A total of 10 Canadians will be taking part in this year’s Kiel Week, June 20-24
Kingston, June 18, 2026 – A total of 10 Canadian sailors will take part in the fourth Sailing Grand Slam regatta of the season, the 2026 edition of Kiel Week, set to be held June 20-24 in Kiel, Germany.
Kiel Week is the fourth of five major Olympic classes regattas that are set to take place in 2026 as part of the Grand Slam Series.
Four members of the Canadian Sailing Team will be in action at that competition: Antonia and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance (Chester, N.S.) in 49erFX, as well as Thomas and William Staples (Beaconsfield, QC) in 49er.
Other Canadians taking part in the event are Louis Hupé (Rimouski, QC) in ILCA 7, Maura Dewey (Victoria, B.C.) in ILCA 6, Caspar Lenz Anderson (Calgary, AB) and Grace Poole (Victoria, B.C.) in Nacra 17, as well as Jack Gogan (Sydney, N.S.) and Hunter Hoy (Kirkland, QC) in 49er.
Antonia and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance will look to return to the podium after finishing fourth at the 2026 49erFX World Championship. They had previously won a medal in each of their five major competitions before that.
“Kiel Week was our first 49erFX international regatta back in 2019, and we also competed here in 2022 and 2025, so we have a lot of good memories from the venue,” said Antonia and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance. “With a mini heat wave in the forecast, the conditions could be anything but straightforward. We’re excited for the challenge and we will use the event to get prepared for the European Championships which take place soon after Kiel Week ends. Thank you for supporting us as well as the other Canadians who are competing, and we hope you follow along!”
Close to 500 sailors will be racing in the Olympic classes at the 2026 Kiel Week event.
The fifth and final regatta that will be part of this year’s Grand Slam Series is the Long Beach and San Pedro Olympic Classes Regatta (OCR) (July 13-August 8).
About Sail Canada
Established in 1931, Sail Canada is the national governing body for the sport of sailing in the country. Sail Canada is a leading international sailing nation, proud of its world class athletes, lifelong participants and inclusive culture. The organization and its members are committed to excellence by developing and training its leaders, athletes, sailors, instructors, coaches and officials. With the valued support from our partners, the Provincial Sailing Associations and our member clubs, schools, organizations and stakeholders, sailing is promoted in all its forms. By setting standards and delivering programs from home pond to podium for Canadians of all ages and abilities, from dinghies to keelboats, cruising to navigation, windsurfing to powerboating and accessible sailing, Sail Canada sets sail for all, sail to win and sail for life.
A sport in the Olympic program since the first Games in 1896, except in 1904, the pursuit of success in these Games is what fuels the focus of Sail Canada as Canadian athletes have so far achieved nine Olympic and five Paralympic medals.
