Post by ITMA International Twelve Metre Association

HYÈRES EUROPA CUP 2026 Where Match Racing Legends Sail Again For decades, these yachts competed for sailing’s most coveted prize. From 12–14 June 2026, they came together once more on the waters of the Mediterranean. Four boats. Four legends. French Kiss. Kiwi Magic. South Australia. France I. Names etched into the history of the America’s Cup. Once fierce rivals in the iconic match-racing duels of the 1980s, they lined up side by side again in a celebration of sailing heritage unlike any other. Among them was a man who helped shape that history. Marc Pajot returned to the helm of French Kiss, leading his crew with the same passion, precision, and determination that inspired a generation of sailors. An Olympic silver medalist at just 19 years of age alongside his brother Yves, five-time world champion, winner of the Route du Rhum, and twice skipper and project manager of French America’s Cup campaigns, Pajot has embodied French sailing excellence for more than five decades. At the helm of Kiwi Magic stood Jens Jes Gram-Hansen, one of Denmark’s most accomplished professional sailors, celebrated for his achievements in the America’s Cup, the World Match Racing Tour, and the Extreme Sailing Series. With perfect racing conditions - 8 to 14 knots of breeze and Mediterranean sunshine pushing temperatures to 27°C - the Hyères Europa Cup 2026 delivered exceptional competition in a setting worthy of its legends. More than a regatta. A celebration of sailing history. The legends returned. The rivalry lives on. #12Metre #ITMA #12mR #12MetreClass #AmericasCup #Sailing #YachtRacing