Final days to secure early bird entry for the 2026 ORC Europeans in Klaipeda
by Offshore Racing Congress 27 May 05:22 AEST
7-15 August 2026
Klaipeda in Lithuania will host the ORC Europeans 2026 © Eduardas Silva
Less than a week remains to enter the 2026 ORC European Championship in Klaipeda, Lithuania, using the Early Bird entry fee advantage, which expires on 1 June.
The entry list is steadily growing, and participants are eager to test the championship waters. Meanwhile, the hosts are in full preparation mode, working hard to ensure the ORC Europeans in Klaipeda will be unforgettable both on the water and ashore.
The fleet is raring to go for competitive racing
The 2025 ORC World Champions in Class C, Garmin Team Pro4u (SWE), have already shared their excitement about competing in these new championship waters.
"We have a new constellation after last year's success. During the winter, we regrouped and prepared the boat, all with the aim of being in the best shape for our busiest season yet. The ORC Europeans in Klaipeda is our main focus this summer, and we are looking forward to tough competition against the best teams in Europe. We look forward to seeing you and your crew on the starting line," says the Garmin Team Pro4u team.
Class C already features several intriguing entries. Two brand-new MAT 11 yachts are on the list: Stony X from Denmark and Arabela from Lithuania. The new design has already proven its potential, as the Italian MAT 11 Robe Da Mat recently won the 2026 ORC World Championship in Sorrento with a commanding 20-point advantage over its nearest competitor.
While Class B is filling up slightly more slowly, several leading teams have already entered. Among them are the 2025 Worlds' Class B vice-champions from Denmark, Dixi5, competing aboard their sleek XR 41.
Early Bird registration for the 2026 ORC Europeans Klaipeda remains open on the Manage2Sail platform until 1 June. Entries close on 7 July. The championship will take place from 7 to 15 August.
The event's Principal Race Officer, the highly regarded Eckart Reinke, emphasises that there is no reason to delay entry, as preparations are already well under way for what promises to be an exceptional championship experience.
"The ORC Europeans, where the sailing elite meet, is the key offshore event in the region this year. Klaipeda is in the heart of the Baltics, making it incredibly easy to reach from Germany, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and beyond. Even better, the racing area is located directly outside the harbour, eliminating long commutes to the racecourse," says Reinke, urging teams to secure their spots.
Organisers introduce creative solutions to guarantee top-tier competition
The championship organisers are already working tirelessly to guarantee top-tier racing and an exceptional experience ashore.
"The waters around Lithuania have no natural obstacles such as rocks, islands, shallows or sandbanks that can be used as rounding marks. However, we have found the perfect solution: designated vessels will be anchored in specific positions according to the actual wind direction to serve as marks in the open Baltic Sea, ensuring a variety of racecourse angles and creating more diverse, dynamic and fair competition," says Mantas Klimantavicius, Head of the ORC Europeans Organising Committee.
Principal Race Officer Eckart Reinke brings extensive experience to the event, having successfully led previous ORC championships, including the 2021 ORC Worlds in Tallinn, the 2023 ORC Worlds in Kiel and the 2024 ORC Europeans in Mariehamn.
Eckart will be joined by Estonian race official Madis Ausman, who has extensive experience in Lithuanian waters, having served as Principal Race Officer at major events such as the 2021 Platu 25 World Championship in Nida and the 2022 Curonian Lagoon Regatta in Klaipeda. He has also acted as Race Officer for multiple ORC events in Estonia and Finland.
Ari Peltomäki from Finland will serve as Scorer, ensuring seamless implementation of Weather Routing Scoring during the event. The International Jury will be led by Germany's Timo Haß and includes prominent names such as Stavros Kouris (GRE), Juhani Soini (FIN), Jan Stage (DEN), Lance Burger (RSA), Neven Baran (CRO) and Andrejs Berzins (LAT).
The International Measurers team will be led by Zoran Grubiša (CRO), alongside Matteo Zuppini (ITA), Andrus Aarna (EST), Rudolfs Romans (LAT), Per Bøymo (NOR) and Heikki Räisänen (FIN). They will be joined by an experienced local Lithuanian team consisting of Vygantas Stankus, Simona Minelge, Rokas Arbušis and Gvidas Misiunas.
An invitation to test the waters and enjoy Lithuanian hospitality in advance
For teams eager to test the championship waters in advance, the organisers are offering a special opportunity: the ORC Prologue Race Klaipeda. Scheduled for 25-26 July, just two weeks before the main event, it will feature a shorter version of the championship format in the same racing area.
Registration for the ORC Prologue Race Klaipeda is already open on the Manage2Sail platform.
Both the ORC European Championship and the ORC Prologue Race Klaipeda promise thrilling and competitive racing combined with legendary Lithuanian hospitality. Participants can also look forward to vibrant entertainment ashore, including Klaipeda's famous "Sea Festival" and exclusive events in the regatta village.
The ORC European Championship 2026 will take place in Klaipeda, Lithuania, from August 7-15, 2026. The ORC European Championship 2026 is organised by the Lithuanian Yachting Union (LYU), under the authority of the Lithuanian Yachting Union (LYU) and under the overall authority of the Offshore Racing Congress (ORC).
For the Notice of Race, Registration, Entry List and complete event information, visit: orc.org/europeans2026