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Sailing News for December 23, 2025

SailGP and Mubadala reached more than 6,000 students in Abu Dhabi through hands on foiling and STEM programs as the league doubles down on youth engagement. Five heavyweight teams committed to the new America’s Cup Partnership, giving Naples 2027 real structure. Racing analysis shows how older Volvo 70s still dominate on rating, Olympic qualification for LA28 opens up, and the ClubSwan 28 earns Boat of the Year honors.

Sail GP/America’s Cup

Inspiring the Next Generation: SailGP and Mubadala Engage 6,000+ Youth in Abu Dhabi (4 min read)
SailGP and Mubadala just turned foiling fever into a full-on youth movement. More than 6,000 students in Abu Dhabi and over 11,000 globally got hands-on with wingfoiling, STEM challenges, and behind-the-scenes SailGP tech. Kids built F50 models, tackled sustainability problems, and even got on the water with real coaches. It’s grassroots sailing with serious ambition, and a long-term play to grow the next wave of foilers, engineers, and ocean-obsessed changemakers.

Five Teams Lock In for the 38th America’s Cup as New Partnership Launches (4 min read)
The America’s Cup just took a big structural step forward with five heavyweight teams committing as founding members of the new America’s Cup Partnership. Emirates Team New Zealand, Athena Racing, Luna Rossa, Alinghi, and K-Challenge are backing a model built around stability, shared revenues, and a regular two-year cycle. Naples 2027 is officially loading, women and youth pathways are locked in, and more teams still have time to jump aboard. The Cup isn’t just surviving, it’s reorganizing to play the long game.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

How a Volvo 70 Turns Into a ‘Ratings Bandit’ (6 min read)
Ever wondered why 20-year-old Volvo 70s keep bullying modern fleets on corrected time? Juan K Design lifts the lid on how smart sail wardrobes, dual IRC certificates, and subtle keel tweaks can turn boats like Pyewacket and Tschüss 2 into rating assassins. The secret isn’t wild hull mods, it’s knowing exactly where the rule bends and how hard you can push proven structures. Old boats, sharp brains, and ruthless optimization still win races.

Olympic Class/Dinghy Sailing

Bids Open for LA28 Sailing Qualifiers as Olympic Pathway Heats Up (4 min read)
The race to LA28 just got real. World Sailing has officially opened bidding for the Continental Olympic Qualifiers and the all-important Last Chance Regatta, the final ticket to the 2028 Games. Hosts are also being sought for multiple match racing world championships through 2029, adding even more weight to the decision. With venues locked in for Long Beach and the Port of LA, the Olympic sailing machine is rolling, and the qualification pressure is officially on.

Tech & Gear

2025 Boat of the Year: ClubSwan 28 (6 min read)
Nautor Swan just shrunk grand-prix racing down to 28 feet and somehow kept all the good stuff. The ClubSwan 28 is carbon, stiff as a drum, loaded with smart sail controls, and ridiculously tweakable in the best way. It rewards good sailors instantly but stays friendly enough for ambitious owners jumping into one-design racing. Trailerable, fast, and properly sexy, this thing feels like a full-blown raceboat that accidentally got fun dialed all the way up.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

Emirates Team New Zealand are back on the water and straight into spicy two-boat training. With no new boats or base chaos to slow things down, the squad picked up right where they left off, focusing on match racing, communication, and sharp decision-making. The sailors sound relaxed but competitive, throwing the one-design foilers around and loving it. Big boat relaunch is coming, but for now it’s all about reps, rhythm, and quietly turning the heat up for 2026.