The opening of the GoRR will take place today in Riga, starting with a parade of sailing yachts on the Daugava River near the Riga Passenger Port. This year, the program will be particularly notable: in honor of the centenary of Latvian sailing, the organizers plan to attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the “Most People Blowing Fog Horns Simultaneously.”
The opening of the GoRR and the yacht parade can be observed at the Riga Passenger Terminal. The attempt to set the world record is scheduled for 18:20, and the parade of sailing yachts will begin at 18:30. At 20:00, the official opening of GoRR 2026 will take place at the Auda Yacht Club in Mangalsala. If the record is set, the official result and the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS certificate are planned to be presented during the opening ceremony.
“The start of GoRR in Riga has already become a special moment when the regatta is visible not only to sailors but also to the city. This year, several important events are combined at the opening — the centenary of Latvian sailing, the yacht parade on the Daugava, the attempt to set a Guinness World Record, and the start of the international regatta. It is important for us that people see sailing as not just competitions far out at sea, but as a lively, dynamic, and visually beautiful part of Riga’s summer,” noted GoRR director Valters Romans.
The sporting part of the regatta will begin on Monday, June 29, with the Riga Port stage. Yachts will depart for the start between approximately 10:30 and 11:30, with the first start scheduled for 12:00 in the Riga Bay near the Daugava jetties. The competitions can be observed from the jetties at the mouth of the Daugava River into the Riga Bay. The return of the yachts to the Auda Yacht Club is expected between 14:30 and 15:30.
This year, GoRR will use radio-controlled buoys — radio marks — for the first time. They allow for more precise and flexible placement of race marks on the water, adapting to wind and competition conditions. The progress of the races and the opening parade can also be followed online — in the Kwindoo app, where the movement of the yachts will be displayed in real-time.
After the Riga stage, on Tuesday, June 30, the GoRR fleet will head to Kihnu Island. On Wednesday, July 1, the start from Kihnu to Pärnu is scheduled, and the competitions will continue in Pärnu on July 2 and 3.
The conclusion of GoRR 2026 and the awarding of winners in the overall standings will take place on the evening of July 3 at the Pärnu Yacht Club. After the regatta, on July 4, the celebration of the 120th anniversary of the local yacht club will continue in Pärnu.
This year, the sporting intrigue promises to be particularly strong: five teams — the winners of last year — are returning to the start: RHINO, SIREN, ELLI, DREAM, and KANI KELI. A total of 48 teams from Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, and Finland have preliminarily registered to participate in GoRR 2026. During the regatta, winners of the GoRR and the Open Championship of Latvia in maritime sailing will be determined. In the most competitive yacht group, there will also be a battle for the symbolic Livonia Cup.
In 2026, it will be 100 years since sailing in Latvia began to take shape as an organized movement. “The centenary of Latvian sailing is a good moment to remind that sailing is much broader than just competitions. It is a community, a culture of safety, nature, strategy, and teamwork. At the opening of GoRR, we will celebrate this occasion and showcase the charm of this sport to the general public,” said the president of the Latvian Sailing Union, Kaspars Rožkalns.
