News Archive

Lithuanian and Estonian teams shared the spotlight in Friday’s Volfas Engelman Leg. KETURI VĖJAI led RHINO to a home one-two in Classes A and B, while SHADOW and SUGAR delivered an Estonian one-two in Class C after mastering the lighter conditions of the short offshore race.

Sunshine, a steady breeze and close tactical racing delivered near-perfect conditions on Thursday as the 2026 Klaipėda ORC European Championship fleet completed three windward-leeward races in the Klaipėda City Municipality Leg. DIXI 5 and Garmin Team Pro4u strengthen their leads as three inshore races bring the first discard into play.

After the endurance test of the Klaipėda Port Long Offshore Race, the Klaipėda ORC European Championship fleet returned to the water on Wednesday for a very different challenge: two short, tactical windward-leeward races in the Sportland Inshore Races leg.

Denmark’s DIXI 5 and Sweden’s Garmin Team Pro4u have won the opening race of the Klaipėda ORC European Championship 2026 after a fast, intense and physically demanding night in the Baltic Sea. The non-discardable Klaipėda Port Long Offshore Race sent Class AB around a 240-nautical-mile course, while Class C raced 195 nautical miles.

The Klaipėda ORC European Championship 2026 begins today with its first scoring race, the Klaipėda Port Long Offshore Race. The first warning signal was displayed at 12:00, with Classes A and B starting at 12:05, followed by Class C at 12:15.

Finishing with a second place just behind Hispania, the Spanish Navy’s ORC 52 skippered by King Felipe, Mauro Gestri’s Italian team on Vudu laid to rest a full year of hurt when they clinched the Abanca ORC 0 title today after missing out 12 months ago due to a disqualification.

The wait is over. After three years of preparation, the Klaipėda ORC European Championship 2026 has officially opened, bringing leading offshore racing teams from across Europe to Lithuania’s port city. Klaipėda has become livelier with every arriving yacht, sailor and spectator.

Despite very warm sea temperatures and ongoing hot daytime values the reliable sea breeze was blowing nicely today on the Bay of Palma to produce perfect conditions for teams putting the finishing touches to their preparation for 44 Copa del Rey Mapfre which starts Tuesday with a hundred boats set to line up in six classes on three different race areas.

With one week remaining until the 2026 ORC European Championship in Klaipėda, Lithuania's leading offshore teams have completed their final competitive rehearsal at the ORC Prologue Race Klaipėda on July 25-26, held as part of the 59th Curonian Lagoon Regatta.

From 7–15 August 2026, Klaipėda, Lithuania, will host the ORC European Championship for the first time, welcoming one of the strongest offshore racing fleets in Europe. Reigning world and European champions will line up alongside some of the newest and fastest racing yachts on the international circuit, promising an exceptional battle for the continental titles.

The reigning World Champion, the reigning European Champion, the European runner-up, and the winners of the Sandberg PalmaVela and the SM La Reina Trophy will go head-to-head in one of the most competitive and unpredictable classes of the 44 Copa del Rey Mapfre.

The Klaipėda ORC European Championship 2026, taking place in Lithuania for the first time this August, is aiming to achieve the highest Platinum certification under the internationally recognised Clean Regattas sustainability programme.

This year’s edition was described before, during and after as being epic: the Aegean Sea delivered its signature challenges to the fleet with superb weather conditions - windy, light and everything in between - a record turnout of entries, and smiles all around.

The Uber ORC B class will gather in the Bay of Palma the reigning ORC World Champion together with the winners of the Conde de Godó Trophy, Sandberg PalmaVela and the SM La Reina Trophy, setting the stage for one of the most open title battles of the 44 Copa del Rey Mapfre.

The inaugural Race to the Arctic concluded in spectacular fashion on Sunday as the fleet reached Svolvær after nearly 800 nautical miles of offshore racing along the Norwegian coast. The final leg was won on elapsed time by the Landmark 43 White Shadow (NOR), claiming the prestigious Line Honours into Svolvær.

A brisk Meltemi breeze of 25-30 knots prompted reefed mainsails and small jibs for this year’s fleet at today’s start of the 6th edition of the AEGEAN 600, organized by the Hellenic Offshore Racing Club (HORC) and Olympic Marine.

While the 2026 sailing season is in full swing, preparations are already gathering momentum for the next edition of offshore racing’s premier event. Royal Danish Yacht Club welcomes the international fleet back to Copenhagen as the Road to the Garmin ORC World Championship 2027 officially begins.

The Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) and the Real Club de Regatas de Cartagena have jointly decided to cancel the 2026 ORC Sportboat European Championship. The regatta, scheduled for 21–27 September in Cartagena, Spain, will nevertheless take place as the 2026 Spanish ORC Sportboat Championship.