Notice of Race published and entry open for the 2026 Melges 24 European Championship
by International Melges 24 Class Association 17 Mar 08:55 PDT
29 August - 4 September 2026
Tønsberg Seilforening © Tønsberg Seilforening
Registration is now officially open for the 2026 Melges 24 European Championship, which will take place from 29 August to 4 September 2026, following the publication of the Notice of Race and the opening of online entry through Manage2Sail.
The first teams have already entered, with early registrations received from Canada, Croatia, the Netherlands and Norway, confirming immediate international interest in next year's continental championship.
Hosted by Tønsberg Seilforening in cooperation with the International Melges 24 Class Association (IM24CA), the championship will take place in Tønsberg, one of Norway's most historic coastal towns and a renowned summer destination located approximately 100 kilometres south of Oslo.
Situated in the Oslofjord, the race area offers highly attractive one-design racing conditions, combining sheltered fjord waters with dynamic wind patterns influenced by the nearby North Sea. Competitors can expect tactical racing across a wide range of conditions, from lighter Nordic summer breezes to stronger pressure systems, all framed by the archipelago landscape surrounding the national park waters near Fjærholmen.
The Norwegian Melges 24 fleet is particularly eager to welcome the international class back to Norway. Domestic activity is already showing strong momentum, with 19 teams currently entered for the Norwegian Championship in Trondheim this June.
"Tønsberg Sailing Club promises a Nordic atmosphere, excellent sailing conditions in the archipelago of the national park, and a club environment that supports strong social events after racing. Our volunteers and professionals are ready to welcome you all to a week of challenging racing," says Erik Virik Fusdahl of Tønsberg Seilforening.
On behalf of the Norwegian Melges 24 National Class Association, Vemund Gransæther highlights the significance of the event:
"It is a milestone for us to finally welcome the Melges 24 fleet back to Norway. Tønsberg will offer world-class racing conditions, and we are committed to delivering a championship that reflects both the competitive spirit and strong camaraderie that define the Melges 24 class."
For the international fleet, the championship also offers an opportunity to experience one of Scandinavia's most attractive summer sailing destinations, where Viking heritage, coastal culture and Nordic hospitality meet onshore alongside world-class racing offshore.
Paolo Brescia, Vice Chair Europe of IM24CA and the owner of Melgina, is looking forward to what is expected to be the key Melges 24 event in Europe this season.
"We have just concluded a great racing event in Zadar, Croatia, and it is encouraging to already see Luka Sangulin's Panjic among the first entries for the European Championship, setting an example for other southern teams to follow. The international Melges 24 class has not raced in Norway for many years, and this championship offers a valuable opportunity to experience both racing against and sailing together with a strong Norwegian fleet in their summer capital, Tønsberg."
Norway has a proud Melges 24 heritage: the first-ever Melges 24 Corinthian World Champion, Kristian Nergaard, is Norwegian, while former IM24CA President Jens Altern Wathne - already among the first entries for the championship - further underlines the country's long-standing connection to the class. In recent years, teams such as Team RRH, led by Jan Fredrik Dyvi together with Herman Horn-Johannessen; Storm Capital helmed by Peder Jahre; Helly Hansen Lisa II by Kristoffer Spone; and Blow skippered by Peder Nergaard, have established themselves among the best-known Norwegian names on today's international Melges 24 circuit.
At the same time, the next generation is already making its mark: Team Bagdad Prospects, skippered by Hans Herman Nergaard, claimed victory at the historic Grundig Hanko Race Week in 2025.
NTNUI Sailing also represents an important youth bridge into the Melges 24 class. The Trondheim-based student initiative has built an inclusive sailing environment where young sailors progress from beginners to competitive keelboat crews, with several already competing in Melges 24 events and title championships alongside established Norwegian teams.
Entries are now open, and teams are encouraged to secure their participation early as preparations build toward a strong European fleet gathering in Norway.
General email for the 2026 Melges 42 European Championship: