Locals and visitors amongst the favourites ahead of the 2026 International Six Metre Europeans
by International Six Metre Association 18 Jul 17:46 BST
15-17 July 2026
Having yesterday completed the Swiss Championships on Lake Geneva, the 50 crews making up the Open (20) and Classic (30) fleets spent today ashore at the Société Nautique de Genève making final preparations to their yachts ahead of the start of racing at the 2026 European Championships tomorrow.
The 30-strong Classic entry list includes 15 Swiss crews as well as visiting yachts from Finland (1), France (3), Germany (5), Great Britain (3), Italy (1), and Spain (2). Meanwhile, the 20-boat Open entry list is made up of 16 Swiss crews, along with yachts from Great Britain, Spain, Sweden, and the USA.
Amongst the favourites in the Open Championship (for yachts constructed and/or certificated since January 1, 1966) will be the new Swiss Champion Eric Monnin on SUI100 Duclop, second-placed Jan Eckert on SUI140 GinkgoToo, and Loic Forestier's third-placed SUI77 Junior. Also likely to be a title challenger is Dieter Schön's IVB145 Momo.
In the Classic Championship (for yachts constructed and/or certificated before January 1, 1966) Violeta Alvarez on GBR57 Erica will be hoping to continue the impressive form she showed in the Swiss Championship that saw her top the leaderboard after three races. Keep an eye out also for Ossi Paija's FIN80 Astrée III, and Andreas Haubold on GER64 Sinkadus, who both pulled off impressive race wins.
The winner of the International Six Metre 2026 Open European Championship will receive the Coppa Giovanelli - a perpetual challenge trophy originally presented by the Yacht Club Italiano.
Winners in the Six Metre 2026 Classic European Championship will receive the Royal Danish Yacht Club's President Woodrow Wilson Trophy.
The August Ringvold Memorial Trophy will be presented to the highest-placed Classic entry built to the First (1907-1919) or Second (1919-1933) International Rule.
The Merula Trophy - donated in 2015 by the East India Club Yacht Squadron - will be awarded to the highest-placed Classic yacht built to the First (1907-1919) International Rule.
The Nelson Trophy - donated to the Class by Don Wood of the Royal Thames Yacht Club - will be awarded to the highest-placed boat constructed and certificated between January 1, 1966 and September 6, 1979.
The Lucie Trophy - donated to the Class by Matt Brooks to honour the memory of Lucie Bedford Warren, a keen Six Metre competitor in the USA, Bermuda, Canada, and Europe - will be presented to the highest-placed yacht that includes a woman helmsperson or crew.
The IYRS Astor Cup - loaned by the IYRS School of Technology and Trades of Newport, Rhode Island - will be awarded to the highest-placed entry that includes a person aged 25 or under as a helm or crew.
The Robbe and Berking Trophy - originally instituted by Peter König in 2006 as the Baum and König Trophy, with the current trophy presented by Oliver Berking in 2020 - will be presented to the highest-placed Classic yacht sailing with wooden spars and white sails.
The 2026 International Six Metre European Championships get under way this evening at the SNG, when - following the prize-giving for the Swiss Championships - the event's 250 competitors will gather in the regatta tent for the official Opening Ceremony and Cocktail Party.
Racing begins on Sunday, July 19 and runs through until Friday, July 24. Eight races are planned for the six-day event. Up to three races per day are scheduled.
More information on the event can be found at the official regatta website.