The 2026 Challenge Is Officially Underway
Representing 7 countries and bringing together 769 students — including 30% female representation in STEM — this year’s edition showcases the next generation of designers, engineers, and sailors ready to push the boundaries of performance, innovation, and sustainability.
The 2026 edition promises to be our most ambitious yet: bold ideas, cutting-edge thinking, and a shared drive to redefine what’s possible on the water by making the least possible environmental impact.
The largest fleet, yet…
Over the coming months, teams will refine their concepts, develop prototypes, and prepare for an intense and inspiring week of competition structured around three stages — technical innovation, sustainability performance, and on-water racing.
- 🇮🇹 Audace Sailing Team – University of Trieste, Italy (AUD1)
- 🇸🇪 Chalmers Formula Sailing – Chalmers University, Sweden (CHL1)
- 🇩🇪 ecoSail Karlsruhe – University of Applied Science Karlsruhe (ECK1)
- 🇫🇷 SuMoth Central Nantes – ENSA Nantes, France (ENS1)
- 🇫🇷 ESTACA Wave – ESTACA, France (EWE1)
- 🇸🇪 Ägir Sailing Team – Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden (KTH1)
- 🇮🇹 Metis Vela – University of Padova, Italy (MET1)
- 🇮🇹 UniMi Sailing Team – University of Milan, Italy (MIU1)
- 🇮🇹 PoliMI Sailing Team – Politecnico of Milan, Italy (PMI1)
- 🇮🇹 PoliTo Sailing Team – Politecnico of Turin, Italy (POL1)
- 🇮🇹 PoliTo Sailing Team – Politecnico of Turin, Italy (POL2)
- 🇮🇹 Revel Sailing Team – University of Genova, Italy (REV1)
- 🇮🇹 Sapienza Foiling Team – Sapienza University Rome, Italy (SFT1)
- 🇬🇧 Sheffield SuMoth Team – University of Sheffield, UK (SHF1)
- 🇬🇧 Southampton SuMoth – Southampton University, UK (SOT1)
- 🇮🇹 R3 Sailing Team – Roma3 University, Italy (TRE1)
- 🇳🇱 Velox SuMoth – TU Delft x Dutch Sailing, Netherlands (TUD1)
- 🇩🇪 Impetus Sailing Team – Technical University of Munich, Germany (TUM1)
- 🇮🇹 UniCa Sailing Team – University of Cagliari, Italy (UNC1)
Powered by 11th Hour Racing
We are proud to have 11th Hour Racing as Title Sponsor of the 2026 Challenge.
Their commitment to ocean health and responsible innovation aligns perfectly with the Challenge’s mission: empowering young talent to develop high-performance solutions with sustainability at the core.
With 11th Hour Racing’s support, the 2026 edition will continue to strengthen the link between sport, engineering, and environmental responsibility, ensuring that innovation and performance are always balanced with planet-friendly solutions.
In Partnership with MS360
We are equally pleased to continue our partnership with MS360.
Through its Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tool, teams can quantify the environmental impact of their designs, identify strengths and weaknesses, and avoid blind spots. This data-driven approach ensures that sustainability is not an afterthought, but a measurable performance parameter.
Hosted on Lake Garda
Once again, the 2026 Challenge will be hosted by Fraglia Vela Malcesine on the shores of Lake Garda. Known worldwide for its steady winds and spectacular setting, Fraglia offers world-class conditions for both sailing and innovation. Their continued support ensures that teams compete at the highest level — on and off the water.
The Road to 2026 Starts Now
With 19 teams officially registered, the countdown begins.
Over the coming months, we will introduce each team, share behind-the-scenes development updates, and highlight the partnerships that make this event possible.
The future of sustainable high-performance sailing is taking shape — and it starts here.
Join Us on the Journey
The 2026 Challenge is more than a competition. It is a movement toward performance with purpose.
We are currently welcoming sponsors and partners who share our vision of innovation rooted in sustainability and are ready to make meaningful environmental commitments.
If your organization wants to support high-performance projects that respect our planet and be part of this unique event on Lake Garda, we would love to connect.
Together, we can empower the next generation of engineers and sailors to push boundaries, responsibly.
