World Sailing Names 2027 and 2028 Team Racing Worlds Venues

13th November 2026

Afloat.ie Team

World Championship Venues: The 2027 Open Team Racing Worlds will take place on Pittwater, Australia, from 15–19 December, followed by Geneva, Switzerland, in 2028 Credit: World Sailing

World Sailing's Open Team Racing World Championships will visit Australia and Switzerland in 2027 and 2028, following a 2026 edition in Stockholm, where Ireland finished fifth overall.

The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club on Pittwater, New South Wales, will host the 2027 championship from 15–19 December, while Société Nautique de Genève on Lake Geneva has been selected for 2028, with dates to be confirmed.

The announcement extends the revival of the international championship in the 2v2 keelboat format. Ireland's Baltimore team took bronze at the 2025 Worlds in Newport before another Irish squad claimed fifth place in Stockholm this August.

Pittwater Racing in Elliott 7s

The 2027 regatta will use Elliott 7 keelboats on Pittwater, north of Sydney. The proposed racecourse offers sheltered water, little commercial traffic and a sailing distance of approximately 15 minutes from the host club's marina.

Pittwater Preparations: The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in New South Wales, Australia, will host the 2027 World Sailing Open Team Racing World Championships from 15–19 December, with up to 16 teams competing in Elliott 7 keelboats

December is Australian summer, with prevailing north-easterlies averaging 12–18 knots. The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club has hosted the Hansa and International 5.5 Metre World Championships and runs the annual Harken International Youth Match Racing Championship.

Lake Geneva in 2028

Société Nautique de Genève will stage the following championship on Lake Geneva. World Sailing's Director of Events, Ferran Muniesa, said the two host venues would help bring together teams from across the world and develop the discipline internationally.

Geneva Gathering: Société Nautique de Genève on Lake Geneva, Switzerland, has been selected to host the 2028 World Sailing Open Team Racing World Championships, bringing the international 2v2 keelboat competition back to Europe

Two Boats Against Two

In the 2v2 format, two keelboats race against two opposing boats, and the team with the last-placed boat loses. Each championship can accommodate up to 16 teams, with six to eight sailors per team and a minimum of two women and two men aboard each boat.

Qualifying round-robins lead to quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals. World Sailing says qualification details and further arrangements will follow.

The format has already gained a foothold in Ireland, where J/80 2v2 racing has been used for national selection events in Dún Laoghaire.

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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.