World Sailing announces venues for 2027 and 2028 Open Team Racing World Championships
by World Sailing 12 Nov 11:01 GMT
15-19 December 2027
2026 Team Racing World Championship in Stockholm - Day 1 © World Sailing
World Sailing, the global governing body for the sport of sailing, is pleased to confirm the venues for the 2027 and 2028 World Sailing Team Racing World Championships, with the championship set to visit Australia and Switzerland over the next two editions.
The 2027 championship will be hosted by the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) in New South Wales, Australia, from 15-19 December 2027. The 2028 edition will take place at Société Nautique de Genève in Geneva, Switzerland, with dates to be announced.
The announcements continue to develop the exciting keelboat 2v2 Team Racing format as a discipline following the return of the World Sailing Team Racing World Championships to the international sailing calendar back in 2025.
Ferran Muniesa, World Sailing's Director of Events, said: "We are delighted to confirm the hosts for the 2027 and 2028 World Sailing Open Team Racing World Championships. Taking this championship to Australia and Switzerland will provide fantastic opportunities to bring together teams from across the world and continue to grow team racing internationally. Both venues offer strong sailing traditions and the potential to deliver memorable championships for athletes, officials and spectators alike."
2027: Pittwater, Australia
Located on Sydney's Northern Beaches, the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club will welcome competitors to Pittwater. The proposed racing area offers flat water, minimal commercial traffic and ample space to establish courses across a range of wind directions. The racecourse is approximately a 15-minute sail from the club's marina, providing a compact base for competitors, officials and supporters.
December falls within the Australian summer, a time when the prevailing north-easterly breezes average wind speeds of 12-18 knots. These conditions are expected to provide a productive environment for close, tactical team racing in its fleet of Elliott 7 keelboats.
RPAYC brings extensive experience in hosting international sailing events, including the 2025 Hansa World Championship, the annual Harken International Youth Match Racing Championship and the 2020 International 5.5 Metre World Championship. The club is planning further team racing development activities in the lead-up to the event.
2028: Geneva, Switzerland
Société Nautique de Genève will host the 2028 World Sailing Open Team Racing World Championships, bringing the competition to one of Switzerland's leading sailing clubs on the shores of Lake Geneva.
The club's appointment will provide another opportunity to showcase international team racing in a new location, engaging the local sailing community and welcoming teams from World Sailing Member National Authorities around the world.
Championship format and international participation
The World Sailing Team Racing World Championships are contested in a fast-paced 2v2 keelboat format, in which two boats race against two opposing boats. The team whose boat finishes last, loses the race, placing a premium on teamwork, boat handling and tactical decision-making.
Each championship will feature up to 16 teams, with each team comprising two boats and six to eight sailors. Teams must include a minimum of two women and two men per boat, supporting the championship's commitment to gender-balanced competition.
Racing is structured around qualifying Round Robins, followed by knockout stages including quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals.
Further information on the 2027 and 2028 championships, including qualification details and event arrangements, will be published by World Sailing in due course.