Emma Wilson excited as iQFOiL World Championships head to her home waters

Emma Wilson will be defending her title at her home spot at the world champs!

Double Olympic medallist Emma Wilson says it will be “super cool” to welcome the world’s best windsurfers to the place where her own racing journey began, after Weymouth & Portland was confirmed as host venue for the 2026 iQFOiL World Championship.

The world’s top Olympic windsurfing talents will descend on the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy from 4–12 September 2026, with up to 250 riders set to compete in high-performance hydrofoil racing on UK waters. For Wilson, the event carries special meaning.

Emma's dedication and determination is so inspiring!

“I’m super excited that the World Championships will be in Portland this year,” said Wilson. “It’s where I started my racing when I was about 10 years old, so to have the world’s best come and compete there this summer will be super cool. I hope it’s a good event for everyone.”

Wilson, a double Olympic medallist and one of British sailing’s standout stars, arrives on home waters in formidable form. Great Britain’s Emma Wilson delivered a standout performance in the iQFOiL Women’s windsurfing class, securing gold after a week of consistent excellence at the 2025 World Championships in Aarhus, Denmark. Teammate Andy Brown also claimed gold, meaning Great Britain will defend both the women’s and men’s world titles on home waters next year.

Celebrations after the 2025 World's

The iQFOiL class was introduced as Olympic windsurfing equipment for the Paris 2024 cycle, delivering fast, tactical racing with speeds reaching 35 knots (65kph). The 2026 regatta marks the first time the UK has hosted a major championship in the class, and the first Olympic windsurfing World Championship on UK waters since 2009.

For Wilson, who went full-time into the sport at just 16, the return to Weymouth & Portland is also about inspiration and legacy.

“We have a big squad in the UK, all training every day, so for us to show our home to everyone else, I think it’ll be really cool — and it’s probably one of the best places to iQFOiL, in my opinion,” she said.

Emma with her coach Sam Ross at the world's in 2025

“I’ve gained a lot through windsurfing. Nearly 10 years of my life. It teaches you so many lessons, and I really hope we can inspire some young kids to come and do what we do.”

The event will be delivered by the RYA, in partnership with the iQFOiL Class, Dorset Council and WPNSA, with support from UK Sport and National Lottery funding. Racing will begin on Monday 7 September, building towards a knockout finale on Saturday 12 September, staged in front of spectators at a harbourside Race Village and streamed live online.

Beyond elite racing, organisers say the championship will act as a catalyst for social and environmental impact, with programmes aimed at engaging local young people through watersports participation, mentoring and education, while also promoting sustainability initiatives and marine habitat protection.

For Wilson, the story comes full circle — from a young sailor racing out of Portland Harbour to one of the world’s most consistent and accomplished iQFOiL athletes, now preparing to welcome the global fleet to the place where it all began.

Feeling inspired? Why not book a windsurfing taster with us at The Official Test Centre, call the centre 07817 717904. Who knows where your windsurfing journey will take you?

Emma is an inspiration to the next generation