The R.O.C. Optimist

After several years of studying Optimist class sailing events around the world, the changes in sailing, and the rapid shift to a technological competition that in a way placed sailors and coaches in a secondary role, the Famagusta Nautical Club and the organizers of the Regatta of Champions - The R.O.C. collaborated and delivered, for four consecutive years, the pioneering Championship of Champions for the sport of sailing.

The Regatta of Champions - The R.O.C. is the result of a four-year effort that finally reached implementation in 2022. It is a type of event that had never been held before anywhere in the world, that can take place anywhere, in any country and at any club, using the sponsors and standards of the organizers. Scheduled again this year for 08 - 15 November and using the same format, 45 top Optimist sailors from around the world are invited to The R.O.C. Applying a difficulty formula, invitations are sent to the top sailors of the World Championship, as well as to all Continental Championships (European, North & South American, Asian and Oceania, and African). At least 20% of the invitations are addressed to athletes of the opposite gender. If a Continental Championship is not completed before the R.O.C., invitations are given to eligible sailors from the same continent from the previous year.

All invitations are sent through National Federations and are addressed to specific sailors. If invited sailors cannot take part in the event, the invitation passes to the next sailor in the ranking. In addition, there are 19 Wild Cards that sailors can compete for during 2026. One Wild Card always goes to the National Champion of the host country or to the top athlete of the Club hosting the event. The 10 Wild Cards go to the top finishers of the subsidiary race The R.O.C. Kosmos, held this year for the 3rd time in Athens, on 03 - 10 July, co-organized by the Nautical Club of Kalamaki, and the remaining 8 Wild Cards are divided among sailing camps, with the top 2 winners of each camp receiving the invitations, either through existing international competitions held around the world. Once the invitations are issued and the fleet is formed, the 5th Championship of Champions will take place again in Limassol, Cyprus. The event lasts one week with 5 race days and a wealth of activities.

Our pioneering spirit continues and grows with our Annual World event, as this year, after intensive study and global interest from athletes and coaches in the ILCA4 boat class, we are organising, following the same format, the 1st International Regatta of Champions - The R.O.C. ILCA 4. This regatta, which will be held from 22 - 29 November 2026 in Limassol, at our own facility, as we have mentioned, adopts exactly the same format as the Optimist class event, with the only difference being the number of athletes, who are 40 instead of 45. The affiliated regatta The R.O.C. Kosmos could not fail to be organised for the ILCA4 class as well, from 24 June - 1 July, in Athens, which will also give the opportunity to 18 participating athletes to claim a wild card each. We emphasise once again that the exact same format is followed at both events.

The participating sailors and coaches are chasing the Champions' Cup, but mainly a cash prize of academic scholarships of 33.000€ (for each regatta separately), which is awarded to the top 10 sailors in the form of scholarships for academic expenses, and to the first 3 coaches in the form of awards.

The participation fee covers registration, accommodation, meals and boat charter. Inflatable boats (one or two) accommodate all the coaches; however, optional rental of inflatable boats is available, per coach.

On the official website of the event, you can find all the details and a rich photographic archive of all previous years of the Regatta, which left excellent impressions on participants, companions and visitors, and managed to win the interest of the global sailing world for this pioneering idea and its outstanding implementation, adding value to today's sailing events around the world. Remarkable, unique and highly effective in its goal, the promotion of the event, including all the events and races, through the live streaming service, leaves the most positive impressions on all interested parties worldwide.

The organising committee of the Regatta has raised the bar of success higher and we are ready to work even harder, with more experience now, for even greater excitement.

Regatta of Champions - The R.O.C. Optimist: 08 - 15 November 2026

Regatta of Champions - The R.O.C. ILCA4: 22 - 29 November 2026