Weymouth is back in the Olympic sailing spotlight this week, hosting the 2026 iQFOiL World Championships, the venue's first taste of Olympic windsurfing since it staged the sailing at London 2012.
Run by the Royal Yachting Association alongside the International iQFOiL Class Association, racing runs from 3 to 12 September, with fleet racing starting Monday 7 September and the Medal Series deciding it all on Saturday 12 September.
The entry list is stacked. Olympic medallists, reigning world champions, Youth World Champions and rising talent will all share the same start line, with Open and Under-23 sailors racing together. The class has grown considerably deeper heading towards Los Angeles 2028.
The men's fleet reads like a who's who of foiling. Reigning World Champion Andy Brown (GBR) leads a field that includes European Champion Luuc van Opzeeland (NED), Olympic Champion Tom Reuveny (ISR), silver medallist Grae Morris (AUS) and Olympian and 2024 World Champion Nicolò Renna (ITA). Add in recent event winners Mattia Saoncella (ITA), Johan Søe (DEN), Federico Alan Pilloni (ITA), Nicolas Goyard (FRA), Finn Hawkins (GBR) and home hopeful Samuel Sills (GBR), and it promises to be one of the most competitive world titles in years.
The women's fleet carries a New Zealand connection worth watching. Aimee Bright (NZL) lines up among an international field built around reigning World Champion and Olympic medallist Emma Wilson (GBR), reigning European Champion Tamar Steinberg (ISR), Olympic Champion Marta Maggetti (ITA), Shahar Tibi (ISR), Pilar Lamadrid (ESP), Hélène Noesmoen (FRA) and Sharon Kantor (ISR). A strong Under-23 generation, led by Sophie Clark (GBR), Taisiia Stopchenko (AIN) and Danai Giannouli (GRE), adds further depth.
The format is built for drama. The Qualification Series may mix Course Racing, Sprint Racing and Marathon depending on conditions, with the top ten sailors in each fleet advancing to the Finals. From there it's a progressive elimination: Quarter Final, Semi Final, Grand Final, with the top two sailors from the Qualification Series going straight into the Grand Final carrying a one match point advantage. The first sailor to secure two match points in the Grand Final is crowned World Champion.
"The iQFOiL World Championship is the pinnacle of our season and the highest level of competition in Olympic windsurfing," said Gonzalo Costa Hoevel, iQFOiL Class Manager. "Weymouth is one of the world's great sailing venues and provides the perfect stage for our athletes. The fleet has never been stronger, with established champions competing alongside an incredibly talented new generation. We are looking forward to an unforgettable week of racing that will showcase the speed, athleticism and excitement of iQFOiL at its very best."
Niall McLeod, Musto iQFOiL World Championship Event Director, called it a proud moment for everyone involved in delivering the event. "Few venues can match Weymouth and Portland's Olympic heritage, world-class facilities and challenging racing conditions," he said. "It will be a fitting stage to crown the 2026 World Champions."
He added that an enormous amount of work had gone into showcasing windsurfing and the iQFOiL at its best, both on the water and to the Dorset community, and that the free Fan Zone on Saturday, running alongside the deciding Medal Series, would open the sport up to families and fans.
With the conditions, the venue and the fleet all lined up, the battle for the 2026 iQFOiL World Championship titles is ready to begin.
