Flags, face paint and a full house: 29er Worlds 2026 officially open in Kiel
by International 29er Class 3 Jul 12:39 PDT
3-9 July 2026
29er Worlds 2026 officially open in Kiel © Sascha Klahn
Racing may not start until tomorrow, but there was no standing still at the Olympic Sailing Center in Kiel today.
Day 0 of the 2026 29er World Championship delivered another packed programme, as 276 teams from 35 nations completed their final preparations before the Championship was officially declared open this evening.
With registration and measurement wrapping up, the focus shifted ashore. The day kicked off with a media workshop, giving sailors the tools to share their Worlds journey with the world — from capturing content on and off the water to telling their own stories throughout the week.
Next up, the International Jury took the stage for an open session with the sailors and coaches, walking through some of the Racing Rules of Sailing and what to expect on the racecourse — a valuable refresher before the first warning signal sounds.
Then it was time to get colourful. A face painting session had sailors decked out in their national colours ahead of the highlight of the day: the Parade of Nations. Flags held high, the fleet marched through the venue in a sea of colour and noise — the perfect snapshot of what makes this class so special.
Officially open
Before the celebrations, the Competitors' Briefing at covered the essential information for the regatta getting under way tomorrow. Straight after, the Opening Ceremony brought everyone together, hosted and introduced by Lena Erdil.
Guest speakers included Peter Lubeck, President of the International 29er Class, and Dr. Hauke Berndt, President of the Kieler Yacht-Club, who welcomed the fleet to Kiel's historic Olympic waters. Finally, Daniel O'Hara spoke on behalf of Kidzink — the 29er Class sponsor for the second year in a row — before the Championship was officially declared open.
Racing starts tomorrow
Now, all eyes turn to the water. Racing begins tomorrow with the first warning signal at 11:00, as six qualifying fleets take to three race areas on the Kiel Fjord for the opening day of the Qualifying Series.
Don't miss the incredible images from today — browse the full gallery here
Follow all the action throughout the week on the 29er Class website and on Instagram @international29er.