The Gulf of Gdańsk has delivered a strong proof of concept, with Gdynia's test event wrapping up a week of racing and operational work aimed squarely at the 2027 World Sailing Championships.
Running from 14–19 July 2026 as part of the annual LOTTO Gdynia Sailing Days festival, the regatta brought together elite crews from 20 nations competing in the Men's and Women's Skiff fleets, the 49er and 49erFX. It formed the second half of World Sailing's split-venue dress rehearsal, following one-person events held in Fortaleza, Brazil, back in January.
The 2027 World Sailing Championships carry particular weight as the primary qualifier for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, making a smooth operational rollout essential.
Beyond the racing, officials used the week to fine-tune race management, tracking systems, and technology infrastructure, including the first integration of a new website with the Olympic Data Feed. That ODF connection will be a key tool for both organisers and competitors when the full championships arrive next summer.
The test event also featured an invited Men's and Women's Wingfoil competition. The broader LOTTO Gdynia Sailing Days festival incorporated the EUROSAF Para Inclusive Championship in the Hansa class, a Junior 470 World Championship, and a wingfoil expression slalom freefly competition, all of which contributed to testing multiple racing areas across the week.
With summer crowds lining Gdynia's famous city beach, the atmosphere gave organisers a realistic sense of what to expect in 2027. Tomasz Holc, President of the Polish Yachting Association, was direct about what had been demonstrated: "The Gulf of Gdańsk is showing exactly why it is one of Europe's premier racing arenas. Working alongside the City of Gdynia and the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, our teams are proving that we are well on track to deliver a spectacular World Sailing Championships next summer."
World Sailing Events Director Ferran Muniesa was equally positive. "I want to give great credit to the Polish Yachting Association for their work on the event so far. The lessons captured here are invaluable and will help ensure readiness for the main event and leave a lasting legacy for sailing in the region."
