Some of the best young sailors in the world will start to arrive in Bermuda over the weekend for the 2026 RenaissanceRe Junior Gold Cup.

The 22nd edition of the regatta brings some of the best under-16 youth sailors in the world to the island, with racing taking place alongside the World Match Racing Tour’s Bermuda Gold Cup from Wednesday, October 14 to Saturday, October 17th

Among the 14 international sailors from 13 different countries are a host of youngsters who have already tasted success at the highest level.

Canadian Will Kielty returns to Bermuda after finishing second in the event last year. He also won the US and Canadian national titles in 2026 abd finished seventh at the Optimist World Championships in Morocco.

France is represented by Leane Barbarin, who was runner-up at that country’s national championships. She will be hoping to do better than her sister did when fourteenth here in 2023.

Denmark’s top-ranked sailor Asgar Hoejland will be competing as will Charlie Holland, who is rated the No 1 sailor at under-14 level in the UK.

The regatta has two sailors from Ireland, with Dylan O’Sullivan the top under-14 sailor in Ireland taking part with compatriot Oliver Gundersen, rated No 2 in the country at under-12 level.

Gunderson’s father Jon will be competing in the Bermuda Gold Cup as one of Christian Hamilton’s crew. The Gundersons were residents in Bermuda during the America’s Cup as Oliver’s mother, Sarah, worked for Team Artemis.

There is also a strong representation of female sailors with Nataleah Wallin, from Sweden, Swiss No 1 female Lou Eisenhut. Summer Mykols the 2026 US girls national champion, will also be on the water.

The Junior Gold Cup continues to break new ground, with Mihael Zobec, set to become the first sailor from Slovenia to take part in the event.

With some of the leading talent in the world heading to Bermuda, the island’s young sailors will have their work cut out. A team of 14 has been selected, with Heath Myers, Rex Henagulph, Ishmael Dill, Alfie Jansma, Jesse Savage, Elaine Jones, Mason Portelli, Hudson Pitcher, Eamon Tiwari, James DeCouto, Leo DeCouto, Jacob Beale, Ishaan Dutt and Aaron Riker flying the Bermuda flag.