World Sailing has confirmed Cherbourg Yacht Club in France as host of the 2027 Nations Cup. The match racing event will return after a seven-year absence, with racing scheduled from 6–11 September 2027. Cherbourg has a strong track record in international match racing. The venue hosted the 2021 Women’s Match Racing World Championship and multiple French national events.
The Nations Cup features national teams rather than individual skippers. Up to 10 teams will compete in both Open and Women’s divisions. Entries will be decided through a regional qualification system, designed to broaden global participation.
World Sailing Vice-President Cory Sertl said, “The Nations Cup is a celebration of national pride and a proven breeding ground for future legends of our sport.” She added the event provides “a vital, cost-effective international platform” to expand match racing and develop new talent.
Maxime Mesnil of Cherbourg Yacht Club said the club was “really happy to host an international match racing event again.” “We are proud to be a part of the Nation’s Cup once again,” he said, noting its importance in supporting youth and women in sailing.
Club President Olivier Gosselin said hosting the event was “both a privilege and a challenge”. “We want to match expectations and prove again that Cherbourg is a reference for international events,” he said.
First launched in 1991, the Nations Cup crowns world champion nations in match racing. Past competitors include leading sailors who progressed to the Olympic Games, the America’s Cup, and the World Match Racing Tour.
