The fourth regatta of the 2026 Sailing Grand Slam series gets underway this weekend at Kieler Woche in Germany, with Irish sailors competing against some of the world's leading skiff crews. Ireland will be represented in the 49er class by Olympians Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove, alongside Irish Sailing Development sailors Ben O'Shaughnessy and Ethan Spain.
In the 49erFX fleet, Erin McIlwaine and Ellen Barbour will race alongside fellow Irish crew Elysia O'Leary and Alana Twomey.
For Dickson of Howth Yacht Club and Waddilove of Skerries Sailing Club, Kiel provides an opportunity to build on the form that earned them a silver medal at the French Sailing Grand Slam in Hyères earlier this season. The pair arrive in Germany after finishing 14th overall at the recent 49er World Championships in Quiberon, narrowly missing qualification for the Final Series in a regatta marked by demanding and changeable conditions.
They face a highly competitive 88-boat fleet featuring Olympic, World Championship and European Championship medallists. Among the leading contenders are Austria's Keanu Prettner and Jakob Flachberger, silver medallists at the World Championships, and French crew Erwan Fischer and Clément Péquin.
McIlwaine of Newcastle Yacht Club and Barbour of County Antrim Boat Club continue their progression in the senior ranks after stepping up from the Irish Sailing Development Programme late last year. The pair impressed at the Hyères Sailing Grand Slam, finishing seventh overall and recording several strong Final Series performances, including a third-place race finish.
Development sailors O'Shaughnessy of Royal Cork Yacht Club and Spain of the National Yacht Club also return to Grand Slam competition after qualifying for Gold Fleet racing in Hyères and securing a race victory against an experienced international field.
Irish Sailing Performance Director James O'Callaghan said Kiel remains an important benchmark event for the squad. "Kieler Woche consistently attracts world-class fleets," O'Callaghan said. "For Rob and Sean, it's an opportunity to get straight back into Grand Slam racing after the Worlds and continue building towards the major targets later in the season.
"Erin and Ellen have shown tremendous progress this year and are gaining confidence every time they line up, while Ben and Ethan continue to demonstrate that they belong at this level."
Racing begins on Saturday, 20 June, and concludes on Wednesday, 24 June. A revised format will see the regatta decided by two Final Series races on the closing day.
