Entries have been flooding in for the 2026 International Six Metre Open and Classic European Championships, which are scheduled to take place from July 15–24 on Switzerland’s Lake Geneva.
Organised by the Cercle de la Voile and hosted by the Société Nautique de Genève, the six-day European regatta will be preceded by three days of racing at the International Six Metre Swiss Championship from July 15–17.
With strong interest expressed from around the world by owners of International Six Metre yachts in both the open and classic divisions, this year’s European Championships are expected to attract a bumper entry of around 50 boats.
Already – and with around two months still to go to the July 5 entry deadline – 32 boats are registered for the event, with entries coming in from across Europe – one from Finland, two from France, four from Germany, two from Great Britain, three from Italy, one from the Netherlands, one from Spain, one from Sweden, and 10 from Switzerland – as well as one American-flagged entry, Basil Vasiliou’s Jane Ann from the New York Yacht Club.
The International Six Metre class dates back to 1907 and the introduction of the International Rule – also known as the Metre Rule – with the first recorded Six Metre race taking place in 1907 at Cercle de la Voile de Paris on the Seine.
Throughout its history, the class has been a hotbed for technical innovation, with the world’s leading yacht designers and sailors contributing to the development of the class. An Olympic class from 1908 to 1952, the Six Metres were also frequently used as development boats during the America’s Cup’s 12 Metre era. Today, the Six Metre class remains a vibrant, highly competitive international class with over 300 boats – modern and classic – actively racing.
This summer’s regatta on Lake Geneva will see two separate International Six Metre European titles 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 early entries is the reigning International Six Metre World Champion Momo, owned by Dieter Schön (SUI) from the Segelclub St. Moritz. Also entered is Duclop, skippered by renowned international match racing skipper Eric Monnin (SUI), who finished third in the 2025 World Championship, held at the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club in the United States.
High on the list of likely contenders for the Open European title will be the British entry Battlecry, skippered by Jeremy Thorp from the Royal Yacht Squadron – which took the silver medal at the 2024 Open European Championship in Sanxenxo, Spain – along with the Swiss entry Junior from the host club, skippered by Loïc Forestier (SUI), which finished third in 2024.
Among the likely favourites for the 2026 Classic European title will no doubt be Finnish entry Astrée III, which took the silver medal position at the 2024 European Championship, as well as Mauricio Sánchez-Bella Carswell’s Spanish entry Titia, which took bronze position in 2024.
The winner of the International Six Metre 2026 Open European Championship will receive the Coppa Giovanelli – a perpetual challenge trophy originally presented by the Yacht Club Italiano. Winners in the Six Metre 2026 Classic European Championship will receive the Royal Danish Yacht Club’s President Woodrow Wilson Trophy.
The August Ringvold Memorial Trophy will be presented to the highest placed Classic entry built to the First (1907-1919) or Second (1919-1933) International Rule.
The Merula Trophy – donated in 2015 by the East India Club Yacht Squadron – will be awarded to the highest placed Classic yacht built to the First (1907-1919) International Rule.
The Nelson Trophy – donated to the Class by Don Wood of the Royal Thames Yacht Club – will be awarded to the highest placed boat constructed and certificated between January 1, 1966 and September 6, 1979.
The Lucie Trophy – donated to the Class by Matt Brooks to honour the memory of Lucie Bedford Warren, a keen Six Metre competitor in the USA, Bermuda, Canada, and Europe – will be presented to the highest placed yacht that includes a woman helmsperson or crew.
The IYRS Astor Cup – loaned by the IYRS School of Technology and Trades of Newport, Rhode Island – will be awarded to the highest placed entry that includes a person under 25 years of age as a helm or crew.
The Robbe and Berking Trophy – originally instituted by Peter König in 2006 as the Baum and König Trophy, with the current trophy presented by Oliver Berking in 2020 – will be presented to the highest placed Classic yacht sailing with wooden spars and white working sails.
More information on the event can be found at the official regatta website.
International 6 Metre Association 