UniversidaddeCádiz

The High-Performance Sailing Centre brings together 52 sailors from 13 universities in a key event of the CEU 2026 organised by the University of Cádiz

The province of Cádiz continues to strengthen its position as a benchmark for university sport at the national level with the hosting of the Spanish University Sailing Championship, one of the events included in the CEU 2026, in which the University of Cádiz plays a leading role.

The UCA has taken on the organisation of several disciplines linked to the maritime environment —surfing, parasurfing, sailing and beach volleyball— reinforcing its strategic positioning in nautical sports and its capacity to host national-level competitions. Following the surfing and parasurfing events held in El Palmar last March, the sailing competition has been taking place since 14 April at the High-Performance Sailing Centre in El Puerto de Santa María, while the beach volleyball competition will be held in May at La Victoria beach in Cádiz.

The sailing championship began on Tuesday 14 April with accreditation and free training sessions, organised in morning and afternoon shifts, while on-water sessions were held between 13:00 and 19:00. On Wednesday 15 April, the technical meeting prior to the competition took place, with the participation of Manuel Calvo, representative of the Spanish Sports Council; Kyko Jorreto, delegate of the Spanish University Sports Committee; Carlos Navarro, technical advisor to the committee; Nicolás Mariño, director of the Andalusian Sailing Federation; and Julio Conde, head of the Nautical Campus Office at the University of Cádiz.

That same day saw the first day of competition, which took place as scheduled at the High-Performance Sailing Centre of the Andalusian Sailing Federation in El Puerto de Santa María. The day concluded with the official welcome ceremony for athletes and officials, held at 21:00, attended by Julio Conde, representing the UCA; Francisco Coro, president of the Andalusian Sailing Federation; and José Ignacio González Nieto, Councillor for Sports of the City Council of El Puerto de Santa María.

One of the most notable aspects of this edition is the record level of participation. A total of 13 universities —12 public and 1 private— are competing in this championship, surpassing previous participation figures for the first time. In total, 52 athletes are taking part, with balanced representation of 26 women and 26 men, along with 14 officials.

The Spanish University Championships, organised by the Spanish University Sports Committee and hosted by universities, represent the main university sports competition at national level, bringing together students from across Spain in a wide range of disciplines each year. This edition marks the first time that all competitions are held within a single autonomous community, in this case, Andalusia.

With this event, Cádiz once again positions itself on the map of university sport in a year that stands out not only for increased participation, but also for the key role played by the University of Cádiz in organising sea-related competitions, an area in which it continues to consolidate its leadership.

Créditos imágenes: Emulocean