North American Etchells Association

Day 3 at the 2026 Etchells Worlds 🌞🌬️⛵️ What does everyone here have in common? A love of sailing, sunshine, and San Diego breeze. With more than half the championship now complete, the intensity is ramping up on the racecourse. But when you get conditions like this — steady breeze, blue skies, and world-class racing — there’s still plenty to smile about, even when the results don’t go your way. #EtchellsWorlds #SanDiego #Sailing #Etchells

🌫️ Day 2 Weather Notes from Marine Weather University Another classic San Diego “May Gray” setup is expected to make today very different from yesterday. The marine layer is already established this morning with high clouds to the east and southerly winds beginning to develop due to an unusual upper-level trough and weak pressure gradient. Forecast trend: • Stronger breeze early, especially near shore • Southerly flow around race start • Gradual easing and right shift through the afternoon as the marine layer burns off Peter noted today’s setup is unusual for San Diego, with the seabreeze potentially softening the wind instead of building it. Overall: ➡️ Bigger breeze early ➡️ Lighter and further right later in the day ➡️ More pressure expected again tomorrow Enjoy yesterday's first windward mark rounding: USA 1527 (RayGun, Austin Sperry) gets in there right before USA 1464 (Skanky Gene, Jay Cross). Video: @_eddiefrank

278 sailors. 11 countries. One World Championship. 🌎⛵ Teams from 🇦🇺 Australia,🇧🇲 Bermuda, 🇨🇦 Canada, 🇬🇧 Great Britain, 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇮🇪 Ireland, 🇳🇴Norway, 🇳🇿 New Zealand🇪🇸 Spain, and 🇺🇸 USA have arrived in San Diego for the 2026 Etchells World Championship. After today’s practice race, competitors shared their thoughts ahead of five days of intense racing as the battle for the World Championship title begins tomorrow. Hear what the sailors had to say as the countdown to the 2026 Worlds officially begins. 🎥🔥 Thank you: @brigantineseafood @chipz_happen @dtgart @graphixgroup @ketchbrewing @mauibrewingco @mountgayrum @northsails @palmbeachmotoryachts @sailingsupply_downwindmarine @sailorsforthesea @zhikglobal @fendertexusa @jensenspl #EtchellsWorlds #Etchells #SDYC #SanDiego #Sailing

By our count, at least 26 former Etchells Champions will be on the water next week in San Diego for the 2026 Etchells World Championship. And honestly… we may have missed a few. 😅 (If we forgot someone, send us a message or drop it in the comments below!) With nearly 60 years of Etchells championships — plus Masters, Grandmasters, Senior Masters, and Corinthian divisions — there is an incredible amount of hardware represented in this fleet. But by this time next week, only one team will walk away with the title. 🏆🌎 Former champions expected on the line include: • Glenn Burton — 1986 Toronto & 1987 Marblehead Crew • Greg Stewart — 1986 Toronto & 1987 Marblehead Crew • Bradi Rodi: 1994 Balboa Crew • @DirkKneulman — 1998 Marblehead Skipper, 2017 San Francisco Grandmaster Skipper, 2006 Fremantle Crew • Rick Merriman — 2000 San Diego Crew • Jud Smith — 2006 Fremantle Skipper, 2007 Cowes Masters Skipper, 2008 Chicago Masters Skipper • @SteveHuntSailing — 2008 Chicago Crew, 2011 San Diego Crew, 2013 Italy Crew, 2014 Newport Grandmaster Crew • Peter Duncan — 2008 Corinthian Skipper, 2023 Grandmaster Skipper • Marvin Beckmann — 2010 Ireland Grandmaster Skipper, 2013 Italy Skipper, 2014 Senior Grandmaster Skipper • Noel Drennan: 2011 San Diego Master Skipper, 2018 Crew, 2022 Cowes Crew • Argyle Campbell — 2013 Corinthian Skipper • @StephanieRoble — 2014 Newport Crew • @BillHardestySailor — 2008 Chicago Skipper, 2011 San Diego Skipper, 2014 Newport Skipper • @dieballsailing - 2015 Hong Kong Skipper Jeff Eiber - 2015 HK Crew • Ian Liberty — 2017 San Francisco Crew • Stephen Benjamin — 2017 San Francisco Skipper, 2015 Senior/Master Skipper • @AndrewLawson6 — 2022 Cowes Corinthian Skipper • @BenLamby : 2016 Cowes Crew, 2018 Brisbane Crew, 2025 Melbourne Crew, • @WillRyan100 — 2023 Miami Crew • @VaDiazdeLeon — 2023 Miami Crew • Beccy Anderson — 2023 Miami Crew • @SommiJohn — 2023 Miami Skipper • @Graham_Vials — 2024 Fremantle Corinthian Skipper • @AndyBeadsworth1 — 2024 Fremantle Masters Champion, 2007 Cowes Skipper, • @JamesMayo38 — 2025 Melbourne Crew This is one stacked fleet. ⛵🔥 Photos: @MarkAlbertazzi #EtchellsWorlds #Etchells #WorldChampionship #SDYC #Sailing

