50 International Six Metre crews have assembled at the Société Nautique de Genève on the eve of the 2026 Swiss National Championship, which begins tomorrow on Lake Geneva, Switzerland.
Eight races are scheduled for the three-day event, which precedes the International Six Metre European Championships, taking place from Sunday, July 19 to Friday, July 24.
Two national titles are up for grabs at the Swiss Championship: the Open Championship for those yachts constructed and/or certificated since January 1, 1966; and the Classic Championship for those yachts constructed and/or certificated prior to that date.
The 30-strong Classic entry list includes 15 Swiss crews as well as visiting yachts from Finland (1), France (3), Germany (5), Great Britain (3), Italy (1), and Spain (2). Meanwhile, the 20-boat Open entry list is made up of 16 Swiss crews, along with yachts from Great Britain, Spain, Sweden, and the USA.
After successfully completing the meticulous measurement and scrutineering process over the last few days, all 50 of the event’s International Six Metre yachts are now lined up stern-to and in age order on the main dock at the Société Nautique de Genève – making for a truly spectacular sight.
Like most of Europe currently, Geneva is experiencing a heatwave that has seen temperatures peak at 35C over recent days, making hats and sunscreen the order of the day for the Six Metre sailors preparing their boats. With today’s prevailing conditions being strong sunshine and an average of four knots of wind, most of the fleet remained ashore, with just a determined few venturing out on to the glassy waters of Lake Geneva.
International Six Metre Class Association President Louis Heckly, skipper of FRA 11 Fun, competing in the Classic Championship, said the competitors were happy to be enjoying the excellent hospitality of the Société Nautique de Genève for this year’s Swiss and European Championships.
“It is great to see so many boats here representing so many countries – that’s a clear indication of how dynamic the class has become internationally,” Heckly said.
“Huge congratulations to the measurement team, led by Guy-Roland Perrin, for processing 50 boats over two days. That’s a massive achievement. Now, with everyone in the water, we can’t wait to start racing at the Swiss Championship tomorrow.”
The International Six Metre Swiss Championship gets underway tomorrow, Wednesday, July 15 – with a skippers’ briefing at 1100 and the warning signal for Race 1 at 1300 – and runs through to Friday, July 17.
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.
International Six Metre Association members have officially selected the venues for two future major championships following the ISMA Online Vote held on 26 May 2026.
Club Nàutic S’Arenal in Mallorca, Spain has been chosen to host the 2028 International Six Metre European Championships, while the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dublin, Ireland has been selected as the venue for the 2031 International Six Metre World Championships.
ISMA President Louis Heckly welcomed the outcome of the vote: “We are very pleased to confirm these two outstanding venues for future International Six Metre championships. Both clubs presented excellent proposals and demonstrated a strong commitment to the class. The ISMA looks forward to working closely with both organising authorities over the coming years.”
Speaking on behalf of the Royal Irish Yacht Club, Joe Conaway said: “We are honoured by the confidence shown by ISMA members and very excited to welcome the Six Metre fleet to Dun Laoghaire in 2031. The RIYC is committed to delivering a memorable World Championships both on and off the water. The 2031 Six Metre World Championships will form an important part of our bi-centenary celebrations in 2031 and the sight of these beautiful boats racing once again in Dublin Bay will leave a lasting memory.”
Club Nàutic S’Arenal President José Ramón Picó commented: “It is a great privilege for Club Nàutic S’Arenal to host the 2028 European Championships. Mallorca has a long tradition in international sailing, and we are looking forward to welcoming the Six Metre class for what we hope will be a fantastic championship.”
The exact dates for both events will be announced at a later stage.
In the meantime, the International Six Metre calendar continues with the 2026 European Championships in Geneva this July, followed by the 2027 International Six Metre World Championships in Helsinki from 8 to 14 August. The 2029 International Six Metre World Championships will take place at Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Porto Cervo, Italy.
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.
Wins for Duclop and Momo II in the Open Division, gave Momo II a three-point lead over Eau Vive with Aera just one point adrift in third and Duclop fourth.
Classics Fun and Jill both experience significant gear failures forcing Fun to retire from race three, but Jill went on to finish in fourth regardless.
24 September 2025 – Oyster Bay, NY, USA – A lack of sunshine didn’t detract from the sparkle of the International Six Metre fleet on day three of their 2025 World Championships at the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club on Long Island. Races two and three of the series were completed in a steady breeze from 080 degrees, which built from around 6 knots at the start of race two, to circa 12 knots by the end of race three.
In the Classic Championship overall standings His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain’s Bribon scored two impressive race wins and now leads the regatta on five points. She has a six-point delta over Alessandro Maria Rinaldi’s Jill, who hangs onto second despite a near dismasting during race two. Two further points behind lies Thomas Kuhmann’s Flapper, in third, while Mauricio Sanchez-Bella’s Titia and Greg Stuart’s Sprig are both on 16 points, with Titia taking fourth place on countback.
After racing His Majesty was very happy with their results. “It was a hard fight but thanks to God we won. We are very happy, but we still have a lot of work to do. I am very sad that the French team, who are good friends of mine, had to pull out today. We missed our fight with them!”
