The 49er fleet enters the new Olympic cycle with an unusually open field in 2026.
Several leading teams from the Paris Olympic cycle (where Ireland narrowly missed a medal and finished fourth) have stepped away or reduced their campaigns. The shift has created new opportunities as crews begin the road toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The biggest absence is Spain’s Diego Botín and Florian Trittel. The Olympic and world champions are expected to focus mainly on America’s Cup and SailGP commitments this season.
Other major names have also moved on. New Zealand’s Olympic silver medallists, Isaac McHardie and William McKenzie, have retired, while the USA’s Olympic bronze medallists, Hans Henken and Ian Barrows, are not currently campaigning in the class.
Poland’s Dominik Buksak and Szymon Wierzbicki are no longer sailing together, while Croatia’s Šime Fantela and Mihovil Fantela have not appeared at recent events. Britain’s James Peters and Fynn Sterritt have also stepped away after Paris.
With many established contenders absent, the 2026 season could prove one of the most unpredictable in recent years.
French Pair Building Momentum
France’s Erwan Fischer and Clément Péquin enter the season with strong form. The duo were crowned world champions in 2024 and secured victories at Palma and Kiel Week last year.
Despite not reaching their full potential at the Paris Olympics, their recent consistency makes them one of the leading contenders in the fleet.
Spanish Team on the Rise
Spain’s Conrad Konitzer and Antonio Torrado have also made rapid progress since forming their partnership in 2023. Currently ranked fifth in the world, the pair could benefit from racing in Palma, where Konitzer has local knowledge.
They still face strong competition within Spain, particularly with Botín and Trittel expected to return later in the Olympic cycle.
Dutch Experience Returns
The Dutch team of Bart Lambriex and Floris van de Werken remain among the most experienced crews in the fleet. Lambriex recently returned to racing after taking time away following the birth of his first child.
The pair finished second at the 2025 World Championships in Cagliari and already have multiple world titles to their name.
Danish Surprise Contenders
Denmark’s Jonas Warrer and Mathias Sletten produced one of the surprises of the 2025 season. Their first event together in Palma resulted in a modest 58th place. But the pair improved rapidly during the season.
By the time of the World Championships in Cagliari, they secured a bronze medal after a strong performance.
Swiss Team Back in the Boat
Sébastien Schneiter and Arno de Planta have also returned to the fleet. After considering a move away from Olympic sailing to focus on professional circuits such as SailGP, the Swiss team returned to the Cagliari World Championships.
They finished 12th despite limited preparation, showing their ability to remain competitive at the front of the fleet.
Other Teams to Watch
Several additional teams have delivered consistent results. Great Britain’s James Grummett and Rhos Hawes finished in the top four at both the 2024 and 2025 World Championships.
Germany’s Richard Schultheis and Fabian Rieger also impressed last season, including a second-place finish in Palma.
Denmark’s Frederik Rask and Jakob Precht Jensen secured third in Palma and sixth at the World Championships.
New Era Begins
With several Olympic medal-winning teams absent from early events, the 49er class enters a period of transition.
A new generation of crews now has the chance to establish themselves at the front of the fleet as the race toward the 2028 Olympic Games gathers pace.
