OpenSkiff World Championship 2026 in Calasetta, Italy - Day 0
by Elena Giolai 25 Jul 01:33 PDT
25-31 July 2026
Several of the 166 registered sailors have already starred at recent World Championships. Great expectations surround the Italian team and the sailors representing Lega Navale Italiana Sezione Sulcis, the event organiser
With the first international teams arriving, Calasetta is entering the atmosphere of the 2026 OpenSkiff World Championship. Registration and equipment inspections will precede the practice race and opening ceremony on Sunday 26 July, while racing for the Under 13 and Under 17 world titles will begin on Monday 27 July.
The provisional entry list includes 166 registrations from 13 nations and features several young sailors who have already distinguished themselves at the class's major international events. Many arrive in Sardinia after achieving important results in the younger age groups and continuing their development in the older fleets. Among the leading names are France's Charles Ganivet and Clara Zunquin. In 2022, Ganivet won the Under 12 world title ahead of Zunquin, who was the leading female sailor. Two years later, on Lake Garda, Ganivet claimed the Under 15 silver medal, while Zunquin once again won the female ranking in the same category. Both will compete in the Under 17 fleet in Calasetta.
Attention will also focus on Sviatoslav Yasnolobov of Club Nautico Rimini, the 2023 Under 12 world champion, who is now entered in the Under 17 category. At the same championship, Fabio Serra of LNI Sulcis won bronze, Aurora Milanese of Circolo Vela Arco finished sixth overall and first female, while Pietro Dedoni, now representing Lega Navale Italiana Cagliari, and Manuel Albanese, now sailing for Circolo Velico Azimuth, both placed inside the top ten. The Italian team includes several other sailors who have already reached international podiums. Gabriele Lizzulli of Circolo Nautico e Vela Argentario won Under 12 world bronze in 2024, while Sofia Benetti of Circolo Vela Arco claimed the female silver medal at the same championship before adding the 2025 Under 13 European title. Gianluca Pilia of Polisportiva Mare Quartu will also be one to watch after finishing second in the Under 17 fleet at the 2025 Eurochallenge event on Lake Balaton.
The Polish delegation, second only to Italy in size, also includes several strong contenders. Pawel Sitko and Paulina Szczepa won the male and female Under 17 rankings respectively at the 2025 Eurochallenge on Lake Balaton, while Franciszek Sowa finished first in the Under 13 category at the same event. For Lega Navale Italiana Sezione Sulcis, competing at a home World Championship carries particular significance. Fabio Serra returns to world-level competition after his individual bronze medal in 2023 and the silver medal won at the 2025 Team Racing World Championship together with Angelo Manconi, Elena Telisca and Riccardo Hai Gessa. During the same season, Telisca also claimed the female bronze medal at the European Championship. The entry list also includes the younger Cecilia Parise and Gaia Sabbatino.
From Monday 27 to Friday 31 July, the waters of the San Pietro Channel will host the races that will decide the 2026 Under 13 and Under 17 world titles. The event is supported by Market Lungomare, Tabaccheria Granara, Panificio Aste, Gelateria Il Pinguino, Medianet, 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.