BRICS Sailing Championship 2026 meets new participants for its second edition

by Olga Zvyagina 2 Sep 23:53 PDT 3-6 September 2026

From September 3 to 6, the strongest sailors from different countries will gather at the Minsk Sea - about 60 sailors will take part in BRICS Sailing Championship 2026 regatta joined with stage 3 of the international regatta series Tenzor Elite Cup 2026.

This is a dual status regatta, where crews will compete not only for series points but also for positions in the BRICS Championship standings, and among the participants are many titled professionals, Olympians, and world and European champions.

The organizers of the competition are the international network of yacht clubs Tenzor Sailing Club, the International Association of Corporate and Professional Sailing with the support of the Sailing Federations of Belarus and BRICS countries, general partners - Tenzor Consulting Group, SberCity, international information partner - TV BRICS, as well as stage partners - Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace St.Petersburg, Bonifique, Liorro Coffee, DILIS, Darida.

The BRICS Sailing Championship is a unique project - the only one in world sailing - that strengthens international sports ties among BRICS+ countries. The first competition in this concept was held in December 2025 in Turkey, bringing together about 80 participants from 10 countries.

India enters with top sailors!

For the first time, two Indian sailing teams will take part in the competition.

India - the BRICS chair country in 2026 - is pursuing a course of unity through sport and cultural ties, and India's best sailing stars are getting ready for start.

Litmus7 Team will represent talented young generation of Indian sailors led by Abhimanyu Panwar on helm - a multiple-time national and international sailing medalist, accomplished sailor, instructor with more than 18 years of competitive racing experience and over 10,000 nautical miles of offshore sailing experience. His most recent achievements include winning the 2026 National J80 Fleet and Offshore Championships and securing 3rd place at the 2025 Far East Offshore Regatta, further establishing his position among India's leading competitive sailors.

Another Team from India will act with team leader Ayaz Shaikh - a legend of Indian sailing, Asia's No.1 sailor, formerly ranked in the top 50 in the world Match Racing qualification, with over 30 national victories, 5 international medals, and 20 years of coaching experience at elite yacht clubs.

Russia and Belarus are heading the racing season in 2026

The international crew of Tenzor Team skippered by Andrey Pushkin will start regatta as the leader of the 2026 Tenzor Elite Cup Series, with two stage wins, aiming to hold onto the lead.

"This season we keep our principles: maximum preparation, strong lineup, and a focus on our main rivals in ranking," - Daniil Odintsov, team's tactician emphasized. "The weather conditions should be great, because early September in Minsk is warm and windy."

The regatta entry list features strongest Russian teams - Ptichki Sailing Team skippered by Elvira Pinchuk, leaders of the TSC sailing team ranking and current winners of the first 2025 BRICS Sailing Championship, and Bars Sailing Team, which won silver medals at last year's regatta.

The participation of foreign sailing teams gives an excellent opportunities to grow and share experience, - commented Ptichki Sailing Team helmsman Elvira Pinchuk. - This is one of the most beautiful aspects of our sport: on shore, participants speak different languages, representing different countries and cultures, but once they take to the water, they begin to speak one language - the language of sail. It is precisely such competitions that allow not only to determine the strongest but also to exchange experiences, make new acquaintances, and understand how much sport can unite people.

Among the serious contenders from Russia and Belarus are the teams "W Sailing Team" led by Petr Bukin, "Yacht Club Pirogovo" skippered by Alexander Bozhko, "Butter Sailing Team" led by Egor Zaruba, "Novasail" with Olga Manyati on helm, and many others.

An international crew, "Skolkovo Sailing Team 3" of Sergey Doronin, is preparing for a bright debut at the Minsk Sea.

"This will be an important and interesting start: strong crews will gather in Minsk, so we expect tight races, high competition, and intense battles. It is especially valuable that our tactician, Sergey Desyukevich, is a Minsk native and knows the local conditions well - his experience will help us adapt faster to the water area and act more confidently on the course. We are determined to show stable teamwork, enjoy the racing, and worthily represent the Skolkovo Sailing Club," shared Sergey Doronin.

The competition program promises four very intense days for participants and guests. On September 3, it will open with training and registration, followed by three racing days, and a business program in a public talks format - all merging into a powerful synergy of sport and cultures, the development of international sports ties, communication, and joint activities.

The regatta organizers emphasize that holding such world-scale event at the Minsk Sea confirms the high status of the Belarus water area and the growing interest in sailing.