Jeddah: The 2026 Arab Sailing Championship (Optimist Class) events commenced at the Jeddah Sailing Center on South Obhur Beach, featuring 51 young sailors aged eight to 15 from 13 Arab nations.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the opening day activities included participant registration, technical equipment inspections, and practice heats. These preliminary activities set the stage for the official race stages, which are scheduled to begin today and run until September 21.

The Saudi Sailing Federation is hosting the event as part of initiatives to expand sailing within the Kingdom, support the growth of young athletes, and establish the Red Sea coastline as a leading regional hub for maritime sports.

The championship is organized in collaboration with the Arab Sailing Federation and is supported by the Ministry of Sport and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Saudia Cargo is the official logistics partner for the event.