419 sailors raise the 18th anniversary of the Euromarina Optimist Torrevieja to the highest level
by Prensa Sailing Comunicación 28 Jan 20:56 GMT
29 January - 1 February 2026
Euromarina Optimist Torrevieja 2026 © Pep Portas / RCNT
The regatta, organised by the Real Club Náutico de Torrevieja, starts tomorrow, Thursday 29th January, and runs until Sunday 1st February. In its 2026 edition, the Euromarina Optimist comes of age and establishes itself as a true spectacle of children's sailing.
Over four intense days, the Optimist fleet, representing 30 countries, will compete in the competition: the qualifying rounds will be held on Thursday and Friday, while the final series is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, always subject to weather conditions, which are expected to be challenging for both the race committee and the sailors themselves.
The Real Club Náutico de Torrevieja is preparing to set sail for the great children's sailing festival. The Euromarina Optimist Torrevieja, which starts tomorrow, Thursday 29th, and will run until Sunday 1st, reaches its coming of age in 2026. The regatta reaches its 18th edition with a fleet of 419 young sailors from 28 countries, promising excitement, sport and spectacle.
Four intense days lie ahead, with the qualifying round scheduled to be completed over the next two days (four rounds must be completed), followed by the final series on Saturday and Sunday. This is the programme planned by the organising committee, although everyone is keeping a close eye on the weather reports as conditions could play against the big children's sailing festival.
Today, the fleet was unable to head out to the regatta area to carry out the final test, as the wind reached constant gusts of 30 knots, putting even the most experienced sailors to the test. The forecasts are encouraging for the start of the Euromarina Optimist Torrevieja: favourable conditions are expected on Thursday and Friday, while Saturday promises to be more challenging. On Sunday, according to weather reports, it is hoped that the planned programme can be completed. Over the next four days, the wind in Torrevieja will blow from moderate to strong, with particular intensity on Saturday, and the sea will have moderate waves, adding to the excitement.
The Torrevieja event will be attended by young sailors from 30 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Great Britain, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, United States and Spain.
The fleet is of the highest quality. The United States, Turkey, Sweden, Portugal, Poland, the Netherlands and Spain are the countries with the highest number of sailors at the Torrevieja event. However, the number of participants does not determine the outcome: the rest of the fleet has the quality, experience and potential necessary to compete for any of the podium places, which will be decided next Sunday in a competition that promises excitement and high-level competition at every start.
Except for last-minute changes, the first start of each day is scheduled for 10:00 a.m., so the fleet will set sail for the race area at 9:00 a.m. This schedule will be maintained throughout the four days of competition, although it may be adjusted if the race committee deems it necessary, depending on weather or wind conditions.
On a social note, the regatta will feature two highlights. One of them, already a classic at the Torrevieja event and a true hallmark, is the Welcome Party, which will include, after the presentation of all participating countries and Autonomous Communities, a barbecue open to everyone.
Additionally, in this new edition of the Children's Sailing Regatta in Torrevieja, thanks to the Organising Committee and with the collaboration of Trac-Trac, it will be possible to follow the progress of the fleet throughout the four days of competition.