Switch Global Championship 2025

Other Sailing

Insight, action and spotlight on Other Sailing

Code Zero Media / Chiara Slijk
BARCOLANA57_25cb_12010107 © BARCOLANA _Studio Bollerghi
BARCOLANA / Studio Bollerghi

At a Glance

Wider World of Sailing

We probably don’t need to tell you just how broad, deep and wide the whole world of sailing is. While The Foil is putting a strong focus on the fast-growing professional racing league called SailGP, along with the America’s Cup, Olympics and the Offshore racing scene, this section is to acknowledge the much broader elements of the sport. It’s impossible for us to cover the full breadth of sailboat racing in all its forms, but here goes anyway!

Here’s a flavour of what The Foil will be covering across the year:

  • Keelboat racing
  • Sportsboat racing
  • Dinghy racing
  • Multihull racing
  • Board Sports - Kiteboarding, Wingfoiling & Windsurfing
  • Disabled Sailing
  • Youth Racing
  • Match Racing
  • Team Racing
  • Model Yacht Racing
  • Ice Yacht Racing
  • eSailing (online gaming)

Mostly The Foil is focused on the top end of the sport, the cutting edge, but we’ll go where our fans want to take us.

If there's something you think we should be covering, let us know! When enough people tell us about an event or class, we’ll add it to our calendar.

