2026 Optimist World Championship

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2026 Optimist World Championship

Tanger, Morocco

2026 Optimist World Championship in Tangier Sets New Participation Record

Tangier, Morocco — June 2026 — The 2026 Optimist World Championship, hosted in Tangier, Morocco, marked a historic milestone for youth sailing, bringing together 284 sailors from 70 nations for one of the most international editions in the history of the Optimist class.

The event was hosted by the Royal Tanger Yacht Club, together with the Royal Moroccan Sailing Federation, welcoming sailors, coaches, officials, families, and supporters from across the world to Morocco.

This year’s championship represents a new record for the number of countries participating in an Optimist World Championship, underlining the continued global growth of the class and its importance as the leading pathway for young sailors around the world.

The event is also a landmark moment for sailing in Africa. The 2026 Optimist World Championship is only the second time the event has been hosted on the African continent, returning to Africa 30 years after the 1996 edition held in Langebaan, South Africa.

On the water, Manuel Bragança of Brazil delivered an outstanding performance to become the 2026 Optimist World Champion, finishing first overall with a net score of 65 points. He was awarded the Beacon Challenge Cup as the first sailor overall and the Peter Barclay Trophy as the first boy.

The overall podium was completed by Elliot Novara of Switzerland, who finished second overall with 89 points, and Andrei Zhakhov of Malta, who finished third overall with 98 points.

In the girls’ division, Ines Mendez-Larminaux of Puerto Rico was the top female sailor, finishing an impressive sixth overall with 120 points. She was awarded the Helen Mary Wilkes Trophy as the first female sailor. The female podium was completed by Margaux Nguyen-Minh of Hong Kong, 14th overall with 184 points, and Mara Peñalver of Spain, 20th overall with 215 points.

The IODA Challenge Cup, awarded to the winner of the Optimist Team Race World Championship, was won by Spain for the third consecutive year, confirming Spain’s outstanding consistency and strength in Optimist sailing at world level.

The Jacobsen Trophy, awarded to the top national team at the Optimist World Championship, was won by Brazil. The trophy is calculated using the four best-ranked sailors from each eligible nation, with final points adjusted according to the fleet system. Brazil’s winning team score was 929 points, led by Manuel Bragança, João Lucena, Arthur Lamin, and Thomas Piras de Oliveira.

The championship concluded with a memorable prize giving ceremony, attended by World Sailing President Quanhai Li, highlighting the importance of the event within the international sailing community and the role of the Optimist class in developing the next generation of sailors.

The 2026 edition in Morocco will be remembered as a historic championship: a record-breaking event for global participation, a milestone for sailing in Africa, and a celebration of the next generation of sailors.

Photo credit: Matias Capizzano

About the International Optimist Dinghy Association
The International Optimist Dinghy Association is the international class association responsible for the Optimist dinghy, one of the world’s leading youth sailing classes. IODA works with its members around the world to promote fair competition, friendship, education, and the development of young sailors through international events, class rules, and global cooperation.

ENDS