Third World Sailing Youth Olympic Games Training Camp propels African sailors toward Dakar 2026

Third World Sailing Youth Olympic Games Training Camp propels African sailors toward Dakar 2026 © World Sailing

The wind, the waves, and a shared Olympic dream brought the historic coast of Tangier, Morocco, alive as the third World Sailing Youth Olympic Games (YOG) training camp delivered a vital week of development for 13 elite young sailors and eight dedicated coaches from across the continent.

Sailors representing Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Madagascar, and the host nation of Morocco, were joined by sailors from Angola and South Africa for the very first time.

This was the third of four training camps, funded through the International Olympic Committee's Olympic Solidarity and organised by World Sailing, and was designed to eliminate development barriers and equip African athletes and coaches with the elite technical skills needed to compete at the best of their abilities during the upcoming Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, in November.

Fiona Kidd, World Sailing's Head of International Development, said, "World Sailing is incredibly proud to support the Youth Olympic Games Training Camp in Tangier. By providing access to equipment, coaching, and high-performance training, we are investing not only in athlete development, but in the future growth and sustainability of sailing within the region. The passion, resilience, and talent shown by these athletes has been truly inspiring, and we look forward to seeing many of them continue their journey onto the international stage."

Turning logistics into legacy

The true impact of this camp stretched far beyond the water by addressing one of the greatest hurdles in African sailing: equipment access. Thanks to a partnership with Tahe Outdoors, 10 boards were loaned and successfully distributed to the participating nations. Returning home with this equipment is a gamechanger for the future of the sport. It allows sailors to maintain structured training on their home waters and empowers coaches to build consistent, high-quality local programmes. The continuity created by these boards is already showing tangible progress, turning short-term training into long-term athletic growth.

The training itself was intense and high calibre. The Techno293 Class deployed two expert coaches who led four days of rigorous on-water sessions, sharply focusing on technical refinement and tactical race preparation. As the days progressed, the growth was undeniable. Sailors showcased a massive leap in technical prowess, tactical awareness, and on-water confidence.

Community, cooperation, and resilience

A high-impact event requires seamless execution, and the local support was nothing short of world-class. Nuno Reiss of the PROW Group, alongside the Secretary and Coach of the Royal Tangier Yacht Club, managed accommodation and ground transportation with precision.

The support of the Royal Moroccan Sailing Federation as host was instrumental in the event's success, particularly in facilitating visa processes and ensuring smooth local delivery. The Royal Tangier Yacht Club were excellent hosts and welcomed everyone each day to their facilities.