone can get involved on-site.
Even better? Sailors who take part have the chance to win prizes in the sustainability raffle! See our social media post for more INFO HERE
Protecting the waters we race on starts with us!
This evening there's a Kidzink Workshop from 18:00 to keep things lively before registration continues into tomorrow. In the workshop, young sailors will team up across countries to take on a real challenge: design a solution to remove harmful algae bloom before it damages our waters.
Winners Prize:
- Free entry to the Kidzink Pearl Cup in Dubai 2026
- Free accommodation for the duration of the event
- Kidzink goody bag
Places are limited and participation is subject to availability.
Day 1: 2 July 2026, 18:00 (FULLY BOOKED)
Day 2: 3 July 2026, 10:00 (A FEW PLACES AVAILABLE)
Register Here
Racing Program (Weather Permitting)
Here's the provisional racing schedule, straight from the Notice of Race. As always in sailing, this can shift depending on the wind and weather - up to 4 races per fleet may be sailed on any given day, and the Championship comprises up to 18 races in total.
Not Just Racing: A Full Week of Activities & Workshops
On land, there's just as much going on. Between races there's a full programme of workshops, talks and social events lined up in and around the chill-out zone - plenty to keep sailors, coaches and parents entertained all week long.
Thu 2 / Fri 3: Kidzink Workshop, 1000 & 1800
Fri 3: Class Media Workshop, 1400
Chris' Jury Talk, 1600
Face Painting, 1700
Sat 4: Compass presentation, 1830
Beach Clean-Up & Educational session with the Surfrider Foundation, 1500
Sun 5: Open Forum, 1830
Q&A with Olympic sailors hosted by Alexia, 1900
Mon 6: Informal coffee morning for parents, 1100
AGM, 1830
Flea market & old ropes collection, 1830
Mon 6: Regatta Dinner, 1800
Tue 7: Midweek Event & Dinner, 1800
PubQuiz with Dominika, 1930
Thu 9: Prize Giving & Closing Ceremony, 1800
Plus, running throughout the week: after-sailing snacks in the two tents most days, sporting equipment and table football tournaments in the chill-out zone, and informal jury talks/open forums whenever there's a gap in the schedule - handy for any waiting time, delays or measurement days.
Defending Champions: Who's Back for 2026?
Last year's podiums set a high bar. Here's how they finished, and who's lining up again in Kiel:
Open Category
1st: Nicklas Holt / Philip Forslund - Denmark/Norway - 28 points
2nd: Jocelyn Le Goff / Jules Vidor - France - 37 points
3rd: Nolann Huet Des Aunay / Titouan Gresset - France - 46 points
None of last year's top three Open crews appear on this year's entry list, leaving the top 3 places up for new teams.
Women's Category
World Champions: Antonina Puchowska / Alicja Dampc - Poland (added the World title to the European crown won just a month earlier)
2nd: Bianca Marchesini / Lucia Finato - Italy
3rd: Emmeli Gramkov / Sofie Andersen - Denmark
Reigning Women's champions Puchowska/Dampc have not re-entered this year. But the silver and bronze medal crews are both back, unchanged: Bianca Marchesini & Lucia Finato return as ITA 16, and Emmeli Gramkov & Sofie Andersen are back as DEN 17 - two crews with real podium pedigree to watch this week.
Mixed Category
World Champions: Giulia Bartolozzi / Pietro Rizzi - Italy (also European Champions in Lake Garda last month)
2nd: Olivia Riesgo / Martin Díaz Tamayo - Argentina
3rd: Emilia Salvatore / Pietro Zandri - Italy
The Mixed fleet sees plenty of familiar faces, just in new boats: World Champion Pietro Rizzi is back, now teamed up with Emilia Salvatore (last year's bronze medal helm) as ITA 11 - a genuine dream pairing on paper. Argentina's silver medallist Martín Díaz Tamayo also returns, now sailing with Tomas Conte as ARG 3329. Giulia Bartolozzi, Olivia Riesgo and Pietro Zandri are not on this year's entry list.