Chennai, Dec 30 (.) The India International Regatta (IIR), India’s longest-running international youth sailing event, returns to Chennai for its 11th edition and would be held from January 4 to 10, 2026, in its new avatar as the SDAT India International Youth Sailing Championship, reaffirming the city’s position as the country’s premier sailing and sporting destination – another feather in the Government of Tamil Nadu’s Sporting cap.
Organised under the aegis of the Yachting Association of India (YAI) and the Asian Sailing Federation and hosted by the Tamil Nadu Sailing Association (TNSA), the regatta continues its legacy as the only international youth sailing regatta in India to be conducted consistently over more than a decade.
The 2026 edition of the India International Regatta will see participation from 13 countries including India, with sailors representing nine leading clubs, featuring India’s top-ranked youth and senior sailors.
The event provides a rare opportunity for Indian sailors to compete against high-quality international fleets on home waters, contributing significantly to athlete development and international exposure.
It is also part of the ASAF Cup series 2025-26, providing Asian sailors the opportunity to collect points towards the overall ASAF Cup.
Since its inception in 2009, the India International Regatta has played a pivotal role in elevating the standard of sailing in the country.
Over the years, it has served as a critical platform for India’s emerging talent, many of whom have gone on to represent the country at
the Asian Games, World Championships, and the Olympic Games.
No other sailing club in India has been able to host and sustain an international regatta of this scale and continuity. Chennai’s favourable winter climate, steady winds, and protected waters offer sailing conditions comparable to leading international venues. These natural advantages, combined with high-quality race management and infrastructure, have established the city as a preferred training base for
the national sailing squad and an increasingly recognised hub for international competition.
The event will be conducted with strict adherence to international racing standards, overseen by qualified race officials and juries, ensuring fair, competitive, and professional racing across all classes.
The regatta also reinforces India’s growing capability to host international sporting events in alignment with global best practices.
The India International Regatta is made possible through strong institutional partnerships and support. The Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) is the Principal Sponsor, reflecting the Government of Tamil Nadu’s continued commitment to high-performance sport and international exposure for athletes. The Co-sponsor is L&T Construction, which has a long and consistent partnership with this event, having supported it across three editions.
The event is also supported by the Indian Coast Guard, which is providing the venue and critical maritime infrastructure, and by the Chennai Port Authority, which has housed TNSA since its inception and hosted 10 of the past 11 editions of the regatta.
Additional support will be extended by the Indian Navy and other key maritime and sporting institutions.
To take this further, TNSA is already focused on developing a marina facility with a Centre for Sailing Excellence, which is well underway thanks to the support from the Tamil Nadu Government
which has establised the Tamil Nadu Sailing Academy and the Centre of Excellence at the mouth of the Cooum River near Marina Beach in the city, a long-awaited project receiving central environmental clearance in 2025 to boost watersports for students and youth, offering training in sailing, kayaking, and more.
Once this is operational, Chennai, already a vibrant sailing centre, will become the sailing capital of India.
As sailors from across the world gather once again in Chennai, the 11th India International Regatta stands as a testament to sustained vision, organisational excellence, and India’s growing stature in international sailing, continuing to inspire the next generation of sailors while strengthening the state and country’s presence on the global sailing map.
The Tamil Nadu Olympic Water Sports Academy (TNOWSA) is also an initiative of the SDAT located in Ramanathapuram district which will feature Sailing.
. GV 0520