Sailing Highlights 2025/26

The sailing world is gearing up for two extraordinary seasons in 2025 and 2026, featuring some of the most thrilling and spectacular regattas on the international calendar. From the high-speed catamarans of the SailGP to the epic ocean challenge of the Clipper Round the World Race, and from the iconic America’s Cup to the solo adventure of the Mini Transat, the sailing schedule is packed with unmissable events. Whether you're a passionate sailor, an experienced skipper or simply curious, discover all the major sailing events of 2025/26 that will bring wind, excitement and cutting-edge technology to seas around the globe.

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Clipper Round the World Race 2025–26

Start: August 31, 2025, Portsmouth (UK) – Finish: Mid-2026, various ports worldwide

The 14th edition of the Clipper Round the World Race will kick off with a major festival in Portsmouth, followed by a spectacular offshore race covering approximately 40,000 nautical miles around the globe. More than 400 crew members from around the world – many without prior sailing experience – will sail under the guidance of professional skippers on identical 70-foot yachts. The route crosses the Atlantic, Pacific, and Southern Oceans, passing South Africa and the North-West Passage, with key stopovers in Seattle, Oban, and Punta del Este. The race places particular emphasis on team dynamics, safety training, and oceanographic data collection as part of Citizen Science projects.

The Ocean Race Europe 2025 & Atlantic 2026

August 10 – September 21, 2025 Route: Kiel → Portsmouth → Porto → Cartagena → Nice → Genoa → Boka Bay (Montenegro)

This offshore event features IMOCA foilers on a carefully planned stage route, focusing on performance, sustainability, and team development. The route crosses the North Sea, the Atlantic coast, the Western Mediterranean, and the Adriatic Sea. Top teams such as Canada Ocean Racing with Pip Hare and Boris Herrmann's Malizia - Seaexplorer will participate with a strong focus on sustainable offshore racing.

In summer 2026, The Ocean Race Atlantic will begin as an exciting transatlantic regatta from New York to Barcelona. Crews will sail approximately 3,700 nautical miles aboard foiling IMOCA 60s, for the first time with fully crewed teams of four sailors – two women and two men – marking a historic first in the series.

After the Atlantic challenge, the classic Around-the-World Regatta will start in January 2027.

America's Cup 2025

August 22 – October 27, 2025, Barcelona

From August 22 to October 27, 2025, the 37th America's Cup will take place in Barcelona, showcasing high-performance sailing with AC75 foilers and intense match racing. In addition to the Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand, five world-class challengers will compete: INEOS Britannia, Alinghi Red Bull Racing, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, NYYC American Magic, and France's Orient Express Racing Team. For the first time, the event will also include Women's and Youth America's Cups, which will run alongside the Challenger Series and the prestigious Louis Vuitton Cup.

Mini Transat 2025

Start: September 21, 2025, Les Sables-d'Olonne → Caribbean

The iconic solo transatlantic race on 6.50 m mini yachts is divided into two legs: the first along the Iberian Peninsula to Madeira or the Canary Islands, the second across the Atlantic to the Caribbean. About 90 solo sailors will face isolation, self-reliance, and technical endurance over more than 7,500 nautical miles.

Transat Café L'Or 2025

Approx. October 26, 2025, Le Havre → Fort-de-France (Martinique)

The double-handed transatlantic race sees duos sailing IMOCA and Class40 yachts through the North Atlantic, facing day and night navigation in all weather conditions. The race demands precise coordination and strong mental resilience in a competitive 24-hour environment.

SailGP 2026

January – November 2026, Season opener in Perth, Grand Final in Abu Dhabi

The F50 catamaran series will kick off in early 2026 in Perth, with stops in Australia, the Americas, and Europe, including New York, Portsmouth, Saint-Tropez, and Dubai, concluding with the Grand Final in Abu Dhabi in November. Fourteen national teams, including newcomers Red Bull Italy and Mubadala Brazil, will compete for the global title, supported by financial sustainability initiatives and strong media presence.

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