OpenSkiff World Championship 2026 in Sardinia - Preview
by Elena Giolai 22 Jul 12:02 PDT
25-31 July 2026
The countdown has entered its final stage. From 25 to 31 July, Calasetta will host the 2026 OpenSkiff World Championship, organised by Lega Navale Italiana Sezione Sulcis under the authority of the Italian Sailing Federation and in cooperation with the International Open Skiff Class Association.
A seaside village of Tabarchine origin and a true jewel of the Sulcis area in south-western Sardinia, Calasetta will welcome young sailors and their families in a setting where sport, nature and local traditions come together. The white houses of the historic centre, the Savoy Tower, the beaches of Sottotorre, Le Saline and Spiaggia Grande, together with the views across to the island of San Pietro, make Calasetta a particularly attractive destination from a tourism perspective.
The waters of the San Pietro Channel also provide a technical and versatile racecourse which has already hosted major international events. Over the years, Lega Navale Italiana Sezione Sulcis has developed extensive organisational experience, hosting, among other events, the 2021 OpenSkiff World Championship, the 2023 RS Aero World Championship, the 2025 OpenSkiff Eurochallenge and the 2025 Italian Club Team Racing Championship.
The OpenSkiff is a youth single-handed class included in the activities of the Italian Sailing Federation, combining competitive racing with a dynamic and engaging atmosphere. Racing is accompanied by social occasions and shoreside activities, which are central elements of the class philosophy. One of the most distinctive features of the class is on-the-water umpiring.
Competitors are encouraged to acknowledge any infringement and take the appropriate penalty immediately, while umpires follow the races and intervene when required. Many situations are therefore resolved directly on the racecourse, promoting a better understanding of the rules, personal responsibility and fair play.
The provisional entry list includes 166 registrations from 13 nations, divided between 62 Under 13 sailors and 104 Under 17 sailors. Italy has the largest delegation, with 67 competitors, 31 in the Under 13 fleet and 36 in the Under 17 fleet. Poland follows with 25 sailors, France with 24, Japan with 8, Germany and India with 6 each, the United States with 4, Hungary and New Zealand with 3, Australia and Lithuania with 2, and Canada with one competitor.
Activities will begin on Friday 24 July with the arrival of the teams, the first registration procedures and the distribution of charter boats. Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 July will be dedicated to equipment inspection and the completion of registration, ahead of the practice race and opening ceremony scheduled for Sunday. Racing for the world titles will take place from Monday 27 to Friday 31 July.
The official dinner is scheduled for Thursday 30 July, while the prize-giving ceremony will bring the championship to a close on the afternoon of the final day.
The 2026 OpenSkiff World Championship is supported by local businesses Market Lungomare, Tabaccheria Granara, Panificio Aste, Gelateria Il Pinguino, Marina di Calasetta, Pro Loco di Calasetta and Edilcasa di Marco Casula. They are joined by the Municipality of Calasetta, the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, the Italian Sailing Federation, the Italian OpenSkiff Class and the International Open Skiff Class Association.
worlds2026.openskiffclass.org / www.leganavalesulcis.it