Open Division race one went to Laurence Clerc’s Duclop skippered by Eric Monnin, while race two was won by Dieter Schoen’s Momo II, which had finished second in the morning race. In the overall standings Momo II now leads the regatta by three points from Rainer Müller’s Eau Vive skippered by Jamie Hilton which had a solid day with a fourth and a third. Just one point behind is Foti Lykiardopulo’s Aera, thanks to the third and second they added to their score card. Duclop’s race two win was followed by a fifth, putting Duclop into fourth overall, five points behind Aera and just one point ahead of Basil Vasiliou’s Jane Anne.
Speaking after racing Eric Monnin of Duclop said. “It was great to win a race at the World Championship after a difficult day yesterday, so it feels good. I think we’ve got momentum and hope to continue tomorrow. We also had a little more difficult race in the last race, but I think compared to yesterday we improved a lot so we’re ready to go for tomorrow. I think the wind was a bit more stable and steady. We had classical tactics, we wanted to go right, and we were able to do that. We could do what we wanted to do and that helped a lot. Yesterday we were struggling a lot more in the middle of the fleet. We feel good, but we need to improve every day and hopefully grab one or two places here and there.”
Classic Division Race by Race
Classic Division day three was dominated by Bribon, who won both races. In race two she was challenged hard by Louis Heckly’s Fun, but she kept the upper hand and led the fleet home, with Fun second, Maruicio Sanchez-Bella’s Titia third, and race one winner Alessandro Maria Rinaldi’s Jill fourth.
Off the line in race three Bribon got another good start near the committee boat, while Fun looked good in the middle of the line. But only a few minutes into the race Fun was forced to pull up and drop her sails. Back ashore owner Louis Heckly explained that the boat has suffered a serious structural issue that prevented them from continuing. They are currently working on the boat in the hope of being able to continue the regatta tomorrow.
Meanwhile back on the Classics racecourse Bribon’s choice to stay right was a canny one and by the top mark she had already established her lead with Titia, Flapper and Jill trailing in her wake. Titia and Flapper enjoyed a close tousle around the course to come second and third respectively, but on each leg Jill seemed to drop back slightly, although she just managed to fend off Totem and Spring, with the three-boats crossing the line in that order.
After sailing Jill’s owner explained that on the first beat, they suffered an almost catastrophic failure of one of the bronze bolts that holds the wooden spreaders to their wooden mast. The super quick thinking of the crew saved the mast, but they could only sail under jib alone for the rest of the upwind legs, making their fourth place all the more impressive. Fortunately, the bolt was quickly replaced once back on the mooring, so they will sail again tomorrow.
For Mauricio Sanchez-Bella the improved conditions were most welcome, “First of all it was the first day with a nice wind and perfect conditions, so we’re very happy to race in these conditions. Particularly for us, we came from second to last, to having a third place and a second place. I am very happy to have the two Spanish boats ahead in the last race, so a perfect day, I’m very happy. “
Open Division Race by Race
Race two for the Opens was to be Duclop’s from the off, but behind her there were plenty of place changes. At the end of the first run Aera was in second with Momo II third, Jane Ann fourth, Rainer Müller’s Sting skippered by Reigh North fifth and Eau Vive sixth. By the second weather mark Aera was still just holding off Momo II, with Eau Vive now up into fourth and Jane Ann fifth. But on the final run, despite their best efforts, Aera could not hold off Momo II who slid past them to take second with Aera third, Eau Vive fourth and Jane Ann fifth.
In race three both Sting and Henrick Andersin’s Oiva were called over the line and had to restart. Momo II made a lovely start towards the pin end of the line and led Aera around the first lap with Duclop third, Eau Vive fourth and Jane Ann fifth as they rounded the leeward gate. On the second lap Momo II began to pull out her lead, winning the race from Aera by some 25 seconds. Behind them Eau Vive took third with Jane Ann fourth. The battle for fifth place went right down to the line with Duclop just surging forward to take fifth from Junior with Eugenio Galdon Brugarolas’s Maybe XIV a very close seventh.
Jamie Hilton of Eau Vive summed up his feelings saying, “It was a great day of racing. The breeze was a little bit more than we expected. We’re still figuring out the boat, but the guys on Momo, Aera and Duclop just don’t leave a lot of room for many mistakes. I don’t think we made any big mistakes, they were just a bit better than us today. Especially Momo who are going really well.”
Two days of racing remain, with five races being required to validate the championships. Once six races have been sailed the single discard will come into play, with a maximum of eight races being scheduled. The forecast for the penultimate day promises a southerly breeze but with potential for rain and thunder at times, so another tricky day for competitors and Race Committee alike. A change to the schedule has been published to bring the start of racing on Thursday and Friday forward to 10.30 and to allow up to three races to be sailed on Thursday.
You can follow the latest news on the ISMA’s Instagram and Facebook channels and via 6metre.com. Provisional Results after three races Classic Championship 1. ESP16 – Bribon – Real Club Nautico Sanxenxo – 3, 1, 1 = 5 2. USA56 – Jill – Alessandro Maria Rinaldi – 1, 4, 6 = 11 3. USA171 – Flapper – Thomas Kuhmann – 6, 4, 3 = 13 4. ESP72 – Titia – Mauricio Sanchez-Bella – 11, 3, 2 = 16 5. USA43 – Sprig – Greg Stewart – 5, 5, 6 = 16
Members of the press wishing to attend the event or requiring additional information or images should contact ISMA Press Officer Fiona Brown on email fiona.brown@fionabrown.com or Tel/WhatsApp +44 7711 718470.
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