Ireland Confirmed for Team Racing Worlds in Stockholm 2026

9th July 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Global Challenge: The 2026 Team Racing World Championship will bring 12 nations to Stockholm next August for the first staging of the keelboat event in Europe, with Ireland among the confirmed entrants Credit: World Sailing

Ireland has confirmed its place at the 2026 Team Racing World Championship, joining 11 other nations for the first edition of the keelboat championship to be held in Europe. The event will take place in Stockholm from 12 to 16 August, with racing staged on Riddarfjärden in the heart of the Swedish capital.

Ireland will compete alongside Australia, Bahamas, Bermuda, Denmark, Finland, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden, the UK and two teams from the USA. A total of 96 sailors will contest the championship.

Organised by Gamla Stans Yacht Sällskap on behalf of World Sailing, the regatta will use identical J/80 keelboats and feature more than 140 short-format team racing matches.

Project Manager Magnus Myrenberg welcomed confirmation of the full entry list. "That all nations are now confirmed shows the strong international interest in both the championship and Stockholm as a sailing venue," he said.

"This will be a world championship of the highest calibre, both competitively and in terms of public appeal."

Stockholm secured hosting rights following an international bidding process. Organisers cited the city's experience in stadium-style sailing and the success of the annual Stockholm International Team Race Regatta as key factors. Racing will take place adjacent to Stockholm City Hall, with spectators able to watch free of charge from quaysides, bridges and elevated viewpoints around the harbour.

Each national squad will comprise eight sailors, with every team required to include at least three women and three men, making team racing one of sailing's most gender-balanced disciplines.

Defending Corinthian world champion skipper Will Bailey said adapting to J/80s had been a challenge ahead of the event. "Racing in J/80s is new for us, so there's been a steep learning curve," Bailey said. "The races are short, intense and incredibly close. Anyone can win any race, which makes it exciting for sailors and spectators alike."

Sustainability measures will include emission-free transport within Stockholm, electric or biofuel-powered support boats and event operations aligned with the World Sailing Sustainability Framework.

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About Team Racing

Team racing in sailing is an exciting, strategy-focused format where two teams, usually with three boats each, compete to achieve the best combined score by the end of the race. Unlike fleet racing, where individual performance matters most, team racing emphasises teamwork, tactics, and boat positioning to outmanoeuvre the opposing team.

Each team typically has three boats, often two-person dinghies like the Firefly class. The boats from each team are distinguished by their unique sail colours or numbers.

Points are assigned to finishing positions, with 1 point for 1st place, 2 points for 2nd place, and so on. The team with the lowest combined score wins. The target is to achieve a "winning combination" of points. In a six-boat race (three per team), winning combinations include scores like 10 points or less for a 1-2-6 or a 2-3-5 finish.

Teams can slow down or block opposing boats, especially in an advantageous position. A boat ahead can "cover" an opponent, manoeuvring to block the wind and slow them down.

Teams often employ manoeuvres to help slower boats catch up or pass opponents, switching positions if needed. This keeps the team in a winning configuration.

At key turning points, boats can execute mark traps, where they intentionally slow down or position themselves to block opponents, forcing them into bad turns or causing them to lose speed.

Team racing follows standard sailing rules but with some additions tailored to team tactics. For example, a "fouling" boat (one that breaks a rule) must complete a penalty turn or even multiple turns, depending on the rule violation. Penalty management is crucial as it can make or break a team's success in the race.

Constant communication is key as team members coordinate strategies, adjust for wind shifts, and adapt to changes in the race. They signal intentions, warn of opponents' moves, and ensure every team member’s position is optimized.

In short, team racing combines fast-paced sailing with strategic teamwork. While speed is essential, winning often depends more on positioning, communication, and the ability to execute effective tactics as a team.