Despite a difficult market for participation rates of sport boat regattas, the SB20 Class is leading by example with an impressive 25% growth rate in participation at the 2026 World Championship in Hyères, France versus the past 7-year average. In addition, the 70+ boat entry list is a record for the class since 2017, when the Worlds were in Cowes at the Royal Yacht Squadron. There will be 18 nations present from 5 different continents.
Scott Glanville, the SB20 Class President, attributes this impressive growth to multiple factors: “We started 3 years ago with a strategy to significantly grow participation numbers at the 2026 Worlds. Decisions were made throughout this 2–3-year period that were consistent with this strategy. Secondly, with the arrival of Devoti Sailing as the manufacturer and distributor in late 2024, new boat production and spare part availability has facilitated recruiting new members and building fleets with new boats. Thirdly, we’ve invested heavily in supporting Youth teams and we expect to have a record number of U25 teams at this Worlds in 2026.
“A final point: the 7-year average includes entries from UAE and RUS/BLR, with the former numbers off this year because of the Iran war and the latter numbers at zero because of the restriction in France where these athletes cannot participate in regattas on the French territory. Despite these two negative headwinds, we’ve delivered on our 3-year strategic plan, and we will continue to build on this strategy for the 2027 World Championship in Torbay, GBR.”
Hyères: a world-class sailing venue
Hosted by COYCH – Espace Nautique in Hyères, the championship returns to a venue with a long-standing reputation for international sailing. The Olympic regatta “Semaine Olympique Française (SOF)” in Hyères is one of the 5 grand slams known worldwide by all Olympic sailors. Hyères is well known for its strong winds: the Mistral, which was present on 3 days during the Worlds in 2013, and the easterly breeze, which can also easily challenge the Mistral with over 20 knots.
When the racing ends, the fun begins
Every evening after racing, competitors will come together for a program of themed pasta parties, lotteries for prizes and wine tasting. The region around Hyères has many wine domains and two of these will be offering visits and wine tasting throughout the event. And what better way to finish off a day on the water than with a physiotherapist session offered to all the competitors?
The championship begins on 16 October with measurement and registration, followed by the practice race and Opening Ceremony on 18 October. A total of 13 races are scheduled from 19 to 23 October, with a maximum of four races planned per day.
How to follow the action
Everything about the event is on the official SB20 Worlds Hyères 2026 website. During the championship, daily written reports will be published here on the SB20 Class website, while our Facebook and Instagram pages will cover the action on and off the water, with daily videos on social media and our YouTube channel.
Hyères is ready. The stage is set for a week of world-class racing.
Text: Patricia Sarly
Photos: ©Pierrick Contin, ©Mensa Pratijk (physio) and ©Valetanne (vineyard)