The World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) and Women’s World Match Racing Tour (WWMRT) Finals will be staged together for the first time at AMAALA Yacht Club in Saudi Arabia this November, with equal $200,000 prize purses announced for the two events.
The Red Sea venue will make its debut on the World Match Racing Tour as the leading match racers from the women’s and open circuits compete for their respective 2026 world titles.
The Women’s World Match Racing Tour Final will run from 2-7 November, followed by the World Match Racing Tour Final from 9-14 November. World Sailing will crown the winners of both Finals as 2026 Match Racing World Champions.
Record Prize for Women’s Match Racing Final
Both championships will carry a $200,000 prize purse, marking the first time equal prize money has been offered across the open and women’s World Match Racing Tours.
Organisers say the $200,000 purse for the women’s championship is also the largest prize offered for an all-female sailing event.
Trophy Team — Defending Women’s World Match Racing Tour champions Match in Pink celebrate with Louise Acker, Claire Pruvot, skipper Pauline Courtois, Laurane Mettraux and Maelenn Lemaitre. Photo: Ian Roman
The Women’s World Match Racing Tour was launched in 2022, and this year will be the first occasion on which its season finale has been staged back-to-back with the open Tour Final.
James Pleasance, Executive Director of the World Match Racing Tour, described the announcement as a milestone.
“This is a milestone year for the World Match Racing Tour,” Pleasance said. “Not only is it the first time both world match racing tours will be hosted together, but I am particularly proud of our shared vision and achievement with AMAALA Yacht Club in announcing the first-ever 100% equal prize money across the open and women’s world tours.”
Red Sea Venue for World’s Leading Match Racers
AMAALA Yacht Club is located on Saudi Arabia’s northwestern Red Sea coast, where organisers say the combination of reliable trade winds and sheltered waters will provide the setting for the two championships.
Red Sea Stage — AMAALA Yacht Club on Saudi Arabia’s northwestern Red Sea coast will host the World Match Racing Tour and Women’s World Match Racing Tour Finals in November
The staging of the Finals forms part of the yacht club’s plans to develop international sailing and local participation in the sport in the region.
AMAALA Yacht Club General Manager Adrian Peet said hosting the Finals represented an important milestone for the club.
“We’re excited to welcome the World Match Racing Tour to Saudi Arabia for the first time this November,” Peet said. “Hosting the Finals is an important milestone for AMAALA Yacht Club. Not only does it demonstrate the club’s commitment to the sport, but it is also evidence of our ambition to support the growth of sailing in the region and establish the Red Sea as the leading destination for yachting.”
Peet added that staging the two Finals together made the occasion “even more significant”.
The announcement comes alongside the publication of the Notices of Race for both November championships.
