ETF26 GP Mar Menor

Thirty knots on a mirror-flat lagoon, five races a day, catamarans lifting off in just 8 knots of wind: the GP Mar Menor kicks off the ninth season of the ETF26 Series from March 11–14, 2026.

A racecourse built for flight

The Mar Menor is no ordinary sailing venue. This saltwater lagoon, separated from the Mediterranean by a thin strip of sand, offers a nearly perfect water surface—no swell, no ground sea. A natural nautical stadium.

For 26-foot foiling catamarans capable of hitting over 30 knots, it's the ideal playground. Local thermal winds range between 8 and 20 knots, creating a spectrum of conditions that tests both technical finesse and crew composure.

This is where the 2025 season concluded in a breathtaking finale. This is where it all begins again.

The ETF26: a catamaran born from the America's Cup

Conceived in 2018 by Jean-Pierre Dick and designed by Guillaume Verdier—the architect behind Emirates Team New Zealand's machines—the ETF26 brings America's Cup DNA into an accessible format. A 26-foot "trailer-foiler" you can load onto a trailer, yet capable of flirting with 38 knots top speed—2.5 times the wind speed.

The initial concept drew inspiration from the AC50s and the Groupama C-Class. Since then, the class has matured. And the 2026 season marks a decisive turning point.

The full-flight revolution

Until now, ETF26s flew primarily on reaches and downwind legs. The new main foils, tested from 2024 onward, change the game: the goal is now flight around the entire course, including upwind.

In concrete terms, this means:

• Liftoff at just 8 knots of true wind
• Stable flight beyond 30 knots of boat speed
• Exploitation of rudder rake adjustment, introduced in 2023
• Significant VMG gains for teams that have assimilated the technical data from the new appendages over the winter

Crews who master these settings won't just gain in raw speed—they'll change the very nature of racing by eliminating "displacement mode" sailing phases that cost precious seconds.

Sprint format: zero margin for error

The GP Mar Menor reprises the signature ETF26 Series format, calibrated for intensity and readability—an acknowledged kinship with SailGP.

• Up to 5 races per day, run back-to-back
• Target duration: 20 minutes per heat
• Alternating starts: reaching (high-speed) or classic windward
• Low Point scoring: fewest points wins the standings

Over four days, this pace is unforgiving. Material failure on day 2, a blown start, a capsize in a 20-knot gust—every incident weighs on the total. Consistency trumps isolated brilliance.

Managing physical fatigue becomes a strategic parameter in its own right. Helming a foiling catamaran for five consecutive heats under the Spanish Levant sun demands elite-level athletic condition.

Revenge at the summit

The script of the 2025 GP Mar Menor left its mark. Blueshift Sailing Team, led by Charles Dorange, and Entreprises du Morbihan finished in perfect equality: 30 points each. Blueshift snatched victory on the tiebreak.

Thirty points apiece. A title decided on a classification detail. Hard to imagine a better prologue for 2026.

Teams to watch

• Blueshift Sailing Team — Defending champion. Proved their ability to handle pressure in the finale. Still the benchmark team.
• Entreprises du Morbihan — 2025 runner-up, beaten only on tiebreak. Their consistency is formidable; they're just one move away.
• Geronimo Sailing Team — Third in 2025 with 47 points. The gap to the leading duo (17 points) remains to be closed, but the potential is there.
• K-Challenge Blue — Fourth in 2025. The America's Cup heritage of the K-Challenge program suggests rapid technical progress ahead.

The fleet regularly welcomes international crews—Denmark, New Zealand, Italy, Finland—and partners like Groupe Balguerie or Fin1 Racing. The class also distinguishes itself through gender equality: women's and mixed crews race on equal terms, with no separate category.

Tactical keys to the GP

Mastering the wind windows

Between 8 and 10 knots, the challenge will be getting airborne before others and maintaining flight through soft patches. A crew that drops back "into the water" instantly loses several boat lengths.

Beyond 18 knots, the hierarchy reverses: it's mastery of high-speed flight and preservation of equipment that separate the field. Break a foil on day 1, and you've mortgaged the entire Grand Prix.

Winning the setup battle

The real stakes of this season opener may play out ashore, in the hours spent analyzing data and adjusting appendages. Teams that best exploited the off-season to master the new foils will start with an advantage difficult to overcome in four days.

Nine seasons, and ever faster

In nine years, the ETF26 Series has built a credible European circuit—Spain, Italy, France—with a format that attracts Olympic veterans and young foiling hotshots alike. The Mar Menor, through its unique geography and reliable conditions, has established itself as the natural showcase for this class.

Find the complete 2026 ETF26 season calendar on spencer.club.

The first leg of this ninth season gets underway on March 11. Between the full-flight revolution and the Blueshift–Entreprises du Morbihan duel picking up exactly where it left off, this GP Mar Menor has all the makings of a season-defining event.