2026 Event Schedule

5 – 10 Jan 2026
Moth Australian Nationals
McCrae Yacht Club, Australia
10 Jan 2026
50th Bloody Mary
Queen Mary Sailing Club, United Kingdom
17 – 25 Jan 2026
Düsseldorf 2026 Boat Show
Düsseldorf, Germany
24 – 31 Jan 2026
Test event, 2027 Fortaleza World Sailing Championships
Fortaleza, Brazil
27 Jan – 3 Feb 2026
F18 World Championships
Coogee, Australia
4 – 8 Feb 2026
44Cup Calero Marinas
Lanzarote, Spain
1 – 7 Mar 2026
99th Bacardi Cup
Lanzarote, Spain
5 – 8 Mar 2026
St. Maarten Heineken Regatta
Cole Bay, St Maarten
7 – 15 Mar 2026
JJ Giltinan Trophy
Sydney, Australia
22 – 28 Mar 2026
WASZP Games 2026
Pensacola Yacht Club, Florida, USA
3 – 5 Apr 2026
RORC Easter Challenge
Cowes, United Kingdom
3 – 5 Apr 2026
St. Thomas International Regatta
Nazareth, St Thomas
22 – 26 Apr 2026
44Cup Puntaldia
Sardinia, Italy
22 – 26 Apr 2026
Antigua Sailing Week
Dockyard Drive, Antigua & Barbuda
4 – 9 May 2026
52 Super Series
Puerto Portals, Mallorca
7 – 15 May 2026
2026 Etchells World Championship
San Diego, USA
8 – 17 May 2026
Le Defi Wind
Gruissan, France
17 – 22 May 2026
Formula Wing World Championship
Alaçati, Turkey
20 – 24 May 2026
Star Western Hemisphere Championship
Gull Lake, Michigan, USA
23 – 30 May 2026
J70 Corinthian World Championship
Marseille, France
30 May – 6 Jun 2026
Star Eastern Hemisphere Championship
Lake Balaton, Hungary
6 – 12 Jun 2026
15th Musto Skiff World Championship
Carnac, France
15 – 20 Jun 2026
Rolex TP52 World Championship
Porto Cervo, Italy
18 – 28 Jun 2026
Optimist World Championship
Tangier, Morocco
21 – 25 Jun 2026
Youth Match Racing World Championships
Fredericia, Denmark
24 – 28 Jun 2026
44Cup Marstrand
Marstrand, Sweden
27 Jun – 5 Jul 2026
Foiling Week
Lake Garda, Italy
2 – 9 Jul 2026
29er World Championships
Kiel, Germany
2 – 11 Jul 2026
505 World Championships
Hayling Island Sailing Club, United Kingdom
4 – 5 Jul 2026
Lord Birkett Trophy
Ullswater, United Kingdom
6 – 16 Jul 2026
Gdynia 2027 World Sailing Championship Test Event
Gdynia, Poland
11 Jul 2026
Round The Island Race
Isle of Wight, United Kingdom
11 – 17 Jul 2026
WASZP Europeans 2026
Mar Menor, Spain
16 – 26 Jul 2026
The RS Games
Travemünde, Germany
20 – 25 Jul 2026
52 Super Series
Marina Rubicon, Lanzarote
20 – 31 Jul 2026
2026 Fireball Worlds
Royal Torbay Yacht Club, Torquay, United Kingdom
1 – 7 Aug 2026
Cowes Week
Isle of Wight, United Kingdom
1 – 8 Aug 2026
29er European Championship
Lake Lipno, Czech Republic
12 – 16 Aug 2026
Open Team Racing World Championships
Stockholm, Sweden
24 – 29 Aug 2026
52 Super Series
Puerto Calero, Lanzarote
24 – 29 Aug 2026
Star Class European Championship
Medemblik, Netherlands
4 – 12 Sep 2026
J/70 World Championship
Cascais, Portugal
6 – 9 Sep 2026
Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup
Sardinia, Italy
12 – 13 Sep 2026
Bart’s Bash
Global
23 – 27 Sep 2026
44Cup World Championship
Cowes, United Kingdom
30 Sep – 4 Oct 2026
Women’s Match Racing World Championships
San Francisco, USA
1 – 11 Oct 2026
Para Inclusion World Championship
Portimão, Portugal
5 – 10 Oct 2026
52 Super Series Valencia Sailing Week
Valencia, Spain
12 Oct 2026
Barcolana 58
Trieste, Italy
12 – 17 Oct 2026
Cape 31 Gold Cup
St Tropez, France
16 – 23 Oct 2026
SB20 World Championships
Hyeres, France
24 – 29 Oct 2026
Star North American Championship
Davis Island Yacht Club, Florida, USA
4 – 8 Nov 2026
44Cup Cartagena
Cartagena, Spain
4 – 11 Nov 2026
J24 World Championship
Sandringham Yacht Club, Melbourne, Australia
5 – 14 Nov 2026
Star Class World Championship
Coral Reef Yacht Club, Miami, USA
15 – 22 Nov 2026
International Moth World Championship
Perth, Australia
7 – 10 Dec 2026
Wingfoil World Cup Final
Jericoacoara, Brazil
11 – 19 Dec 2026
Youth Sailing World Championships
Vilamoura, Portugal
5 – 10 Jan 2026
Moth Australian Nationals
McCrae Yacht Club, Australia
COMPLETE
Other Sailing
10 Jan 2026
50th Bloody Mary
Queen Mary Sailing Club, United Kingdom
COMPLETE
Other Sailing
17 – 25 Jan 2026
Düsseldorf 2026 Boat Show
Düsseldorf, Germany
COMPLETE
Other Sailing
24 – 31 Jan 2026
Test event, 2027 Fortaleza World Sailing Championships
Fortaleza, Brazil
COMPLETE
Other Sailing
27 Jan – 3 Feb 2026
F18 World Championships
Coogee, Australia
COMPLETE
Other Sailing
27 Jan – 3 Feb 2026
F18 World Championships
Coogee, Australia
COMPLETE
Other Sailing
4 – 8 Feb 2026
44Cup Calero Marinas
Lanzarote, Spain
COMPLETE
