The 2026 Etchells World Championship gets underway next week at San Diego Yacht Club with 76 teams from 12 countries preparing for five days of racing.
Official measurement is taking place this week ahead of the opening races on Monday, 11 May. Organisers plan two to three races per day through Friday, 15 May. The fleet includes Olympic medallists, former world champions and leading Corinthian sailors competing for one of one-design sailing’s most prestigious titles.
Defending champions Team Magpie from Australia, led by James Mayo, return seeking a third consecutive world title after victories in Melbourne and Fremantle. Among the favourites is RayGun, skippered by Olympian Austin Sperry, which won last month’s Etchells Orca Bowl pre-worlds regatta in San Diego. The crew includes fellow Olympian John Kostecki and sailing veteran Noel Drennan.
Former world champions and experienced Etchells competitors are also returning to the event, including Bill Hardesty and Rick Merriman.
Etchells crews sharpen tactics in San Diego’s West Coast Spring Series. Photo: Mark Albertazzi
Irish sailor Maurice O'Connell is expected to return to the coach boat for the regatta after undergoing emergency hernia surgery in San Diego ahead of the championship. In a social media post, O’Connell thanked staff at Scripps Mercy Hospital and several members of the sailing community for their support during his recovery. He said he hoped to be back on the water in time for the opening of the Worlds.
This year’s regatta will also introduce a new perpetual trophy for the best all-female team at the Etchells World Championship. The award has been introduced under the leadership of SDYC Commodore Alli Bell, who also serves as Etchells Class Secretary.
Two all-female teams, Coyote and Mostly Harmless, are eligible for the new award, while several crews will compete for the top female helm trophy. “San Diego Yacht Club has a long, proud history of hosting major world-class events,” said Commodore Alli Bell.
“Our race committee is top-notch, our facilities provide everything a sailor could hope for, and our shoreside activities will make sure everyone feels at home.”
Etchells Worlds co-chair Charlie Mann said the championship would showcase the class’s mix of elite competition and Corinthian sailing. “With an emphasis on Corinthian, female and young sailors, as well as top-tier US and international competitors coming to San Diego, this event promises to provide the best our sport has to offer for all,” he said.
