Athens Hosts Challenging Start to ILCA 7 Masters Worlds

11th June 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Shifty Start: Competitors from 20 nations race in light and highly variable conditions during the opening day of the 2026 ILCA 7 Masters World Championship in Athens Credit: ILCA

The 2026 ILCA 7 Masters World Championship got underway in Athens on Tuesday with two races completed in light and highly variable conditions. A fleet of 86 sailors representing 20 nations faced a demanding opening day as shifting northerly winds tested tactics and consistency.

Racing was held in a 5-10-knot breeze, with the wind oscillating between 30 and 50 degrees. Flat water offered little compensation for the frequent wind shifts, making course management and positioning crucial. Despite the challenging conditions, organisers completed both scheduled races on time, providing competitors with an early benchmark in the six-day championship.

Athens challenge: Competitors faced light and unpredictable conditions as the 2026 ILCA 7 Masters World Championship got underway. Photo: ILCA

The regatta features sailors competing across five age divisions: Apprentices, Masters, Grand Masters, Great Grand Masters and Legends.

Italy's Alessandro Sartorelli leads the Masters division after the opening day's racing, while Greece's Mihalis Koulianos heads the Apprentices category. Canada's Duncan Pearce, New Zealand's Nick Page and American Greg Jackson top the Grand Masters, Great Grand Masters and Legends fleets, respectively.

Speaking after racing, Sartorelli described the conditions as "unpredictable", noting that adapting quickly to changing wind patterns proved decisive throughout the day.

With the opening scores now on the board, attention turns to the remaining races as sailors seek to establish consistency in what is expected to be another closely contested championship. The ILCA 7 Masters World Championship continues in Athens throughout the week.

Published in Laser

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The ILCA, formerly known as the Laser, is the most produced boat in the world, with 220,000 units built since 1971.

It's easy to see why the single-handed dinghy has won the title of the most widely distributed boat of all time.

The Laser is a one-design dinghy, the hulls being identical but three rigs that can be used according to the size and weight of the sailor.

The class is international, with sailors from 120 countries. The boat has also been an Olympic class since 1996, being both the men's and women's singlehanded dinghy.

Three rigs are recognised by the International Laser Class Association (ILCA):

ILCA 4: sail of 4.70m2
ILCA 6: sail of 5.76 m2
ILCA 7: sail of 7.06 m2

ILCA 2026 Calendar

Apr 04–05 — Munster Championships — Baltimore SC
Apr 09–12 — Irish Sailing Youth Nationals — Ballyholme YC
May 09–10 — Ulster Championships — East Antrim BC
May 23–24 — Masters National Championships — Howth YC
Jun 27–28 — Leinster Championships — Skerries SC
Jul 24–26 — National Championships — Royal St. George YC
Sep 11–12 — End of Season Championships — Waterford Hrbr. YC

2026 ILCA World Championships

Men ILCA 7: Aug 23 – Aug 30
Women ILCA 6: Sep 04 – Sep 12
Royal St. George Yacht Club & National Yacht Club (Dublin Bay)

At A Glance – Laser Dinghy Specifications

Designer Bruce Kirby & Ian Bruce

Year 1969

Crew 1
Draft 0.787 m (2 ft 7.0 in)
Hull weight 58.97 kg (130.0 lb)
LOA 4.2 m (13 ft 9 in)
LWL 3.81 m (12 ft 6 in)
Beam 1.39 m (4 ft 7 in)
Mainsail area 7.06 m2 (76.0 sq ft)

Racing D-PN 91.1 RYA PN 1088 PHRF 217