A record-setting fleet of 52 International Six Metre class yachts will compete on Switzerland’s Lake Geneva later this month at the 2026 European Championships, hosted by the Société Nautique de Genève.

The huge fleet includes two entries from the USA, as well as European visitors from Finland (2), France (3), Greece (3), Germany (4), Great Britain (5), Italy (2), Netherlands (1), Spain (3), Sweden (1), all of whom will face a 26-strong local contingent from Switzerland.

The biannual regatta, which runs from July 19 to 24, will see two International Six Metre European titles decided: the Open European Championship for those yachts constructed and/or certificated since January 1, 1966; and the Classic European Championship for those yachts constructed and/or certificated before that date.

Prior to the European Championships, the International Six Metre Class Swiss Championships – from July 15 to 17 – will give the competitors an important opportunity to familiarise themselves with the idiosyncrasies of Lake Geneva and its beautiful surroundings.

An Olympic class from 1908 to 1952, the International Six Metre Class remains a highly active class, with more than 300 modern and classic Six Metres racing internationally – including national fleets across mainland Europe, North America, and Canada.

Amongst the possible frontrunners in the Open Championship are: Jeremy Thorp’s British Battlecry, which finished runner up in the 2024 Europeans in Sanxenxo, Spain, as well as Dieter Schön’s Swiss entry Momo, winner of the 2025 World Championship, and Switzerland’s Loïc Forestier on Junior – who finished third in Spain in 2024.

The Classic Championship will be equally hotly contested, with His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain’s 1947-built Bribon – back-to-back winner of the 2022 and 2024 European title and current Classic World Champion – standing out as an obvious potential favourite.

Also in the running will be Finland’s Ossi Paija on Astrée III (1959), runner-up at the Europeans in 2024, as well as Spain’s Mauricio Sánchez-Bella Carswell on Titia, who finished third in 2024 and second in the 2025 World Championship at the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club in the United States.

Racing at the Swiss National Championship begins on Wednesday July 15, with the six-day, eight-race, European Championships series beginning on Sunday July 19 and running through to Friday July 24, with two races per day scheduled.

A local fleet of 12 International Six Metre yachts from the host club Société Nautique de Genève will take on entries from around the world this summer at the International Six Metre 2026 European Championships, which are scheduled to take place on Switzerland’s Lake Geneva from July 19–24.

40 entries have been received so far for the championships, including an additional eight Swiss-flagged yachts from clubs across the country, as well as entries from Spain, Finland, Great Britain, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, and the United States. 

As many as 50 crews are expected to compete in the regatta, at which two International Six Metre European titles will be awarded: the Open European Championship for those yachts constructed and/or certificated since January 1, 1966; and the Classic European Championship for those yachts constructed and/or certificated before that date.

Amongst the entries received so far are all three of the podium finishers in the Classic Division at the previous International Six Metre European Championships held in Sanxenxo, Spain in 2024, when His Majesty Juan Carlos of Spain defended his title aboard Bribon (designed by Arvid Laurin and built in 1947), ahead of Ossi Paija from Finland who skippered Astree III (designed by Bjarne Aas and built in 1959) to second place, and Spain’s Titia, skippered by Mauricio Sanchez-Bella Carswell, in third. 

In the Open Division, Jeremy Thorp’s British crew on Battlecry (designed by Ian Howlett and built in 1988) will be looking to improve on their silver medal placing in 2024, as will Loic Forestier, skipper of the Swiss entry Junior (designed by Pelle Petterson and built in 1981), who finished third in Sanxenxo. 

Over the years since its inception in 1907 when the International Rule – also known as the Metre Rule – was first introduced, the International Six Metre Class has managed to combine elegant and graceful design with leading-edge innovation. 

Nowadays, there are over 300 modern and classic Six Metres racing internationally with national fleets across mainland Europe, North America, and Canada.  

Switzerland has long been a stronghold for the class and the Société Nautique de Genève and its members have played a key role in its development – and continue to do so today. There is a distinct synergy between the classic styling and sailing style of International Six Metre yachts and the serene natural beauty of Lake Geneva and its surroundings.

The International Six Metre 2026 European Championships will be preceded by the Swiss National Championship from July 15–17. The official opening ceremony of the European Championships will take place on Saturday July 18, with racing beginning on Sunday July 19 and running through until Friday July 24.