Other Sailing
1 – 7 Mar 2026
99th Bacardi Cup
Lanzarote, Spain
COMPLETE
Other Sailing
5 – 8 Mar 2026
St. Maarten Heineken Regatta
Cole Bay, St Maarten
COMPLETE
Other Sailing
7 – 15 Mar 2026
JJ Giltinan Trophy
Sydney, Australia
COMPLETE
Other Sailing
22 – 28 Mar 2026
WASZP Games 2026
Pensacola Yacht Club, Florida, USA
COMPLETE
Other Sailing
3 – 5 Apr 2026
RORC Easter Challenge
Cowes, United Kingdom
COMPLETE
Other Sailing
3 – 5 Apr 2026
St. Thomas International Regatta
Nazareth, St Thomas
COMPLETE
Other Sailing
22 – 26 Apr 2026
44Cup Puntaldia
Sardinia, Italy
Other Sailing
22 – 26 Apr 2026
Antigua Sailing Week
Dockyard Drive, Antigua & Barbuda
Other Sailing
4 – 9 May 2026
52 Super Series
Puerto Portals, Mallorca
Other Sailing
7 – 15 May 2026
2026 Etchells World Championship
San Diego, USA
Other Sailing
8 – 17 May 2026
Le Defi Wind
Gruissan, France
Other Sailing
17 – 22 May 2026
Formula Wing World Championship
Alaçati, Turkey
Other Sailing
20 – 24 May 2026
Star Western Hemisphere Championship
Gull Lake, Michigan, USA
Other Sailing
23 – 30 May 2026
J70 Corinthian World Championship
Marseille, France
Other Sailing
30 May – 6 Jun 2026
Star Eastern Hemisphere Championship
Lake Balaton, Hungary
Other Sailing
30 May – 6 Jun 2026
Star Eastern Hemisphere Championship
Lake Balaton, Hungary
Other Sailing
6 – 12 Jun 2026
15th Musto Skiff World Championship
Carnac, France
Other Sailing
15 – 20 Jun 2026
Rolex TP52 World Championship
Porto Cervo, Italy
Other Sailing
18 – 28 Jun 2026
Optimist World Championship
Tangier, Morocco
Other Sailing
21 – 25 Jun 2026
Youth Match Racing World Championships
Fredericia, Denmark
Other Sailing
24 – 28 Jun 2026
44Cup Marstrand
Marstrand, Sweden
Other Sailing
27 Jun – 5 Jul 2026
Foiling Week
Lake Garda, Italy
Other Sailing
27 Jun – 5 Jul 2026
Foiling Week
Lake Garda, Italy
Other Sailing
2 – 9 Jul 2026
29er World Championships
Kiel, Germany
Other Sailing
2 – 11 Jul 2026
505 World Championships
Hayling Island Sailing Club, United Kingdom
Other Sailing
4 – 5 Jul 2026
Lord Birkett Trophy
Ullswater, United Kingdom
Other Sailing
6 – 16 Jul 2026
Gdynia 2027 World Sailing Championship Test Event
Gdynia, Poland
Other Sailing
11 Jul 2026
Round The Island Race
Isle of Wight, United Kingdom
Other Sailing
11 – 17 Jul 2026
WASZP Europeans 2026
Mar Menor, Spain
Other Sailing
16 – 26 Jul 2026
The RS Games
Travemünde, Germany
Other Sailing
20 – 31 Jul 2026
2026 Fireball Worlds
Royal Torbay Yacht Club, Torquay, United Kingdom
Other Sailing
20 – 25 Jul 2026
52 Super Series
Marina Rubicon, Lanzarote
Other Sailing
1 – 8 Aug 2026
29er European Championship
Lake Lipno, Czech Republic
Other Sailing
1 – 7 Aug 2026
Cowes Week
Isle of Wight, United Kingdom
Other Sailing
12 – 16 Aug 2026
Open Team Racing World Championships
Stockholm, Sweden
Other Sailing
24 – 29 Aug 2026
52 Super Series
Puerto Calero, Lanzarote
Other Sailing
24 – 29 Aug 2026
Star Class European Championship
Medemblik, Netherlands
Other Sailing
4 – 12 Sep 2026
J/70 World Championship
Cascais, Portugal
Other Sailing
6 – 9 Sep 2026
Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup
Sardinia, Italy
Other Sailing
12 – 13 Sep 2026
Bart’s Bash
Global
Other Sailing
23 – 27 Sep 2026
44Cup World Championship
Cowes, United Kingdom
Other Sailing
30 Sep – 4 Oct 2026
Women’s Match Racing World Championships
San Francisco, USA
Other Sailing
30 Sep – 4 Oct 2026
Women’s Match Racing World Championships
San Francisco, USA
Other Sailing
1 – 11 Oct 2026
Para Inclusion World Championship
Portimão, Portugal
Other Sailing
5 – 10 Oct 2026
52 Super Series Valencia Sailing Week
Valencia, Spain
Other Sailing
12 Oct 2026
Barcolana 58
Trieste, Italy
Other Sailing
12 – 17 Oct 2026
Cape 31 Gold Cup
St Tropez, France
Other Sailing
16 – 23 Oct 2026
SB20 World Championships
Hyeres, France
Other Sailing
24 – 29 Oct 2026
Star North American Championship
Davis Island Yacht Club, Florida, USA
Other Sailing
4 – 8 Nov 2026
44Cup Cartagena
Cartagena, Spain
Other Sailing
4 – 11 Nov 2026
J24 World Championship
Sandringham Yacht Club, Melbourne, Australia
Other Sailing
5 – 14 Nov 2026
Star Class World Championship
Coral Reef Yacht Club, Miami, USA
Other Sailing
15 – 22 Nov 2026
International Moth World Championship
Perth, Australia
Other Sailing
7 – 10 Dec 2026
Wingfoil World Cup Final
Jericoacoara, Brazil
Other Sailing
11 – 19 Dec 2026
Youth Sailing World Championships
Vilamoura, Portugal
Other Sailing

