Armada Cup returns to Britain's Ocean City after 20 years
by Plymouth Waterfront Partnership 21 Jul 15:22 UTC
18 July 2026
Plymouth, Britain's Ocean City, celebrated the return of the historic Armada Cup on Saturday (18 July), twenty years since the international offshore race was last held.
Jointly organised by the Royal Western Yacht Club (RWYC) and the Real Club Náutico de San Sebastián (RCNSS), a fleet of 12 yachts set sail for the challenging 460-nautical-mile race across the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay.
Open to monohulls and multihulls over 27 feet, this year's international fleet included sailors from British, French, and Spanish sailing communities.
Sarah Gibson, Plymouth Waterfront Manager and CEO, Plymouth Waterfront Partnership:
"The Plymouth Sound National Marine Park sparkled in the July sunshine and bustled with spectator boats on Saturday as it provided the perfect start for the exciting Armada Cup sailing race. As Britain's Ocean City, Plymouth is the perfect host for sailing events, and we were really pleased to see the return of this race. Many of the international sailing crew arrived last week and enjoyed the city's hospitality and shopping, expressing a big thank you to everyone who made them feel so welcome. We look forward to the Armada Cup returning as a regular fixture on the international sailing calendar."
On Friday evening the Lord Mayor attended the Armada Cup Reception at the Royal Western Yacht Club where he met competitors, club officials and guests as the excitement built before the race.
Celebrating the fleet get under way as the race started from the Sound on Saturday was the volunteer crew of Plymouth's RNLI Severn-class all-weather lifeboat, Sybil Mullen Glover.
The 2026 edition of the Armada Cup marks an important double milestone, celebrating both the 130th anniversary of the RCNSS and the 199th anniversary of the RWYC. First contested in 1986, the Armada Cup honours the twinning friendship between Plymouth and San Sebastián established forty years ago.
Based on the latest tracking data, the majority of the 12 strong fleet will have completed the race by the end of the day on Tuesday 21st July.