Finn Open and U29 European Championship 2026 - Practice races and opening ceremony
by Robert Deaves 22 Jun 12:58 PDT
20-27 June 2026
After three days of equipment inspection and registration, 103 Finns from 17 countries are ready to compete for the 2026 Open and U29 European Championship, part of the LOTTO Gdynia Sailing Days.
On Monday the practice race was followed by the opening ceremony in the evening. Racing is scheduled to get under way on Tuesday at 12.00.
After several days of extreme heat and light winds, a major thunderstorm Sunday evening brought heavy rain, some flooding, thunder and lightning. But the week ahead looks dry and hot with sunny skies and light to moderate winds.
The practice race sailed on Monday afternoon was held in a 10-15 knot northerly and again very high temperatures (at least ashore) but it could have been the best wind of the week with some challenging conditions on the forecast ahead.
The Finn Class President, Rob McMillan led round the top mark from IFA Vice President Arkadii Kistanov, from Italy, and then defending champion Valerian Lebrun from France. As usual many pulled out but it was another Finn Class Vice President, Andrzej Romanowski, from Poland, who led the remaining boats across the finish line. The conditions were just too good to stop early.
McMillan was later joined in the evening by Benjamin Kobierski, President of the Polish Finn Class, and Tomasz Chamera, Vice President of World Sailing on the stage at the opening ceremony at the Marina Gdynia.
Chamera said, "I'm so glad that IFA class gave us this confidence and you come back here once again. This is not the first time, actually one of the biggest events ever was held in Gdynia many, many years ago. Last time we had a privilege to host you in 2020, so welcome back once again.
"I do hope that the facilities in Gdynia, and the wind conditions will be very useful for you. I wouldn't be afraid of the team here, I'm sure, and on the water because they proved numerous times their experience and commitment, and I'm sure that they will deliver the event in a fantastic way to all of you, which is going to be our pleasure.
"So have fun, enjoy, and I wish you all to spend a great time here in Gdynia, the place where I wouldn't say it was born, but which is the sailing capital of Poland."
McMillan responded by saying, "Thank you very much and thank you for the introduction, Tomasz, and it's so wonderful to be back here in the Polish capital of sailing. We have 103 competitors, so well done everyone. I would like to particularly thank Benjamin, one of our great volunteers, the president of our local Finn class.
"I'm so proud to see so many Polish competitors here. We 15 competitors from Poland in 2020, and we have more than 40 today. Congratulations.
"We can see the level of investment that's being made in the infrastructure in your wonderful city around sailing. We love to see people spending money on sailing infrastructure and building on such a great reputation that the city has for hosting world-class sailing.
"It behoves me at this point to officially declare for our 103 competitors the 2026 Finn European Championships open."
Kobierski concluded with, "Welcome to Gdynia, welcome to Poland. I wish all competitors safe sailing, fast starts, good direction, good decision and have fun. And thank you for coming to Poland and to Gdynia."
The serious business begins on Tuesday. However, the forecast for the day is light, though there is a window of opportunity with an onshore breeze in the afternoon. The 10-race series runs from Tuesday to Saturday.