St Francis Yacht Club to host 2026 Women's Match Racing World Championship

St Francis Yacht Club to host 2026 Women's Match Racing World Championship © Simone Staff

World Sailing is pleased to announce that the 2026 World Sailing Women's Match Racing World Championship will be hosted by St Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, California, USA, from 30 September-4 October 2026.

"It is an honour for us to host the World Sailing Women's Match Racing World Championship and we look forward to welcoming the best female sailors in the world to our waters," said Susan Ruhne, the 2026 Commodore of St. Francis Yacht Club, which has played host to the 2023 and 2025 Women's World Match Racing Tour, the 2025 US Women's Match Racing Championship and the 2022 US Women's Match Racing Championship Qualifier.

"For several years running our club has been committed to hosting and fostering high-level competitions for female sailors and our membership will be thrilled to watch the best of the best racing in close quarters on the waters just outside our clubhouse. The Bay Area has become a growing hub for women's professional sports, so this will be a thrilling event for spectators and sailing fans."

Cory Sertl, World Sailing Vice-President, added, "We are absolutely thrilled to head to the iconic waters of San Francisco for the 2026 World Sailing Women's Match Racing World Championship. San Francisco Bay is one of the world's most demanding and spectacular natural arenas for competitive sailing and the St. Francis Yacht Club bring fantastic high-level event experience to the competition. We are not just crowning a world champion; we are providing a global stage that matches the incredible skill, intensity, and strategic brilliance of these elite athletes.

"World Sailing is committed to accelerating the growth of women's professional racing, and there is no better place to showcase that momentum than the Golden Gate. We look forward to working with the hosts to deliver an unforgettable event that sets a new high standard for Match Racing and inspires the next generation of female sailors worldwide."

The 2025 champion, Pauline Courtois and her Match in Pink by Normandy Elite Team from Le Havre, France, will be back to defend their title. Courtois captured her fifth consecutive World Sailing Women's Match Racing World Championship last September at Chicago Yacht Club. In 2026 in San Francisco, Courtois and her team's five-year winning streak will be tested by 11 top-ranked women skippers invited from World Sailing Women's Match Racing Ranking list.

"This event is not only a sporting highlight but also an opportunity to celebrate the thrill of match racing and the strength of the international women's sailing community," said Felix Weidling, Race Director of St. Francis Yacht Club. "We are committed to creating an unforgettable event together with the athletes, teams and fans here in San Francisco."

Racing will be in Round Robin format, held in StFYC's fleet of J/22s, with skippers competing with crews of four or five. After a practice day on 30 September, four days of racing will commence on 1 October, with finals and awards held on 4 October.