Frequently Asked Questions

Dive Deeper

What do we mean by Wider World of Sailing?

Beyond SailGP, the America's Cup and offshore racing, competitive sailing spans dozens of disciplines – from Olympic dinghies and high-performance keelboats to kiteboarding, ice yachts and even radio-controlled model boats. The wider world covers everything from local club racing on a Sunday morning to world championships attracting hundreds of entries. If it floats, foils or slides across ice under wind power, it counts.

What events will The Foil cover?

The Foil will track keelboat circuits like the 52 Super Series, sportsboat fleets such as the J/70, Olympic classes including the ILCA and 49er, multihull racing from beach cats to foiling Nacra 17s, and board sports like Formula Kite and wingfoiling. We'll also follow youth pathways, Para sailing, match racing and team racing. Check the Calendar for specific events – and tell us if you think we've missed something. We probably have, because there’s simply too much to cover, but if you really feel there’s an event that deserves our attention, let us know.

What's the difference between keelboats, dinghies and multihulls?

Keelboats have weighted fins below the hull for stability – they're larger, often crewed, and race under handicap systems or one-design rules. Dinghies are smaller, lighter boats kept upright by crew weight, demanding athletic hiking or trapezing. Multihulls – catamarans and trimarans – combine stability with high speed, but sometimes capsizing spectacularly when things go wrong.

What are board sports and why are they growing?

Kiteboarding, wingfoiling and windsurfing put sailors on hydrofoils or fins at sustained speeds above 20–30 knots. The iQFOiL and Formula Kite are now Olympic classes, legitimising foil-based board sports at the highest level. Wingfoiling – using hand-held inflatable wings – is the fastest-growing discipline, combining accessibility with addictive speed. All demand balance, explosive athleticism and finely tuned fine-motor skills in the hands and feet.

What's the difference between match racing and team racing?

Match racing is one-on-one combat – pre-start manoeuvring, forcing penalties and boat-on-boat positioning with on-water umpires making instant calls. The World Match Racing Tour crowns world champions at the top of the sport, and there are many layers and levels below that. Team racing pits small squads (typically 3v3) against each other, rewarding communication, blocking manoeuvres and sacrificial plays that would be pointless in fleet racing. Both formats treat rules knowledge as a weapon.

What are one-design classes and why do they matter?

One-design means identical boats – same hull, same sails, same equipment. Classes like the J/70, Optimist and Nacra 17 eliminate technology arms races, ensuring results reflect crew skill rather than budget. This keeps racing close, costs manageable and competition fair. Development classes like the International Moth allow innovation, but one-design remains the backbone of grassroots and Olympic sailing worldwide.

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