Gdynia, Poland – July 14, 2025
The Test Event for the 2027 World Sailing Championships officially kicked off today in Gdynia, Poland – a key moment for the Olympic sailing calendar as today also marks 3 years until LA2028. But with tricky weather and a forecasted storm, it was a slow start – just one race for the 49er fleet, and none for the 49erFX.
This regatta serves three major purposes:
- It’s the official test event for the 2027 World Sailing Championships, where the first Olympic nation quota spots for Los Angeles 2028 will be awarded.
- It’s also the final tune-up regatta before the 2025 World Championships in Cagliari – an ideal opportunity for sailors to measure up against the international fleet.
- To try out the new Medal Series format, similar to the Kite Class.
Irish Team Leads After One Race
The only 49er race of the day started with drama – a general recall followed by a black flag start that saw four boats (HKG, URU, and two Polish teams) disqualified before the first windward mark.
From there, it was all about clean execution. Robert Dickson and Seán Waddilove (IRL) had a sharp start, led at the top mark, and held their lead through to the finish just before a storm rolled in, forcing the race committee to send the fleet ashore for safety.
They now sit at the top of the leaderboard, followed closely by Mikołaj Staniul and Jakub Sztorch (POL) and the Wizner brothers from Spain (ESP).
A Look at the Fleet
The regatta features 26 teams in the 49er fleet from 16 nations and the same number of teams in the 49erFX from 14 nations. While the fleet size isn’t massive, the quality is high, featuring Olympic campaigners and world-class teams sharpening up ahead of the Worlds.
A New Medal Series Format?
One of the major innovations being trialed this week is the new Medal Series format, which now being used by the Kites and Windsurfers. Here’s how it works:
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The top 8 teams from the Opening Series qualify for the Medal Series.
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The series is divided into Quarter-Final, Semi-Final, and Grand Final stages.
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The top-ranked team from the Opening Series advances straight to the Grand Final with one match point in hand.
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Second place also advances to the Grand Final (but without a match point).
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3rd and 4th go to the Semi-Final, while 5th to 8th go to the Quarter-Final.
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From each stage, the top two boats progress.
In the Grand Final, the first boat to reach two match points wins the regatta – a high-pressure, head-to-head showdown. The format aims to increase fairness, intensity, and spectator value.
Looking Ahead
Weather remains a factor this week, with light winds and possible showers in the forecast again tomorrow. But there’s still time – racing continues through Friday, July 18, and the event remains wide open.
This regatta also plays a crucial role in helping sailors adapt to the Gulf of Gdańsk, the venue for the 2027 World Sailing Championships, which will be held as part of Gdynia’s centennial celebrations and mark the first Olympic qualification event for LA 2028.
Tracking: https://tractrac.com/event-page/event_20250711_ererFXNacr/3278
Results: https://events.pya.org.pl/49er-49erfx-nacra-17-open
Photos: https://49er-fx-nacra17.smugmug.com/Photos/2025/Gdynia-Test-Event-for-2027
