2026 Dutch Water Week - Overall
by Dutch Water Week 6 Jun 11:22 PDT
30 May - 7 June 2026
2026 Dutch Water Week final day © Sailing Energy / Dutch Water Week
The final day delivered a tactical and thrilling conclusion in the 49er class, where sailors were tested by a flatter but highly unpredictable offshore breeze.
The Austrian duo Keanu Prettner and Jakob Flachberger convincingly secured the overall victory after a consistent week. 'This is great for our confidence in breezy conditions. We now know we can stay upright pretty much all the time, so that's nice. I'm very happy with how this week went and glad we sailed so consistently,' helmsman Prettner reflected contentedly. The American team, featuring Andrew Mollerus, climbed to second place in the standings on the final day after what he described as 'pretty challenging and shifty conditions.' 'It was an up-and-down week, but hopefully we learned a lot,' Mollerus said. 'We expect similar conditions during the Sailing Grand Slam in Kiel.'
Dutch sailors on the podium
The Dutch sailors Robbert Huisman and Jorn Swart experienced a day of mixed fortunes. Following a brilliant victory in the first final race, an unexpected penalty turn resulting from a jury decision pushed them far back in the second race. Although this meant they had to settle for third place on the podium, pride prevailed regarding the strong resistance they put up against the international elite. 'These were very challenging sailing conditions that really train your sharpness. The guys we raced against recently finished second at the World Championships, so it was fantastic to measure ourselves against them,' the Dutch duo stated.
Wiersema secures overall victory Ilca 7
The ILCA 7 sailors also enjoyed a beautiful final day, where the shorter format of the medal races provided an exciting battle among the competitors. The victory went to Willem Wiersema, who left the Swiss sailor Gautier (second) behind him after a strategic duel. 'Had a great tactical week,' said Wiersema, who finished ahead of his rival for good in the decisive race. 'Yesterday, I managed to build on my lead over Gautier, giving me a maximum advantage of nine points going into today. That meant I only needed to finish ahead of him once today to secure the win,' Wiersema explained. 'In the first race, I tried to do that with a bit of match racing during the first upwind leg, but by the gate, we were already back with the rest of the fleet.'
Gautier tried to close the substantial points gap on the final day by protesting Wiersema at the start. 'I tried to luff him from below, but the jury ruled green and he didn't get a penalty,' explained Gautier, who subsequently sailed a difficult comeback race due to massive wind shifts. Behind the leading duo, Dutchman Lars Jansen fought his way to the third podium spot with two strong second-place finishes, quickly anticipating the razor-thin margins. 'We learned a lot, especially from the situations where all the boats were packed very close together,' Jansen reflected with satisfaction.
International sailing calendar
Over the past week, the IJmeer off the coast of Almere served as the backdrop for the Sailing Grand Slam. In theory, an important benchmark on the international calendar in the cycle leading up to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. However, the reality on the water presented a mixed picture. Due to a packed international schedule in May, filled with overlapping World and European Championships, the fleet in Almere was thinly attended this year.
Immense dedication from volunteers and partners
The setting at the Almeerderstrand, combined with the vibrant atmosphere of the Almeerderstrand Festival and the 'VrijMiBo On The Beach' (Friday afternoon drinks), is undeniably promising and atmospheric. However, a successful elite sports event stands or falls with its main protagonists: without the dedication and commitment of the international sailing elite, firmly establishing this Sailing Grand Slam remains a challenge. The immense dedication of all the volunteers on the water and ashore, the unconditional support of the partners and the municipality of Almere, and the efforts of the media team simply deserve a fully-fledged and well-filled racing field.
Challenging racing waters
This week, the sailors faced a true and at times untamable racing arena. From stormy scenes with 20 to 25 knots of wind under the shadow of fort island Pampus, to the lighter, tactical breezes of about 10 knots along the skylines of Almere and Amsterdam; the IJmeer demanded absolute sharpness from the competitors.
Dutch Water Week
Alongside elite sports, clinics and a beach festival ashore demonstrated the true potential of the location. Despite the unsettled weather and sharp squalls, recreational sports enthusiasts and the youngest generation refused to be held back. Clinics at Sail Today, the Optimist on Tour, and the Wing Experience drew enthusiastic water sports fans to the beach. Additionally, during three Clean Up on Tours, volunteers joined forces and fished over 300 kilos of litter out of the Almere waters using SUP boards.
Next edition
To firmly position the event on the map in the coming years, the focus is on providing the absolute best logistical and sporting conditions, ensuring international sailors can enjoy high-level, challenging races here. This week proved that all the requirements are in place to successfully bring elite and grassroots sports together again during the next Dutch Water Week, scheduled from May 29 to June 6 2027.
Full Results