The 2026 Flying Junior World Championship in Rio Marina to mark the 70th anniversary of the Centro Velico Elbano From 25 to 31 July 2026, Rio Marina will host the FJ (Flying Junior) World Championship, a major international event that will coincide with the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Centro Velico Elbano.
The decision to award the world championship to Italy had already been made, and the Italian class secretariat identified Rio Marina as the ideal location, considering both the race course and the Elban club’s organisation to be particularly suitable.
The FJ class, created in 1955 based on a design by the Dutch architect Uilke van Essen, has historical ties to the Elban Sailing Centre: between the 1970s and 1980s, many young sailors from Rio began their competitive careers on this very dinghy.
Over 70 crews are expected from Italy – including several teams from Elba – and from numerous foreign countries: Argentina, Belgium, Japan, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands and the United States, confirming the event’s international scope.
The programme includes the opening ceremony on 25 July, followed by measurement procedures. The trial race will take place on 26 July, whilst the races counting towards the world title will be held from 27 to 31 July. The final day will be dedicated to the prize-giving and closing ceremony.
