The event director behind the Musto iQFOil World Championship 2026 hopes that the return of Olympic-level windsurfing to Great Britain inspires a new generation of foil racers.
Niall McLeod is excited as World Championship windsurfing is brought back to Weymouth and Portland after last hosting the RS:X World Windsurfing Championships in 2009, with RS:X being the classification which preceded iQFOil’s introduction before the Paris 2024 Games.
Both the men’s and women’s reigning champions are British, with Andy Brown and Emma Wilson in Dorset defending world titles in Dorset .
Success in iQFOiL reflects the British Sailing Team’s position as the most successful Olympic sailing nation in history, with 64 medals, and the fast-paced, exhilarating discipline is set to thrill fans on the south coast with two years until it returns to the Olympic programme in LA.
Scot McLeod, from Tarbert in Argyll and Bute, hoped that world-level competition would create another boost of interest in the sport.
“I hope that like the boost the 2009 RS:X World Windsurfing Championships gave windsurfing, we see something similar,” McLeod said, “where there’s a new bunch of kids coming up who are inspired and decide they want to get involved in iQFOil racing.
“The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy is a real legacy asset from the London 2012 Olympic Games.
“We have fantastic sailing waters in Portland Harbour, we’ll get a bit of a swell out in Weymouth Bay, which is a bit more exposed to the elements - it’ll give the athletes a broad range of conditions and test them.
“I was delighted when both Emma and Andy managed to do the business in Aarhus last year, knowing that it meant we would go into the home worlds with defending champions in both men’s and women’s competition.
“That’s really special and hopefully it means that lots of people will be excited to come down to the Fan Zone.
“Hopefully Emma and Andy will be in the finals series for the medals and can smash it again.”
Medals will be handed out on Saturday 12 September, with the action taking place in Weymouth Harbour, with free entry for spectators to watch the fast-paced action unfold.
The ten-strong British Sailing Team Fleet will compete at speeds of up to 35 knots.
The Fan Zone will provide family fun and opportunities to get onto the water and give windsurfing a go.
Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy was the venue for windsurfing and sailing during London 2012 and will whittle down the field to set up a pulsating final day.
The Scot said: “It’s been a long time coming and it’s very exciting to bring Olympic class windsurfing back to UK waters in Weymouth and Portland.
“Our athletes have looked forward to being able to perform at home and love the fact that they’re able to go home to their bed every night, training here instead of flying halfway around the world.
“We’ve been able to have a bigger British contingent than we might normally have had, some of the British Sailing Team are coming up through the pathway and are getting their first exposure to the World Championship and the senior fleet earlier than they normally would.
“It’s just great for British sailing and the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy is our home.”
The Musto iQFOiL World Championships 2026 are taking place from 7-12 September. Get closer to the action on the final day by visiting the Fan Zone on Weymouth Pavilion to enjoy a full day of live racing, big-screen coverage, music, family activities, food, and opportunities to get out on the water. Find out more at rya.org.uk
The Musto iQFOiL World Championships 2026 are taking place from 7-12 September. Get closer to the action on the final day by visiting the Fan Zone on Weymouth Pavillion to enjoy a full day of live racing, big-screen coverage, music, family activities, food, and opportunities to get out on the water. Find out more at rya.org.uk
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