World’s Best Windsurfers in Weymouth & Portland for High-Speed iQFOiL World Championships!
Excitement is building across Weymouth and Portland as some of the world’s best windsurfers have arrived on the Dorset coast for the Musto iQFOiL World Championships.
Teams from across the globe are preparing to battle it out on the waters of Weymouth and Portland, with racing getting underway from Sunday, September 6 at The Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy.
For local residents, it’s a chance to see an Olympic sailing discipline quite unlike anything else — where athletes appear to fly above the water at incredible speeds while making split-second decisions that can mean the difference between winning and
losing.
Before racing begins, Weymouth will officially welcome the international athletes with an Opening Ceremony and Flag Parade tomorrow, Saturday, September 5. Why not go along and support this spectacular display of athletes from around the world!
By Emma Maguire.
A spectacular welcome to Weymouth
Before racing begins, Weymouth will officially welcome the international athletes with an Opening Ceremony and Flag Parade tomorrow, Saturday, September 5.
The celebrations begin at 6pm at the Oliveto Bandstand on Weymouth seafront, where athletes, supporters and local children will gather before a colourful parade of international flags makes its way along the seafront to the Boat Café for the official opening ceremony.
Local people are being encouraged to line the route, cheer on the British Sailing Team and give competitors from around the world a memorable welcome to Weymouth and Portland.
It will be a fitting start to a major international sporting event in an area with a proud sailing heritage and a worldwide reputation for watersports.
World champions return home
And there will be plenty of British interest, with reigning world champions Emma Wilson and Andy Brown preparing to defend their titles on home waters.
Wilson and Brown head into the championships as defending champions after both taking gold at the 2025 World Championships in Aarhus, Denmark.
This time, however, they will have the advantage – and pressure – of competing in front of a home crowd.
Weymouth and Portland have a long association with elite sailing and windsurfing, with the waters famously hosting the sailing events during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
For Britain’s competitors, racing for a world title on these waters will make the 2026 championships particularly special.
Just how fast is iQFOiL?
If you’ve never watched iQFOiL racing before, prepare to be impressed.
The Olympic windsurfing discipline uses a hydrofoil beneath the board, allowing the sailor and board to lift above the surface of the water.
Racers can harness gusts of up to 35 knots and accelerate to racing speed in just six seconds.
But going as fast as possible isn’t necessarily the quickest way to win.
At this level, athletes are constantly balancing outright speed with control and risk. Pushing harder might gain valuable ground on a rival, but one mistake at high speed can prove extremely costly.
Finding that sweet spot between speed and control is one of the things that separates the world’s best iQFOiL racers from the rest.
Hundreds of decisions in every race
There is also much more to iQFOiL than physical strength and speed.
British Sailing Team athlete Andy Brown has highlighted the huge mental demands involved in racing at the highest level.
"Every second brings another decision."
"Athletes must read the waves, monitor the wind, watch their competitors and decide when to attack, when to protect their position and how much risk to take.
"During a single race, sailors can make hundreds of decisions — all while travelling at breathtaking speeds above the water.
"It means concentration and mental resilience can be every bit as important as physical performance."
Finals Day comes to Weymouth Pavilion
The championships will build towards a huge Finals Day on Saturday, September 12, with spectators invited to experience the action from Weymouth Pavilion.
It promises to be a fantastic opportunity for local people and visitors to experience elite international sport right on Weymouth’s doorstep and support the British Sailing Team as the world’s best fight for the championship titles.
With high-speed racing, international athletes and Weymouth Bay providing the backdrop, the Musto iQFOiL World Championships look set to provide a spectacular week of sport.
Opening Ceremony & Flag Parade
📅 Saturday, September 5⏰ 6pm📍 Oliveto Bandstand, Weymouth seafront
The parade will travel along the seafront to the Boat Café for the official opening ceremony.
Finals Day
📅 Saturday, September 12📍 Weymouth Pavilion
Come along, support the athletes and experience one of the fastest and most exciting disciplines in world sailing as the iQFOiL World Championships take over Weymouth and Portland.
The biggest celebration will take place on Saturday, September 12, when a free Fan Zone opens outside Weymouth Pavilion from 10am until 6pm.
Spectators will be able to watch the decisive Medal Series on a giant screen, accompanied by expert commentary, athlete interviews, music and family activities before joining the celebrations as the new world champions are crowned.
The Fan Zone coincides with Weymouth Town Council’s Waterfest, taking place on Weymouth Beach from 10am until 3pm. Activities will include opportunities to try paddleboarding, gig rowing and beach sauna sessions, as well as sea swimming with local groups and a range of information stalls.
The Official Test Centre will be there with a foiling demonstration, with the team on hand to answer any questions. We will also be providing windsurfer taster sessions.
Free pre-bookable sailing and windsurfing taster sessions will also be available, with equipment and instruction provided by qualified Royal Yachting Association coaches.
Cllr Nick Ireland, Leader of Dorset Council, said: “Hosting a World Championship of this scale is fantastic for Dorset. Events like this don’t come around very often, but it gives us the chance to show off our stunning coastline to an international audience while bringing people into Weymouth to support local businesses.
“We very much hope it will inspire young people to get involved in water sports which are available right on their doorstep.
“We are really pleased that local people can be part of the event and even try a new water sport while celebrating Dorset’s unique connection with sailing.”
Cllr David Civil, Leader of Weymouth Town Council, said the authority was looking forward to welcoming athletes, support teams and visitors from across the world.
He added: “It will be great to see the community come together to enjoy what promises to be a fantastic celebration of sport on the waterfront, and we are looking forward to giving visitors a very warm welcome.”
Niall McLeod, Musto iQFOiL World Championship Event Director, said the event’s success would also be measured by the connection it creates with the local community.
“The free Fan Zone is designed to make the final day welcoming and accessible, whether you follow sailing closely or simply want a memorable day out,” he said.
“We would love to see Weymouth Pavilion and the harbourside full of local support as the world titles are decided.”
The championships will also deliver the ELEVATE:iQFOiL social impact programme, working with community groups to create opportunities around watersports, volunteering, education and employment. The Official Test Centre has been involved with this programme.
Full details about the championships, Fan Zone and taster sessions are available through the official RYA iQFOiL World Championships information, click here.
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