The final day for measurements & registration is tomorrow, Saturday, May 9 from 0900-1700. Registration is located in the Jessop Room. See you there! Thank you to our sponsors @zhikglobal @mountgayrum @mauibrewingco @northsails @chipz_happen @brigantineseafood @sailingsupply_downwindmarine @ketchgrillandtaps @graphixgroup @sailorsforthesea @jensenpl @dtgart @fendertex #etchellsworlds2026 #etchellsworlds #onedesignracing #sandiegoyachtclub

🌎⛵ The world’s best Etchells sailors are descending on San Diego. The 2026 Etchells World Championship kicks off next week at San Diego Yacht Club (@sdyc1886 )with 76 teams from 12 countries set to battle for one of sailing’s most prestigious one-design titles. Olympians. World Champions. Hall of Famers. Corinthian sailors. All on one starting line. Fun Facts 👀 • 76 teams representing 12 countries • Racing runs May 11–15 with up to 3 races per day • The Worlds return to the USA after back-to-back championships in Australia • The 2023, 2024, and 2025 World Champions will all compete • A brand-new perpetual trophy for the Best Female Team debuts this year • San Diego previously hosted the Etchells Worlds in 2000 and 2011 - and thier champs are also present • Multiple Grandmasters teams will compete with combined crew ages over 150 years old Read the full championship preview here: https://mailchi.mp/etchells/2026preview Photos: @MarkAlbertazzi #EtchellsWorlds #Etchells #SanDiego #OneDesignRacing #Sailing #SailboatRacing

2026 Etchells World Championship @sdyc1886 , May 10-15. @etchellsclass @etchellsna @etchellsna #zhik #northsails #mountgayrum #mauibrewingco #brigantine #ketchbrewing #marineweatheruniversity #douglassmithmarineinsureance #dtgarts #fendertex #graphixgroup #sailorsforthesea #downwindmarine #sailingsupply #chipzhappen #palmbeach #greenboater

2026 Etchells World Championship @sdyc1886 , May 10-15. @etchellsclass @etchellsna @etchellsna #zhik #northsails #mountgayrum #mauibrewingco #brigantine #ketchbrewing #marineweatheruniversity #douglassmithmarineinsureance #dtgarts #fendertex #graphixgroup #sailorsforthesea #downwindmarine #sailingsupply #chipzhappen #palmbeach #greenboater

2026 Etchells World Championship @sdyc1886 , May 10-15. @etchellsclass @etchellsna @etchellsna #zhik #northsails #mountgayrum #mauibrewingco #brigantine #ketchbrewing #marineweatheruniversity #douglassmithmarineinsureance #dtgarts #fendertex #graphixgroup #sailorsforthesea #downwindmarine #sailingsupply #chipzhappen #palmbeach #greenboater

2026 Etchells World Championship @sdyc1886 , May 10-15. @etchellsclass @etchellsna @etchellsna #zhik #northsails #mountgayrum #mauibrewingco #brigantine #ketchbrewing #marineweatheruniversity #douglassmithmarineinsureance #dtgarts #fendertex #graphixgroup #sailorsforthesea #downwindmarine #sailingsupply #chipzhappen #palmbeach #greenboater

2026 Etchells World Championship @sdyc1886 , May 10-15. @etchellsclass @etchellsna @etchellsna #zhik #northsails #mountgayrum #mauibrewingco #brigantine #ketchbrewing #marineweatheruniversity #douglassmithmarineinsureance #dtgarts #fendertex #graphixgroup #sailorsforthesea #downwindmarine #sailingsupply #chipzhappen #palmbeach #greenboater

More action shots like these heading our way this month as Worlds roll out of @sdyc1886 with @etchellsfleet13sd leading the charge. SECOND WIND in the 📸 viewfinder here by @markalbertazzi at the recently held Pre Worlds event ⛵️ 🌎