Northern European Offshore Sailing Community Gathers in Vilnius for 2026 Winter Meeting

10. Feb 2026

10 February 2026 - Vilnius, Lithuania - The Northern European Offshore Coordination group held its annual coordination meeting on February 7, 2026, in Vilnius, Lithuania. This long-standing alliance includes representatives from countries within the Nordic Sailing Federation (NOSF), which represents Group G in World Sailing, as well as partners from Germany and the Netherlands. Together, they form a vital platform for advancing offshore sailing across Northern Europe.

Following tradition, the host of the upcoming ORC Championship in the region is invited to organize this key annual gathering. This year, Lithuania welcomed the NOSF community for the first time, ahead of hosting the ORC European Championship 2026 in Klaipėda this August.

Growing Regional Influence and Responsibility

Representatives from Lithuania, Germany, Estonia, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, and the Netherlands attended the meeting.

NOSF Winter Meeting 2026 in Vilnius, Lithuania © Lithuanian Yachting Union

“We are honoured and pleased to host representatives from across the region. The fact that the ORC European Championship will be held here in Klaipėda this year shows that Lithuania is becoming an integral part of Northern European offshore sailing. It’s a sign of trust, inclusion, and our growing contribution to decision-making and development in the region,” said Raimundas Daubaras, President of the Lithuanian Yachting Union.

The NOSF coordination meeting provides an annual opportunity to discuss key issues, identify common challenges, and develop a unified voice to guide sailing development across borders — and within the international sailing community.

Focus on Klaipėda 2026 ORC Europeans

A central topic of the meeting was the upcoming ORC European Championship in Klaipėda, scheduled for August 7–15, 2026.

“The preparations are going well and progressing smoothly,” noted Vygantas Stankus, a member of the organizing committee and Lithuania’s representative in the ORC and NOSF. “Country representatives expressed strong support and committed to promoting participation among their national fleets.”

Simplifying Access and Promoting Growth

The group also explored ways to expand participation in offshore sailing. Discussions included:

Developing a simplified, virtual ORC club-level certificate — revisiting the “ORC Light Certificate” concept.
Adapting to the revised Offshore Special Regulations (OSR) for Category 3 events.
Enhancing direct communication with boat owners in the region to promote international participation and raise awareness of events and opportunities.

A proposal was made to organize the first online NOSF/Baltic Sea Owners’ Meeting on 17th March, marking a new step in connecting more closely with the owners’ community.

Upcoming ORC Championships in Northern Waters (2027–2029)

2027 ORC World Championship – Copenhagen, Denmark
Michael Quist presented the latest updates on the 2027 ORC Worlds to be hosted by KDY in Skovshoved. A new clubhouse is being built to accommodate the event, which is expected to draw a strong international fleet.

2027 ORC Double Handed Europeans – Sweden (with Gotland Runt)
Scheduled for June 28 – July 7, 2027, this event will run in conjunction with Gotland Runt, with racing between July 1 and July 4. Lars Bergkvist shared progress from the organizing team in Sandhamn.

2028 ORC European Championship – Marstrand, Sweden
Lars Wilhelmsen, organizer of the Marstrand Big Boat Race, presented Sweden’s bid to host the 2028 ORC Europeans.

The event will strengthen regional cooperation between Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Germany, and will mark Marstrand Big Boat Race’s transition from SRS to ORC. The NOSF community unanimously supported the bid from Marstrand and Sportspartner.

2028 ORC Double Handed World Championship – Hanko, Finland
Noora Westerlund introduced a concept for hosting the 2028 ORC DH Worlds in Hanko. The proposal received unanimous support from NOSF.

Both 2028 title event bids will be submitted to the ORC AGM for approval.

2029 ORC World Championship – Hankø, Norway
Kjell Andreas Steinstad, representing KNS, announced Norway’s intention to bid for the 2029 ORC Worlds in Hankø, following the successful hosting of the Europeans in 2022.

World Sailing AGM and ORC AGM Location Discussion

It was noted that the 2026 World Sailing AGM will be held in Qingdao, China, which creates logistical challenges for digital participation due to time zone differences. The ORC will launch a poll for a potential alternative ORC AGM location in Southern Europe ahead of the WS meeting.

With a few exceptions, the NOSF group strongly supported holding the ORC AGM in Europe.

Windward Gate Concept in W/L Racing

Eckart Reinke presented the concept of a windward gate in windward/leeward races, which will be tested this year during the Kieler YC offshore series. Early feedback from sailors has been positive. Karl-Hannes Tagu noted the importance of addressing congestion near marks as a safety concern. The NOSF group expressed appreciation for the trial and looks forward to further reports in May.