0% — Vienna 2028
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46TH EDITION 48°14′N  16°25′E DANUBE ISLAND · VIENNA MAY 2028

International Waterbike Regatta

300+ engineering and naval architecture students. Self-designed CFRP and GFRP pedal boats breaking 10 knots. Pure muscle power — and maximum precision.

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About the IWR

Europe's largest student watersport event — where hydrodynamics meets muscle power.

Since 1980, engineering and naval architecture students from across Europe have competed with self-designed pedal boats. These are no leisure craft: every vessel is the result of months of design and manufacturing work — lightweight composite hulls optimised for speed, agility and thrust.

The teams combine hydrodynamics, materials engineering and mechanical engineering in a single project. Boats made from CFRP and GFRP break 10 knots (19+ km/h) on muscle power alone. Knowledge from lectures and labs gets tested in a real competitive environment.

In 2028, Vienna hosts for the second time after the 2016 edition — a unique urban backdrop in the heart of one of the world's most liveable cities, with direct public transport access and viewing areas for hundreds of spectators a day.

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High-performance engineering

CFRP and GFRP builds breaking 10 knots — months of development that have to prove themselves in competition, out on the water.

International exchange

Teams from different nations discuss design approaches, share solutions and learn from one another — at the dock, while watching, and while wrenching together.

Vienna 2028 — Danube Island

The IWR returns to Vienna for the second time. Racing on the water against the city skyline, in front of 300+ students and hundreds of spectators each day.

Competition

Seven ways
to lose a race

Each discipline puts a different demand on the boat and the crew. Design for one and you give up ground on another — the trade-off is the whole point.

01 / Sprint

Sprint

Maximum speed over a short distance. Full power from the start to the finish line — drag coefficient decides it.

02 / Slalom

Slalom

Precision and agility. The hull has to combine hydrodynamics with manoeuvrability — two things that fight each other.

03 / Force

Tractive force

Pure power against resistance. A direct test of the drivetrain, the gearing and the propeller of the pedal design.

04 / F-S-R

Forward · Stop · Reverse

Accelerate, stop, reverse. Reaction time and structural robustness are decisive — this one breaks boats.

05 / Accel

Acceleration

Who reaches top speed fastest? Optimised gearing meets raw muscle power over the first few metres.

06 / Endurance

Endurance 1h

Strategy, crew rotation and drivetrain efficiency across a full hour. Where clever teams beat strong ones.

07 / Classified

Secret mission

The seventh discipline stays secret until competition day. You cannot design for it — only adapt.

Drag or scroll01 / 07

Take part

Race your own boat against the best in Europe.

Register for the 46th International Waterbike Regatta — as a full team or on your own. No university affiliation? Private entries are welcome too.

What teams need to bring

  • A self-designed and self-built pedal boat
  • A crew of at least 2 (recommended: 4–6)
  • Confirmation from a college or university, if applicable
  • Technical documentation of the boat

How it works

  • Registration via the web app or the individual form
  • Technical inspection before the competition
  • 3 competition days on Vienna's Danube Island
  • Award ceremony & afterparty on the final evening
Contact & questions iwr2028.support@gmail.com +43 677 61514373

We'll match you with a crew if you don't have one yet. Reply usually within a few days — check your spam folder.

Digital

App & livestream

Live results, commentary and every discipline — on the island or anywhere in the world.

IWR Web App

Live results, rankings, schedules and every piece of event info — in the browser, no download.

Open the app

Twitch Livestream

Every race, every discipline and the award ceremony — commentated, overlaid and up close.

Watch live

Instagram

Build progress, team stories and race-day highlights in the run-up to 2028.

@iwr2028
Newspaper
ORF Feature
Instagram Posts
Instagram Reels
Twitch Stream
100+ Spectators / Day

Partnerships

Sponsoring packages

Become part of a 45-year story. Your logo on the water, against Vienna's skyline, in front of 300 European engineering students.

Bronze
from €500
Entry package
  • Logo on the event website
  • Logo on the digital event flyer
  • Small logo on the event banner
  • Mention in the acknowledgements
Silver
from €1,500
Visibility package
  • Everything in Bronze
  • Company introduction in the participant pack
  • Logo in the aftermovie credits
  • Medium logo on the main banner
  • Named "official partner" in the programme
Gold
from €3,500
Main package
  • Everything in Silver
  • Naming rights to a discipline + trophy handover
  • "Official partner" in all event communications
  • Mention in press, ORF feature, stream & aftermovie
  • Dedicated Instagram & LinkedIn post
  • Large logo on banner, website & volunteer shirts
  • Logo on the race numbers of every boat
Exclusive
Platinum
from €7,500
Title sponsor
  • Everything in Gold
  • Title billing: "IWR 2028 presented by …"
  • Your own company challenge as a discipline
  • Opening address to all participants
  • Recruiting booth — direct access to 300+ students
  • Largest logo on banner, stage & podium
  • Logo on the official shirts of all participants
  • Named in every press release & the Instagram bio

Custom packages
on request

Every collaboration is welcome — tell us what you need and we'll build the package around it.

Project leadJakob Pfeiffer
LocationDanube Island, Vienna

Our partners

Sponsors 2028

These companies make the IWR 2028 possible and back the next generation of European engineers.

Platinum
Slot available
Gold
Slot available
Slot available
Silver
Slot available
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Bronze
Slot available
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Want to become a sponsor? Write to iwr2028.support@gmail.com — custom packages available on request.