Twelve crews representing 11 nations are racing at the Youth Match Racing Worlds 2026 in Middelfart, Denmark, with the opening round robin underway following Sunday's official ceremony at GoSail's new headquarters at Middelfart Marina.
For the host city, the event carries genuine weight. "As a city and municipality, we want to put a clear mark next to Middelfart on the sailing world map," said Mayor Anders Møllegård at the opening ceremony. "The Little Belt is beautiful, but it is also demanding when it comes to racing. There is current, shifting breeze and tactical challenges. These waters test the match racers, and that is why Fænøsund and the area off Middelfart Marina are ideal for a world championship."
For GoSail CEO Søren Laugesen, the event is the culmination of years of lobbying. "For several years, we have worked hard to convince World Sailing to give us the opportunity to host the Youth Match Racing World Championship," he said. "During that period, we have hosted four world championships, but to see the future stars of the sport on the water today is the highlight of many years of dedicated work." GoSail organises the championship in cooperation with Middelfart Sailing Club, with backing from World Sailing, the Danish Sailing Association, Sport Event Denmark, Destination Fyn and a range of public and private partners.
New Zealand's Ethan Fong arrives as world number one but is taking nothing for granted. "At a World Championship like this, anyone can win. Everyone is determined to give their best, and even though we are currently ranked number one in the world, the trophy is far from guaranteed," he said. "The conditions are difficult to read as a sailor, and that means everyone has a chance. We need to sail at our very best if we want to win here."
There's a further New Zealand connection in the fleet. Danish skipper Mathias Rossing from the Royal Danish Yacht Club has one Kiwi in his crew alongside two Swedes. "I have put together a strong team with one sailor from New Zealand and two from Sweden, and we are aiming for a top result at my final World Championship as a junior," he said.
The second Danish entry is skippered by Victor Melchior, also from the Royal Danish Yacht Club, and the crew only came together for the first time on Sunday. "Today was the first time all five of us sailed together, and it went well," Melchior said. "The boats we are racing are quite lively and respond quickly to our input, so they actually need to be sailed more like a dinghy than a keelboat. They accelerate fast, and our focus is on controlling what we can control and minimising mistakes."
Racing is in Blu 26 keelboats, light and responsive craft well suited to the flat water and expected light breeze on Fænøsund. All crews must include sailors born in 2003 or later, with mixed crews capped at a combined weight of 350 kilograms. The race area sits close to shore, putting spectators at the newly renovated marina within direct sight and earshot of the crews.
After the round robin, the leading crews advance to the quarter-finals. A new world champion will be crowned on Thursday.
