Scheveningen to host ORC Double Handed World Championship 2026 during the North Sea Regatta
by Offshore Racing Congress 24 Nov 16:15 GMT
18-25 May 2026
The Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) and Jachtclub Scheveningen, in collaboration with the City of The Hague, are proud to announce that the ORC Double Handed World Championship 2026 will take place in Scheveningen from 18th to 25th of May, 2026, as part of the North Sea Regatta - the largest and most prestigious regatta on the North Sea.
Bringing together top international offshore sailors, the 2026 ORC Double Handed Worlds will celebrate the teamwork, endurance, and innovation that define this fast-growing discipline. Racing will unfold on the challenging waters of the North Sea, known for their demanding conditions, tactical complexity, and central role within Europe's offshore sailing community.
A natural stage for world-class offshore racing
With its deep maritime heritage and modern sailing infrastructure, Scheveningen has long been the beating heart of Dutch offshore racing. The harbor has previously hosted major international events such as the Volvo Ocean Race Finale (2018), the Offshore Sailing Worlds (2018), and the 49erFX & Nacra 17 World Championships (2023).
By combining the ORC Double Handed Worlds with the North Sea Regatta, the championship will merge world-title competition with the lively festival atmosphere of the Netherlands' largest multi-class regatta — bringing together high-performance racing, entertainment, and maritime culture for both sailors and spectators.
"We are proud to welcome the ORC Double Handed World Championship 2026 to Scheveningen, the sailing capital of the Netherlands. This world-class event highlights our city's strong maritime tradition and its passion for innovation in offshore sailing. With the North Sea Regatta as its stage, The Hague once again shows that sport, sustainability, and the sea are deeply connected here." - Jan van Zanen, Mayor of The Hague
Look at the welcoming note from the Mayor:
With offshore courses set on the North Sea between the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, and start/finish lines close to Scheveningen Harbour, the championship promises top-level racing and strong international competition.
ORC DH Worlds 2026 Schedule:
- May 18-20 - Registration & Equipment Inspection
- May 21 - Short Offshore Race
- May 22-24 - Long Offshore Race
- May 25 - Prize Giving & Closing Ceremony
The ORC Double Handed World Champion title will be awarded in each class, along with podium prizes for the top three boats. Additional awards will be presented to the top Male, Female, and Mixed crews in each class.
Strong early international interest
With six months to go, the event has already attracted broad international attention, with entries received from Finland, Germany, Norway, and the Netherlands.
Among the early entries are several highly experienced double-handed teams. Dutch sailors Robin Verhoef and John van der Starre, former national double-handed champions, bring an impressive offshore track record, including multiple Rolex Fastnet Race appearances and an overall win in the North Sea Race 2023 (J/111 and J/122E). For the Worlds, they will compete on their newly launched XR-41 X-ESTEEM, specifically optimised for double-handed offshore racing.
Also returning are past ORC double-handed championship participants, such as the Norwegian father-daughter duo Christine Mika and Harald Walder on their JPK 10.80 MIKA. Christine began in the Optimist class and later joined her father in the Snipe fleet. The pair have sailed double-handed since 2015 and consistently rank among the top teams in Norway's DH circuit.
Germany is represented by Lina Rixgens and Sverre Reinke, a strong mixed offshore team sailing the Sun Fast 30 OD GAIA. In September, they finished 6th at the Mixed World Offshore Sailing Championship and earlier this year contested the Rolex Fastnet Race as the smallest boat in their fleet. They also claimed the overall ORC victory in the Baltic 500 in May.
Finland enters the competition with TENET (JPK 10.30), sailed by Perttu Monthan and Mikko Karppinen, winners of the Espoo-Naissaari Race 2025 and 5th in Class B at the 2025 ORC DH Europeans held on home waters in Helsinki.
For the Notice of Race, Registration, Entry List and full event information, visit: orc.org/dhworlds2026