Long Beach OCR: iQFOiL, Formula Kites

The 2026 Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta (OCR) was held July 13-16, with an exciting finals day that showcased the technical skill, strategy, and composure required to succeed on the waters that will host Olympic sailing during the LA28 Games.

The road to Los Angeles 2028 continued as the world’s best kiteboarders and windsurfers descend on Long Beach, California, for the 2026 Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta (OCR). More than 100 athletes from around the world will competed on the waters off Belmont Shore, one of the world’s premier high-performance sailing venues.

The Long Beach OCR provided athletes with a critical opportunity to compete on the same racecourse they hope to sail in 2028. Now at the halfway point of the Olympic quadrennial, the regatta has become one of the premier events on the World Sailing Grand Slam circuit, providing athletes with a critical opportunity to measure themselves against the world’s best on the future LA28 Olympic racecourse.

The third day of the 65th Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta brought the qualifying series to a dramatic close, with the world’s best Formula Kite and iQFOiL athletes securing their positions for the medal rounds, the top 10 competitors in each fleet. Under the event’s elimination format, the top two qualifiers advance directly to the Finals, third and fourth move straight into the Semi-Finals, while sailors finishing fifth through tenth will battle through the Quarterfinals for the opportunity to continue their run toward the podium.

The lighter conditions produced some of the closest racing of the week. An 8–12 knot breeze, with gusts reaching 15 knots over flat water, rewarded smart tactical decisions and precise board handling. Tight mark roundings and frequent lead changes kept spectators engaged throughout an exciting afternoon of competition just offshore of Belmont Pier.

The final day of racing brought an action-packed finale as the world’s best iQFOiL and Formula Kite athletes battled through demanding conditions. While the forecast promised stronger winds, lighter-than-expected breeze kept sailors on their toes, rewarding patience, precision, and smart tactical decisions. Even in the softer conditions, the racing delivered thrilling finishes, dramatic lead changes, and high-pressure elimination rounds that provided a spectacular conclusion to four days of world-class competition.

“This regatta marks an important milestone—just two years until the LA28 Olympic Games return sailing to Long Beach. It also represents the 65th running of the Olympic Classes Regatta, a legacy built by generations of dedicated volunteers. Our race officers, judges, and race management teams are certified officials, accomplished sailors, and competitors themselves who understand exactly what these athletes need as they prepare for Olympic qualification.

“While we can’t control the wind or weather, our goal is to maximize every opportunity the conditions provide, delivering racing that challenges sailors across the full range of scenarios they can expect to face in 2028. That’s what makes Long Beach such an invaluable training ground on the road to LA28”, said Mike Van Dyke, Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta.

Final Podium Results

iQFOiL Men
1. Kun Bi (China)
2. Grae Morris (Australia)
3. Andy Brown (Great Britain)

iQFOiL Women
1. Emma Wilson (Great Britain)
2. Aimee Bright (Australia)
3. Marta Maggetti (Italy)

Formula Kite Men
1. Maximilian Maeder (Singapore)
2. Riccardo Pianosi (Italy)
3. Qibin Huang (China)

Formula Kite Women
1. Lauriane Nolot (France)
2. Jessie Kampman (Netherlands)
3. Elena Lengwiler (Switzerland)

The event was organized by the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta in partnership with Long Beach Yacht Club (LBYC), Alamitos Bay Yacht Club (ABYC), Balboa Yacht Club (BYC), and California Yacht Club (CYC).

On the water for the USA:

Men’s Kite
Matt Faus
Lief Given
Adam Keaton
Trevor Nelson
Noah Runciman

Women’s Kite
Daniela Moroz, US Sailing Team (OLY Paris 2024)

Men’s iQFOiL
Noah Lyons (OLY Paris 2024)
Makani Andrews
Xavier Ferlet
Garrett January
Miles Sousana

Women’s iQFOiL
Dominique Stater (OLY Paris 2024)
Bryn Miller
Brianna Orams

Canadians taking part in both Long Beach OCR events:

Men’s iQFoil
* Valentino Blewett (Whistler, B.C.)
Arie Moffat (Kingston, ON)

Women’s iQFoil
Rebecca Heller (Ottawa, ON)

Men’s Formula Kite
Nathan Pearce (North Vancouver, B.C.)

Women’s Formula Kite
Emily Bugeja (Vancouver, B.C.)
Marie-Ève Mayrand (Calgary, AB, and from Quebec City, QC)
Claire Ramsey (Kelowna, B.C.)
Martyna Dakowicz (Oakville, ON)

49erFX
Georgia Phillips (Toronto, ON) and Anika Lange Sorensen (Vancouver, B.C.)

ILCA 6
* Annie Balasubramanian (Toronto, ON)
* Victoria Coady (Coquitlam, B.C.)
* Clara Gravely (Toronto, ON)
* Lilly Rainham (Halifax, N.S.)
Alice Wan (Vancouver, B.C.)
Maya Wolf (Port Moody, B.C.)

ILCA 7
* Ryan Anderson (Halifax, N.S.)
* Liam Bruce (Oakville, ON)
Al Clark (North Vancouver, B.C.)
Weston Fremont (Calgary, AB)
Duncan Pearce (Vancouver, B.C.)

470
Rory Walsh (Vancouver, B.C.) and Tara Golonka (Victoria, B.C.)

*Canadian Sailing Team members

More than 300 sailors will be racing at the Long Beach and San Pedro Olympic Classes Regattas.

Event details – Results

2026 Sailing Grand Slam
March 27-April 4: Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca – Mallorca, Spain
April 18-25: Semaine Olympique Française – Hyères, France
May 30-June 7: Dutch Water Week – Almere, Netherlands
June 20-24: Kieler Woche – Kiel, Germany
Jule 13-August 8: Pre-Olympic Event – Los Angeles and Long Beach, USA*

* Location and dates:
July 13-16, iQFOiL, Formula Kite – Long Beach
July 20-25, ILCA 6, ILCA 7, 470 – Los Angeles
August 3-8, 49er, 4erFX, Nacra 17 – Los Angeles

Details: https://sailinggrandslam.com/

Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Sailing Program:
First Week – July 16-20
Men’s Kiteboard – Formula Kite Class – Long Beach, CA
Women’s Kiteboard – Formula Kite Class – Long Beach, CA
Men’s Windsurfing – iQFOiL – Long Beach, CA
Women’s Windsurfing – iQFOiL – Long Beach, CA

Second Week – July 23-28
Men’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 7 – Los Angeles, CA
Women’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 6 – Los Angeles, CA
Mixed Two Person Dinghy – 470 – Los Angeles, CA
Men’s Skiff – 49er – Los Angeles, CA
Women’s Skiff – 49erFX – Los Angeles, CA
Mixed Multihull – Nacra 17 – Los Angeles, CA

Dates: July 16-28