The 2026 ILCA 6 Youth Europeans will be held in Thessaloniki, Greece, from Saturday, the 4th of July to Saturday, the 19th of July 2026. We offer two options, one including the Greek Europa Cup and a standalone European Championship coaching packages. The full Coaching Tour will run from 4th July (arrival day) to the 19th of July (departure day). Leading up to the European Championships, SailCoach will take part in a warm-up regatta, the Greek Europa Cup, also held in Thessaloniki, providing sailors with a full three days of intensive preparation. This is a great opportunity to hone racing skills, work closely with our coaching team, and build momentum towards the championship, as well as familiarise themselves with the venue.

Comprehensive Coaching Package

By signing up with SailCoach, you get a dedicated, skilled coach who, in most cases, has campaigned at the Olympic level. These “Coaching Tours” offer small coaching support groups with six sailors’ as the target group size. We aim to provide a complete package, including airport transfers, accommodation, and outstanding coaching, with an extra add-on option for an ILCA charter boat. All you have to do is enter the regatta and book your flights, which could be more 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 the 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.

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

The Program:

4th and 5th of July 2026

Arrive at Thessaloniki (SKG) Airport and be met by SailCoach’s friendly coaching staff member, who will take you to the Planet Clube Náutico in Marina de Vilamoura, the venue for this year’s ILCA 6 Youth Europeans.

6th to the 8th of July 2026

Racing starts in the Greek Europa Cup, in what promises to be a challenging warm-up regatta before the European championships. Ahead lie three 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.

9th to 12th of July 2026

Familiarisation days, SailCoach will be training at the regatta venue for four days before the event. It gives sailors a chance to get over jet lag and gain valuable knowledge of the area. Our coaches will help you develop a “Game Plan” strategy and provide you with video analysis that may perfect your boat handling and speed. Having the right preparation is a must when going into an important championship. These pre-regatta days will also help you get to know our coaches, a significant advantage when racing begins.

13th to the 18th of July 2026

Racing starts in the ILCA 6 Youth Europeans, in what promises to be a tough event. Ahead lie six days of racing, with the first three being qualifying rounds, after which fleets get divided into gold, silver, and bronze, with the newly allotted fleets fighting it out over the last three days. 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.

19th of July 2026

A member of the SailCoach staff will drop you off at Thessaloniki (SKG) Airport for your journey home, hopefully with a trophy or two under your belt. One thing is for sure: you will have gained a lot of experience in these major championships and have sweet memories that will stay with you for the rest of your life.

ILCA 6 Youth Europeans Coaching Tour Package

This package includes accommodation in a self-catering apartment and our World Class Coaching. You will also need to budget for the ILCA charter, food, pocket money and entry fees. There is a “day coaching” option where the young sailors who would like to stay with their parents and have our coaching staff look after everything on the water.

If you need an ILCA Dinghy charter, please let us know when booking, and we will be happy to give you a special rate when you book this Coaching Tour.