From March 4–7, the Brazil Open Windsurfing Championships 2026 took place on the Araruama Lagoon, near Rio de Janeiro. The event brought together 82 competitors competing in six categories: Formula Fin, Formula Foil, Formula Fin Sport, Raceboard, Raceboard Sport and Windsurfer.

The regatta was organized by a local windsurfing school together with the Brazilian Windsurfing Association, and hosted at the Upwind 1 base near a beach named Praia Seca. This location is considered iconic in the Brazilian windsurfing community. The lagoon is known for its flat water and large sailing area, which allowed all races – including the long-distance marathon race – to be conducted smoothly.

Sailors representing 15 Brazilian states and five nationalities took part in the competition, including athletes from Italy, Portugal, Denmark, Germany, and Argentina. Many competitors travelled hundreds of kilometers to participate in the event.

Already on the first day, it was clear that this location is a true paradise for windsurfers. The races were held in conditions that required a high technical level from the athletes. With prevailing eastern and south-eastern winds, competitors had to rely not only on speed but also on strategy, physical preparation, and strong sailing skills.

Each day, the scheduled races were successfully completed, and a total of 12 races were held across all categories. Sailors competed in ideal conditions, with warm temperatures, clear skies, and wind speeds ranging from 5 to 20 knots, creating intense and tactical racing on the water.

The results changed from day to day, keeping the competition open until the very end. The final day featured the marathon race, which counted as double points, leading to a dramatic battle among the 82 competitors.

However, the success of the Brazil Open went far beyond the races themselves. The event also included live broadcast coverage as well as a rich cultural program. Each day concluded with cultural activities, including performances of Brazilian brass bands, celebrating local traditions and creating a unique atmosphere for athletes and visitors.

Organizers also prepared evenings dedicated to Brazilian folklore, with performances by local musicians, singers and traditional regional food from the Lagos Region. One of the most memorable moments was the participation of the Guarani tribe, whose performance deeply moved athletes, residents and tourists.

The championship was widely praised for its excellent organization, made possible by the joint efforts of organizers, volunteers, families, staff and athletes who travelled from across Brazil and around the world.

The event was also supported by professionals involved in race management and media coverage, including renowned race judge Eduardo Abad, commentator Ferrari (official ESPN announcer), photographer Felipe Cascardo, and Carlos Freitas, responsible for filming and broadcasting.

The organizers expressed special thanks to all partners and supporters, including the City of Araruama, the Araruama Sports Department, Águas de Juturnaíba, LoftSail, UNAFIBER, Patrik Windsurf, Boss, Exocet, the Brazilian Windsurfing Association, CBVela, and many other local sponsors and collaborators.

The support of every institution, company, volunteer, family member and athlete – especially the Upwind team – played a key role in the success of the event and in strengthening the development of windsurfing in Brazil.

The closing of the championship left participants with a strong sense of satisfaction and anticipation for future editions. As many competitors emphasized, “this event will certainly go down in the history of national and international windsurfing.”

One thing is certain – this will not be the last time the Araruama Lagoon hosts windsurfers from around the world.

Official results in all categories:

FORMULA FIN OPEN

🔸 Leonardo Venturini Filho (BRA 114)

🔸 Leonardo Mulim (BRA 121)

🔸 Andrea Volpini (ITA 251)

FORMULA FIN SPORT

🔸 Henrique Silva Furtado (BRA 21)

🔸 Jose Carlos Reis (POR 2)

🔸 Marco Antonio Lobo Moreira (BRA 130)

FORMULA FOIL

🔸 Eduardo Costa Gomes (BRA 36)

🔸 Romulo Finamore Neto (BRA 110)

🔸 Cleber Rennó (BRA 313)

RACEBOARD

🔸 Márcio Fam (BRA 67)

🔸 Ricardo Winicki (BRA 1)

🔸 Udo Schenker (BRA 172)

RACEBOARD SPORT

🔸 Anselmo Marcos (BRA 98)

🔸 Andre Mattos Benedet (BRA 269)

🔸 Fauze de Toledo Ribas (BRA 199)

WINDSURFER

🔸 Ricardo Winicki (BRA 22)

🔸 Margarida Gil Morais (POR 16)

🔸 Fernando Giestas (BRA 1177)

Photos from the event by Felipe Cascardo: http://www.photoplatform.com.br/