With one week to go until the start of the 2026 ILCA Senior European Championships & Open European Trophy, excitement is building in Kaštela as sailors and teams arrive for one of the first major events of the new Olympic cycle.
The championship will officially begin on May 15 with registration and equipment inspection, while racing is scheduled from May 17 to 22 across two race areas in Kaštela Bay.
Speaking at the press conference, Joško Berket, owner of Marina Kaštela and president of the Sailing Club Marina Kaštela, highlighted the scale of the upcoming event:
“Entries are now closed and we are expecting around 500 participants, coaches and staff from 53 countries, not only from Europe, as this is an open championship. Sailors from the USA, Brazil, Chile, India, New Zealand, Peru and many other countries will be coming to Kaštela. This is extremely important not only for Croatian sailing but also for tourism. It is a competition where athletes fine-tune their form as part of preparations for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles 2028. We will do our best to justify the trust placed in us as hosts. We offer excellent sailing conditions, with quality sea and wind throughout the year, which competitors and their teams have already recognised, often coming here for training. We will continue investing in infrastructure, including accommodation capacity.”
Regatta Director Armano Zekan emphasised the complexity of the organisation:
“We have 12 races planned, with a fleet of 347 sailors competing across two race areas. This includes 347 in total. That is 184 sailors in ILCA 7, 126 female sailors in ILCA 6, and 37 male sailors in ILCA 6, along with 93 coaches and additional safety and support boats. The event is logistically demanding, with around twenty RIBs ensuring safety at sea, supported by the Croatian Armed Forces and Maritime Police, while approximately 30 volunteers are involved on site.”
The presence of Olympic medallists further confirms the high level of competition.
Slovenian sailor Vasilij Žbogar, a three-time Olympic medallist (bronze Athens 2004, silver Beijing 2008 in the Laser class, now ILCA, and silver Rio 2016 in the Finn class), will be present alongside Croatian sailor Tonči Stipanović, a two-time Olympic silver medallist (Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020) and five-time European champion, who returns to competition after a one-year break.
Following his appearances at the Sailing World Cup events in Palma de Mallorca and Hyères, Stipanović now faces familiar waters in Kaštela Bay, where many see him as a strong contender for the podium.
“It’s never good to count on a medal in advance. All the top sailors are coming, with only a few exceptions, and the competition is extremely strong. This is the ideal moment to test form ahead of a new Olympic cycle. As always, I am highly motivated to return to the top,” said Stipanović.
Žbogar, now working as a coach, added:
“Most national teams are already in Kaštela, which shows how important this event is and how much they want to get familiar with the conditions and race areas. Expectations are high. This is one of the most demanding sailing areas – with bura, maestral and currents creating very challenging conditions. It is not easy to sail here, but it is exactly these conditions that produce top-level sailors.”
The championship will conclude on May 22 with the prize giving ceremony.
The 2026 ILCA Senior European Championships & Open European Trophy is organised by EurILCA and JK Marina Kaštela, with the sponsorship of Marina Kaštela and BavAdria Yacht Charter, and the support of the Ministry of Sport, Croatian Sailing Federation, the City of Kaštela, the Tourist Board of Kaštela, and the Croatian Olympic Committee.
Stay tuned for more updates throughout the championship, and follow all the latest news on the official event website, as well as on EurILCA’s social media channels.
For a full overview of the key sailors and performances to follow in Kaštela, you can also read our event preview here: eurilca.org/2026-ilca-senior-europeans-preview
Report by Agustín Argüelles – EurILCA | Source: Marijana Berket – Marina Kaštela | Photos by Ivana Topić.
