Irish Team Targets Team Racing World Championship in Stockholm

7th August 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Ireland's Team Racing World Championship venue on Stockholm's Riddarfjärden with J/80 keelboats racing close to the waterfront

City Arena: Racing unfolds against Stockholm's waterfront during the Team Racing World Championship, where Ireland will compete against teams from 12 nations in supplied J/80 keelboats. Photo: Team Racing Worlds Credit: GSYS

An eight-person Irish squad departs next week for the 2026 Team Racing World Championship in Stockholm, where teams from 12 nations will compete on supplied J/80 keelboats in one of sailing's fastest-paced disciplines.

Representing Irish Sailing, the team combines international match racers, dinghy champions and keelboat sailors, and will race on Stockholm's Riddarfjärden from 12–16 August.

Before departing, the team will gather at the Royal St George Yacht Club in Dún Laoghaire on Saturday afternoon for a final training session and media event with title sponsor Davy.

The Irish line-up is:

Tom Higgins
Jamie McMahon (team captain)
Henry Higgins
Fiona Ferguson
Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin
Cliodhna Ní Shuilleabháin
Fionn Lyden
Sally O'Flynn

Collectively, the squad brings experience from Youth World Championships, European championships, match racing, team racing and national keelboat competition.

Among the team's achievements are European youth titles, podium finishes at previous Team Racing World Championships, Irish national championships across several classes and extensive international match-racing experience.

The championship will be sailed in a fleet of identical J/80s supplied by the organisers. Racing takes place close to Stockholm's city centre on a compact course designed to provide continuous action for spectators along the waterfront.

Ireland faces teams representing Australia, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Denmark, Finland, Great Britain, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden and two teams from the United States.

Around 120 short-format races are scheduled before the championship concludes with knockout rounds and medal matches on Sunday, 16 August.

Published in Team Racing, RStGYC

Published in Team Racing

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Team Racing

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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.