From 28 to 31 October 2026, Cannes will host the RS21 World Championship, the world championship of the international RS21 class. The event is organised by the International RS21 Class Association, the Yacht Club de Cannes and RS Sailing.
In 2026, Cannes will welcome the fifth RS21 World Championship, which will also serve as the final, fifth round of the season’s EuroCup.
Following the September Régates Royales, Cannes once again becomes a major venue for international sailing, but in a very different format: instead of classic yachts, the spotlight will be on modern one-design racing boats.
What is the RS21 class?
The RS21 is a modern keelboat designed for one-design racing. This format means that teams compete on boats that are as comparable as possible, so the result depends mainly on crew work, tactics and boat handling rather than on a technical advantage.
The class focuses on close and tactical racing. RS21 is built for teamwork, and the international association now runs events in Europe, North America and other regions.
The class received official international status from World Sailing in 2021, allowing RS21 to hold recognised world championships.
RS21 World Championship programme in Cannes
Although the championship races are scheduled from 28 to 31 October, preparation begins several days earlier.
- 24–25 October — boat measurement, preparation, launching and harbour allocation;
- 26 October — continued measurement and registration;
- 27 October — registration, preparation and an official practice race at 14:00;
- 27 October at 18:30 — opening ceremony and competitors’ briefing;
- 28 October — first race day, with the first warning signal scheduled for 13:00;
- 29–30 October — second and third race days;
- 31 October — final races and prize-giving ceremony;
- 1 November — haul-out and team departures.
Organisers note that this is a preliminary schedule and that race times may change depending on weather conditions, safety requirements and race committee decisions.
Why this regatta is different from other events in Cannes
Cannes hosts a varied sailing calendar throughout the year. In September, for example, the Régates Royales focus on classic yachts and historic designs.
The RS21 World Championship is different. It is above all a modern one-design sporting event, where all teams race under the same technical rules.
For spectators, this means a more direct competition between crews, where starts, tactics, course choices and teamwork play a decisive role.
The event also closes the European RS21 season, as Cannes is officially listed as both the World Championship and Round 5 of the EuroCup 2026.
What visitors in Cannes should know
The championship is based around the Yacht Club de Cannes, but much of the programme — including measurement, briefings, crew dinners and official ceremonies — is intended mainly for registered participants.
The official event page does not publish a separate confirmed programme for spectators. Visitors should therefore not automatically expect free access to all team areas or direct viewing opportunities from inside the yacht club.
Anyone planning to be in Cannes from 28 to 31 October should check the official RS21 website before visiting, as this is where the organisers publish updated documents and any schedule changes.
Cannes extends the sailing season into late October
The RS21 World Championship shows that the international sailing season on the French Riviera continues beyond the main September regattas.
For sailing enthusiasts, it is an opportunity to discover modern one-design racing and watch international crews compete in one of the key yachting destinations on the Côte d’Azur.
For Yacht ServiceAzur clients, the championship can also become an additional highlight during a stay in Cannes at the end of October. Yacht charter, sea routes and the possibility of watching the regatta from the water should, however, be arranged separately in line with navigation restrictions and the organisers’ instructions.
