The 2026 ILCA Senior European Championships & Open European Trophy will take place at Marina Kaštela on Croatia’s Adriatic coast, from 15 to 22 May 2026, with the Opening Ceremony on 16 May. With 344 sailors from 53 countries — 36 of them European — this edition is shaping up as one of the most competitive gatherings the class has seen in recent years.
A global fleet, three titles at stake
The championship spans three fleets: 182 sailors in ILCA 7, 125 in ILCA 6 Women, and 37 in ILCA 6 Men. For both Olympic classes – ILCA 7 and ILCA 6 Women –, the Under-23 European title will also be at stake. This prize was first awarded last year in Marstrand, making Kaštela only its second edition. In the ILCA 6 Men fleet, the Under-21 European title will also be contested, a longstanding feature of that class.”
Nations are represented from every ILCA region around the world, with Italy fielding the largest delegation (86 sailors) and the host nation Croatia close behind (74 sailors).
ILCA 7: the Olympic class returns to Kaštela Bay
The ILCA 7 fleet reads like a who’s who of Olympic ILCA sailing. Among the Europeans, double Olympic silver medallist Tonci Stipanovic — returning to the class for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle — heads a Croatian contingent that includes Filip Jurišić. They will be joined by Pavlos Kontides CYP, Philipp Buhl GER, Jonatan Vadnai HUN, Finn Lynch IRL, Lorenzo Chiavarini GBR, Duko Bos NED, Willem Wiersema NED, and Valtteri Uusitalo FIN, among other top sailors.
The Open European Trophy draws top overseas Olympic contenders including Francisco Guaragna ARG, Clemente Seguel CHI, Stefano Peschiera PER, George Gautrey NZL, and Thomas Saunders NZL.
The next generation is equally compelling: Youth World and European champions Anders Bultynck, Josip Tafra, Jiří Tomeš, Ole Schweckendiek, Finley Dickinson, Adamantios Petrianos, Rem Pulci Magen, Omer Vered, Attilio Borio, Antonio Pascali, Theodor Middelthon, and Erik Norlén are all entered.
ILCA 6 Women: Olympic and World medallists
The women’s fleet features reigning champion Anna Münch DEN alongside Emma Plasschaert BEL, Louise Cervera FRA, Mária Érdi HUN, Eve McMahon IRL, Line Flem Høst NOR, Agata Barwińska POL, and Maud Jayet SUI, among other top contenders.
A deep Under-23 contingent adds further intrigue: Alexandra Lukoyanova, Petra Marendić, Mirja Dohle, Hermione Ghicas, Maria Vittoria Arseni, Ginevra Caracciolo, Emma Mattivi, Roos Wind, Lilly May Niezabitowska, Alenka Valančič, Adriana Castro, Claudia Adán, Irene de Tomás Perelló, Marga Perelló, and Alina Shapovalova are all primed to challenge the established Olympic names at the top of the fleet.
The venue
Marina Kaštela sits in Kaštela Bay, sheltered by Mount Kozjak and positioned between Split and Trogir, 7 km from Split Airport. The marina has been adapted for the full race management and safety infrastructure the event requires. As part of pre-event preparations, the venue team carried out an underwater clean-up of the marina and launch area — a concrete step in line with EurILCA’s sustainability guidelines for the championship, which include waste separation, eliminating single-use plastics, and encouraging sailors to bring their own reusable water bottles.
Organisation & Support
The 2026 ILCA Senior European Championships & Open European Trophy is organised by EurILCA and JK Marina Kaštela, with the support of the Tourist Board of Kaštela, the City of Kaštela, and BavAdria Yacht Charter.
A press conference for local and national media will take place on 6 May at 12:00 at the Spinnaker Restaurant, Marina Kaštela.
Report by Agustín Argüelles – EurILCA | Photos by Thom Touw – 2025 Edition.
