Ireland’s Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove will be among the leading contenders when the 2026 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championship begins in Quiberon, France, on Tuesday. As Afloat reported earlier, the Irish 49er crew arrived in Brittany after a strong early-season campaign, including a silver medal finish at the Semaine Olympique Française in Hyères.
The six-day championship in Saint-Pierre-Quiberon has attracted almost 350 sailors from more than 30 nations across three Olympic skiff and foiling classes. Quiberon’s Atlantic conditions are expected to provide demanding racing, with strong winds and technical courses likely to test crews throughout the week.
Dickson and Waddilove are seeking to build momentum in the new Olympic cycle after a mixed 2025 season following the Paris Games. The Irish pair finished 35th at last year’s world championship in Cagliari, but their recent form has pushed them back into podium contention.
Germany’s Richard Schultheis and Fabian Rieger arrive after winning the Trofeo Princesa Sofía in Palma, while China’s Zaiding Wen and Tian Liu claimed victory in Hyères.
France’s Erwan Fischer and Clément Péquin will also attract strong home support after securing bronze in Hyères.
The 49er fleet is missing defending world champions Diego Botín and Florian Trittel, who are focusing on SailGP and America’s Cup campaigns this season. In the 49erFX fleet, reigning world champions Paula Barceló and María Cantero of Spain face pressure from Canada’s Georgia and Antonia Lewin-LaFrance.
The Nacra 17 championship also features several Olympic medal-winning crews, including Britain’s John Gimson and Anna Burnet, and Argentina’s Mateo Majdalani and Eugenia Bosco.
Racing runs from May 12 to 17, with medal races scheduled for the final day and broadcast live online.
