Armada Cup Sets Sail from Plymouth to San Sebastián today

Armada Cup 2026: Racing to the heart of the Basque Coast © Armada Cup

The 7th Armada Cup - Plymouth - Donostia / San Sebastián - Vicente Munilla Memorial will set sail this Saturday, 18 July, from Plymouth (United Kingdom), heading for Donostia / San Sebastián on a 460-nautical-mile offshore passage across the English Channel. It is the only offshore yacht race on the entire Cantabrian coastline, returning 30 years after its last edition.

A total of 15 yachts will line up on the starting line. The fleet will cross the English Channel, leaving the island of Ouessant (Ushant) to port at a distance of 124 nautical miles, before passing Chaussée de Sein, located 24 nautical miles south of Ouessant, and then heading towards Donostia / San Sebastián. Depending on weather conditions, the fleet is expected to arrive between 20 and 23 July. Both the start and the progress of the race can be followed live through the official online tracking platform (www.ybtracking.com) or via the Race Viewer app: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.yellowbrick.raceviewer

The Fleet

A total of 81 sailors are currently entered in the competition. The Basque fleet has strongly committed to this edition of the race. Of the 15 participating yachts, four belong to the Real Club Náutico de San Sebastián (RCNSS): Sagartxo IV, Mirua, Camborio Uno and Krill.

The Real Club Marítimo del Abra-Real Sporting Club (RCMA-RSC) will be represented by four yachts: Kunana, Zeta Obelix, Andarax Bi and Jaleo, while the Club Náutico Hondarribia (CNH) will compete with Lalanda Handia. The Spanish fleet is completed by Portu III, representing Club Marítimo Canido from Vigo.

The race's international profile is further strengthened by the participation of four foreign entries: from the United Kingdom, Demi Plie, skippered by Stuart Scarbrough (Royal Western Yacht Club), and Hush, skippered by James Beckly (Royal Cruising Club); from France, Graciosa, skippered by Pierre Garoche (Club de la Vallée des Fous); and from the Netherlands, PH3, skippered by Austin Van't Wout, representing KR&ZV De Maas. This international participation further consolidates the race's growing European profile.

Weather Forecast Points to a Fast Race

Txema García, Technical Director of the race at the Real Club Náutico de San Sebastián (RCNSS), expects favourable weather conditions for the event:

"The start on 18 July will be characterised by light south-easterly winds until early afternoon. As the fleet enters the English Channel, northerly winds of between 10 and 12 knots are expected, increasing in strength as the boats approach Ouessant and the Chaussée de Sein. Once in the Bay of Biscay, medium to strong following winds of between 15 and 24 knots are forecast, conditions that should make for a fast race."

A Full Programme of Events

Alongside the sporting competition, the Armada Cup will feature a programme of activities open to the public.

On 22 July, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, the Euskal Itsas Museoa (Basque Maritime Museum) will host a children's boatbuilding workshop.

Once the fleet has arrived in Donostia / San Sebastián, on 24 July visitors can enjoy a guided tour of the exhibition "Elkano-Urdaneta: The Discovery of the Oceans" at the Euskal Itsas Museoa. At 7:00 pm, the Alta Garaioa Choir will give a free public concert at San Pedro Church, located on the harbour.

The programme concludes on 25 July at 7:00 pm with the official reception and prize-giving ceremony for the Armada Cup 2026 at Donostia / San Sebastián City Hall, where the venue and dates for the 2028 Armada Cup will also be announced.

In addition, until 31 July, visitors can enjoy the photographic exhibition "Dinghy Sailing in Donostia / San Sebastián" in the Blue Room of the Real Club Náutico de San Sebastián, curated by Nacho Martínez (Monday to Friday, 10:00 am-12:00 noon).

Welcome Ceremony in San Sebastián

On 23 July at 6:30 pm, an official welcome ceremony for the participating yachts is scheduled in La Concha Bay. The event will feature the participation of a Carnota-class Spanish Navy vessel, together with Optimist and dinghy sailors from the RCNSS Sailing School, welcoming the fleet alongside the local sailing community.

The Armada Cup - Plymouth - Donostia / San Sebastián is jointly organised by the Real Club Náutico de San Sebastián and the Royal Western Yacht Club of England, two historic yacht clubs with more than a century of tradition. The San Sebastián International Regatta - Vicente Munilla Memorial acts as co-organiser, while institutional support is provided by Donostia / San Sebastián City Council, Donostia Kirola, Euskadi Sport Ports (EKP) and the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa.