IRC Championships in 2026 - There's a Full and Varied Season Ahead
by RORC Rating Office 29 Jan 13:56 UTC
IRC 2 start during the IRC UK National Championships © Paul Wyeth / RTYC
The RORC Rating Office is pleased to confirm the calendar for the 2026 GBR IRC Championships and the IRC European Championship, setting out a busy and wide-ranging season of IRC racing from May through to September. With events taking place across the UK and surrounding waters, the programme once again reflects the depth and appeal of IRC racing at regional, national and international level.
Racing gets under way in May with the IRC Bristol Channel Championship, split across two weekends at Portishead and Cardiff. Attention then turns to the south coast, where International Paints Poole Regatta will host both the IRC Southern Championship and the IRC European Championship. With strong entries expected from the UK and overseas, Poole Bay will be the focal point for one of the most competitive weeks of the season.
The west coast of Scotland will also see racing action during May, with the IRC Scottish Championship raced from Tarbert on Loch Fyne as part of the Scottish Series, hosted by Clyde Cruising Club. New for 2026 is the IRC North West Championship, which will be held at Liverpool Yacht Club, adding a new and welcome regional title to the championship calendar.
The mid-season programme continues in July with the IRC East Coast Championship at Ramsgate Week. August then brings the IRC Northern Ireland Championship on Belfast Lough, hosted by Carrickfergus Sailing Club, followed later in the month by the IRC South West Championship at Royal Torbay Yacht Club.
One of the standout events in late summer will be the IRC National Championship, which this year will be contested as part of Dartmouth Week from 27-30 August. Hosted by the Royal Dart Yacht Club, the event is expected to attract a strong and competitive fleet.
September will see the IRC Championship season draw to a close with two important titles decided over the same weekend. The IRC Welsh National Championship will be raced in Cardigan Bay as part of the Celtic Regatta, while the IRC Channel Island Championship will take place during Jersey Regatta.
As well as this enticing selection of inshore regattas, offshore racing also plays its part in the programme, with the IRC Double Handed National Championship, organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club, featuring the Cowes-St Malo race in July and the Cherbourg-Cowes race in September, attracting double handed teams from both sides of the Channel.
Prizes for the GBR IRC 2026 Championships will be provided by North Sails and North Sails Apparel, with winners receiving crew merchandise and additional prizes at each GBR Championship event.
David Lenz, North Sails UK General Manager, comments: "It's great to see a full calendar of regional IRC regattas taking place around the country, and we're pleased to show our support with North Sails prizes. With our wide-reaching network, we're always ready to help teams with IRC optimisation, service support and new sails. We hope sailors enjoy successful regattas and the close, high-quality racing that makes our local fleets so special."
With a strong mix of venues, established regattas and championships across every region, the 2026 GBR IRC Championships look set to deliver another excellent season of competitive and accessible racing.
Find full details of the GBR IRC Championships and 2026 European Championship online, and stay updated on social media and through the individual event websites for the latest news and results.