October 15, 2024
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World Sailing invites bids to stage 2026 Youth Sailing World Championships
World Sailing is inviting Member National Authorities (MNAs), yacht clubs, and regions and cities to bid to host the 2026 Youth Sailing World Championships, the pinnacle of youth sailing.
Looking ahead to the 55th edition of the event, World Sailing is seeking bids which can build on the legacy of an event which has provided a pathway to some of the greatest names in the sport’s history.
Jim Morris, World Sailing Director of Events, said: “Staging the 2026 Youth Sailing World Championships is an opportunity to shape the next generation of sailing champions, promote a venue or region around the world, and develop the sport in the host country.
“We anticipate significant interest in what is one of the jewels in sailing’s crown.”
Over 700 sailors and coaches will attend the 55th Youth Sailing World Championships and World Sailing is seeking bids to hold the event during the week of either 10-18 July 2026 or 11-19 December 2026.
World Sailing will consider bids for multiple consecutive years.
Full details about the bidding process and criteria are available in the 2026 Youth Sailing World Championships Bid Guidelines document.
An MNA or Host City interested in hosting the event shall inform the World Sailing Executive Office by 30 November 2024 of their intent to bid.
All bids must be received by the World Sailing Executive Office by 1700 UTC on 30 January 2025. All bids received will be treated as confidential.
World Sailing recognises that venues have different needs and facilities and encourages interested parties to contact World Sailing Events Manager, Pedro Rodrigues, to seek clarification on requirements related to the event.
For further information about the bid guidelines and to submit a bid, please contact bid@sailing.org.
About the Youth Sailing World Championships
The Youth Sailing World Championship was first held in Sweden in 1971. The most recent edition of the event was held in Lake Garda, Italy, with 418 sailors from 70 nations competing.
The championship attracts only the best youth sailors from around the world and competition is notoriously tough as competitors are selected by their Member National Authority (MNA) from a host of eligible sailors within each nation.
Past notable winners include America’s Cup skippers, Chris Dickson (NZL), Russell Coutts (NZL), Dean Barker (NZL); Olympic medallists, Nathan Outteridge (AUS), Iain Jensen (AUS), Robert Scheidt (BRA), Amelie Lux (GER), Ben Ainslie (GBR), Iain Percy (GBR), Alessandra Sensini (ITA), Elise Rechichi (AUS) and Tessa Parkinson (AUS); Volvo Ocean Race sailors like Stuart Bannatyne (NZL) and Richard Clarke (CAN).
The most successful youth world champions are Great Britain’s Sally Cuthbert and Poland’s Zofia Klepacka having won four successive titles in the Laser II and Mistral respectively.