Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta begins
by Long Beach OCR 13 Jul 12:33 BST
July 12-16, 2026
2025 Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta - Day 2 © Simone Staff
The road to Los Angeles 2028 continues this week as the world's best kiteboarders and windsurfers descend on Long Beach, California, for the 2026 Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta (OCR).
More than 100 athletes from around the world will compete July 13-16 on the waters off Belmont Shore, one of the world's premier high-performance sailing venues and the future home of Olympic sailing competition during the LA28 Olympic Games.
The Long Beach OCR provides athletes with a critical opportunity to compete on the same racecourse they hope to sail in 2028. Now at the halfway point of the Olympic quadrennial, the regatta has become one of the premier events on the World Sailing Grand Slam circuit, providing athletes with a critical opportunity to measure themselves against the world's best on the future LA28 Olympic racecourse.
Spectators can watch all the action free of charge from the beaches along Belmont Shore and the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier. Racing begins each day at 2:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
Community Impact
Beyond the racing, the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta continues to build lasting international connections throughout the community. Many visiting athletes are being welcomed into local homes through host families, allowing them to experience Long Beach firsthand while creating friendships that extend well beyond the regatta. These relationships have become a hallmark of the event, with many athletes returning year after year to what they consider their second home on the road to the Olympic Games.
"The Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta is an exciting opportunity for our athletes to test themselves against some of the world's best sailors while continuing to build momentum on the road to LA28," said Molly Vandemoer, Director of Olympic Sailing at US Sailing. "Competing in Long Beach allows our team to gain invaluable experience in the venue that will host the Olympic sailing competition, and we're eager to see our athletes embrace the challenge, learn from every race, and continue raising the standard for Team USA."
Event Highlights:
- Dates: July 13-16, 2026
- Racing: Begins daily at 2:00 p.m. (Monday-Thursday)
- Spectators: Free viewing from Belmont Shore beaches and Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier
- Results: Updated daily throughout the regatta on the official event website
- Disciplines: Formula Kite and iQFOiL
- Athletes: More than 100 international competitors
- Venue: Official LA28 Olympic sailing venue