The 2026 Hobie 16 International Championship is underway in Ocean Springs and runs through Sept. 25, bringing international competitors to race on the Mississippi Sound.
WXXV News 25 reported Sept. 15, 2026, that the championship is hosted by the Ocean Springs Yacht Club and the Ocean Springs Sailing Squadron in cooperation with Hobie Class Division 15 and has attracted sailors from 11 countries across six continents.
According to WXXV, organizers said 59 of the sailors competing are national or world champions and that the event is the culmination of more than three years of local planning. Since the championship began in 1976, the United States has hosted it only four times, WXXV reported, making Ocean Springs a rare U.S. venue for the regatta.
The two-week championship features two separate series. WXXV reported the first segment—races for Masters, Grand Masters, Great Grand Masters, Women and Youth divisions—ran Sept. 14–17; competitors then raced in qualifying rounds before advancing to the Open Championship Finals.
WXXV also reported organizers expect the event to showcase Ocean Springs to an international audience and generate economic activity for the region.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
