Chennai will host the 11th India International Youth Sailing Championship (IIR) 2026. The event is scheduled from January 4 to 10 at Chennai Port. This will be India’s longest-running sailing event that will feature over 117 sailors from across 13 countries and nine clubs competing in five elite youth classes, including 420, 29er (Boys & Girls Skiff), ILCA 4 (Boys & Girls Dinghy), Optimist (Boys & Girls), and iQFOIL Youth Windsurfing (Boys & Girls).
The event was launched during a press conference held in Chennai, which was attended by Dr. Atulya Misra, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu, and Thiru J. Meganatha Reddy, IAS, Member Secretary, SDAT. Also in attendance were senior sailing officials and leading athletes.
The discussion highlighted the Tamil Nadu government’s continued backing of water sports. In respect to that, two new Sailing Centres of Excellence have been announced at the Marina Beach in Chennai, and Ramanathapuram were announced under SDAT’s TN Olympic Water Sports Vision.
The event will be organized under the wing of the Yachting Association of India (YAI) and the Asian Sailing Federation, and hosted by the Tamil Nadu Sailing Association (TNSA) with the support of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT).
Over the years, TNSA has been vital in the growth and development of sailors. The IIR has given several alumni with global success, including 2024 Paris Olympics silver medallist Isaac McHardy, Irish Optimist coach Peter Fagan, two-time Olympian and U-23 49er World Champion Sean Waddilove, and U-23 49er silver medallist Paddy Crosbie.
Veterans on IIR 2026
Thomas Chaix, a veteran Irish sailing coach who has been associated with the sport since 2011, expressed his excitement on the championship and how important the event is for the new and the experienced under one roof.
Chaix said, “IIR is something different, a lifelong memory and a special chapter in a sailor’s journey — and a great excuse for coaches to reunite with friends.”
Meanwhile, Asian Games bronze medallist K.C. Ganapathy highlights the uniqueness of the event and what makes it special. He mentioned, “Usually, events like these are run by a company or a club. But this competition is predominantly organised by volunteers. It comes from the heart, and definitely, that’s something beautiful.”
All the races of the SDAT 11th India International Youth Sailing Championship (IIR) 2026 will be streamed live worldwide on YouTube in the official channels of India International Regatta and SDAT’s YouTube channel, Sports Tamil Nadu.
