The 2027 ILCA 4 European Championships will be held in Quiberon, France, from 21st of July to 1st of August 2027. SailCoach will be on site with our world-class coaching team, offering both event support and a first-class learning experience.

Background and Overview

As SailCoach enters our 32nd year, we take pride in offering what we call “Coaching Tours” backed by three decades of experience. This legacy ensures you can trust us to provide the confidence and expertise needed for success at these important regattas.

The SailCoach Coaching Tour package has everything you need to have a successful championship, with none of the hassles that goes with trying to bring things together at the right place, at the right time. So let SailCoach look after everything at the regatta, and you only need to enter and book your flights.

When you join us, you’ll have a coach who is experienced and skilled, often having Olympic level experience. Our coaching group’s target size is six sailors per coach,
so you’ll get personalised attention. We provide a complete package that includes airport transfers, accommodation, and high-level coaching. You also have the option
to rent an ILCA Dinghy charter boat from SailCoach. All you need to do is enter the regatta and book your flights, making it simpler and straightforward.

Learning Goals

At this Championship, the SailCoach team will focus on improving your regatta preparation skills. Our coaches will work with you daily, setting up a structured plan and goals for the upcoming regatta. You’ll learn important details about preparing for events, ensuring you’re informed and ready.

Additionally, our coaches will teach you how to adapt to different weather conditions and handle the pressures of high-level competition. A big part of this will be developing and using effective race strategies. You’ll get better at analysing races and refining your tactics, with our coaches giving you helpful feedback and showing you how to assess your own performance. This coaching will prepare you to compete like leading athletes prepare.

Success in sports doesn’t happen overnight, it requires a lot of time and effort. With our coaching, you will have learned the right ways to prepare for a championship. Therefore, we recommend you continue to train and compete regularly to hone these techniques and skills.

A typical day

The day would start with a morning briefing, looking over the weather forecasting and communicating anything important from the coaches meeting and specific points to note for the days racing. The SailCoach coaches will offer you coaching support afloat, such as towing if necessary to get to the starting line. Carry any bags with food and spare parts, along with a jacket to keep warm between races.

The day finishes with a post-race debrief and discussion of the day’s events. In some cases, our coaches will make briefings individually, going around the boat park before or after racing, depending on the circumstances. We advise our sailors to settle any differences on the water or in the boat park when possible. However, we will be there to support you during protests if all else fails.

Airport Information

The easiest way to reach Quiberon in Brittany is probably to fly into Nantes International Airport, which is approximately two hours away by car. Nantes has connections with several European cities, making it the most convenient option if suitable flights are available. Rennes is another possibility, while Lorient is the closest airport, although it has very limited commercial flights.

Alternatively, flying into Paris Charles de Gaulle and taking the high-speed TGV train to Auray is a good option. The train journey from Paris Montparnasse takes approximately three hours, and Auray is only 30–40 minutes from Quiberon by car/taxi. Allowing for the transfer across Paris, the total journey from Charles de Gaulle Airport would be around five to six hours. Overall, I would recommend checking flights to Nantes first, with Paris and the TGV as a reliable alternative.

Numbers will be limited on this coaching tour, so you are advised to book early.

Program:

21st of July 2027 (arrival days)

Sailors and parents are encouraged to make their own travel arrangements to the École Nationale de Voile et des Sports Nautiques (ENVSN), the venue for the ILCA 4 Youth Europeans, where our SailCoach team will be waiting to welcome them. However, sailors travelling alone who require assistance with their journey should contact the SailCoach office in advance so we can help with arrangements.

22nd to 25th of July 2027 – Training and Familiarisation

Our programme begins with training at the championship venue, giving sailors the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the local sailing conditions and race areas. Understanding the tidal currents will be particularly important, as they can be strong and are likely to have a significant influence on racing tactics and results.

Our experienced coaches will focus on boat speed, technique, race strategy and developing a clear game plan for the upcoming regattas. Video analysis and daily briefings will help sailors identify areas for improvement and build confidence ahead of racing.

26th to the 31st of July 2027

Racing starts in the ILCA 4 Youth Europeans, in what promises to be a tough event, ahead lies six days of racing. However, don’t worry, SailCoach’s experienced coaching staff will be there with you, giving you all the support you need on and off the water to help you reach your goals.

1st of August 2027

Following the championship, sailors will make their own travel arrangements for their journey home, hopefully with a trophy or two under their belts! One thing is certain, everyone will leave with valuable experience gained from competing at this level, along with great memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.

ILCA 4 Youth Europeans Coaching Tour Package

As mentioned above, we can offer you our total package for this championship, which includes accommodation, pre-training and venue familiarisation prior to the championship, help with registration and measurement and our world-class coaching. On top of this, you would need to budget for flights, entry fees, ILCA Dinghy charter, meal expenses and pocket money.

There is a “day coaching” option for the young sailors who would like to stay with their parents and have our coaching staff look after everything on the water.

Charter Boat Options

If you need an ILCA Dinghy charter for a regatta, we would be happy to organise this for you. Those taking part in one of our coaching tour packages, please ask us for our special rate…