With the opening ceremony to be hosted on Sunday, May 31 at 7:00 PM at the facilities of the organizer, the Kalamaki Nautical Club, at the New Marina of Alimos, the Ilca Masters 2026 World Championship formally begins. A total of 159 sailors, aged from 30 to 90, from 24 countries and 5 continents, including past Olympic and World champions, reunite in the waters of the Saronic Gulf in the 43rd world competition that will be hosted in Greek waters for the first time!
The administrators of the Kalamaki Nautical Club have functionally upgraded the facilities so that sailors, coaches and attendants from all over the world can enjoy high-level Greek hospitality! Already from the first training sessions of the sailors, everyone speaks in flattering words about the quality of the NOC facilities. At the same time, they are eager for the sailing races to begin in order to experience the always unpredictable sea track of the Saronic Gulf.
Of the 159 sailors who will begin their quest for distinction at the World Championship next Monday, June 1, America has the lion's share of the entries with 26 athletes, followed by Australia with 22, Italy with 16 and Greece with 15. A total of 12 races are scheduled (2 each day) with the sailors holding their score at 11 and discarding their worst placing. Starting from this year's event, the ILCA 6 Super Legend was added to the categories, which includes sailors over 85 years of age. Depending on their age, sailors take part in the following six categories:
30-44 years: ILCA 6 Apprentice
45-54 years: ILCA 6 Master
55-64 years: ILCA 6 Grand Master
65-74 years: ILCA 6 Great Grand Master
75-84 years: ILCA 6 Legend
85+ years: ILCA 6 Super Legend
The World Championship schedule:
May 30: Boat count (13.00-18.30)
May 31: Boat count (09.00-13.00) test race (14.00),
skippers and coaches meeting (17.00), opening ceremony (19.00).
June 1-2-3-5-6-7: Two races daily
June 4: Rest
June 7 (19.30): Closing ceremony
The organizer of the Ilca Masters 2026 World Championship is the Kalamaki Nautical Club in collaboration with the Hellenic Sailing Federation. The championship is under the auspices of the Ministry of Development, the Ministry of Sports and the Municipality of Alimos.
Supporters of the Kalamaki Nautical Club are: ONEX Shipyards & Technologies, Chery Spanos SA, ANMA, Shell, Arbitrage, Colliers, Paralos, Gaviotis Travel, VIKOS, Zhik, ODS, S&M, Marinepool, NOTOS, Act, in the Loop, Ambrosia and Lavdas.
The communication sponsor is Nova, which will cover the event with reports and special topics that will be featured on Novasports News and on the Novasports site, Novasports.gr.
