ILCA 6 Men's Worlds ready for racing after practice race in Vilamoura, Portugal
by Vilamoura Sailing / Prow Group 26 Sep 20:44 BST
26 September - 2 October 2026
ILCA 6 Men's Worlds opens in Vilamoura, Portugal © Vilamoura Sailing / Prow Group
A steady 10-knot southeasterly set the scene as the 63-boat international fleet completed its final preparations before World Championship racing begins.
The stage is set for the 2026 ILCA 6 Men's World Championship after the international fleet completed its final preparations on Saturday with the official practice race in Vilamoura.
The 60 sailors from 18 countries took to the water in steady conditions, with a southeasterly wind from approximately 135 degrees averaging 10 knots throughout the practice race. The session provided a final opportunity to test equipment, assess the race area and fine-tune preparations before World Championship racing begins.
After several days of arrivals, registration, equipment inspection and training at Vilamoura Sailing, attention now turns to the opening races and the start of the battle for the 2026 world title.
Following the practice race, coaches attended the official coaches' meeting, covering race management procedures, competition information and the schedule for the days ahead.
The day concluded ashore with the official opening of the ILCA 6 Men's World Championship, bringing sailors, coaches, officials and the organising team together ahead of the competition. A welcome barbecue followed the ceremony, marking the final gathering before the focus shifts fully to racing.
The Qualifying Series begins tomorrow, with two back-to-back races scheduled each day. The Qualifying/Final Series is scheduled to begin on 30 September, provided four races have been completed. The championship concludes on 2 October, when the 2026 ILCA 6 Men's World Champion will be decided.