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Sailing News for December 24, 2025

Athena Racing has secured major investment from Oakley Capital, giving Britain serious momentum heading toward the next America’s Cup cycle as Alinghi return under a new Cup partnership model. Offshore star Charlie Dalin was honored with the Magnus Olsson Prize, while race calendars take shape with RS Fest heading to San Francisco and the 2026 IRC European Championship Notice of Race now live.

Sail GP/America’s Cup

Athena Racing Lands Major Oakley Capital Investment (3 min read)
Big money just showed up for British America’s Cup hopes. Private equity firm Oakley Capital has taken a majority stake in Athena Racing, giving the team serious long-term firepower for 2027 and beyond. Sir Ben Ainslie stays hands-on, with Ian Walker and Nick Holroyd steering the program as training ramps up for Naples. It’s a huge vote of confidence in Athena, and a clear sign Britain plans to be a real player in the next Cup cycle.

Alinghi Return as America’s Cup Unveils New Partnership (4 min read)
Plot twist in Cup world politics. Alinghi are officially back for 2027 after joining a newly formed America’s Cup Partnership alongside Team New Zealand, Athena Racing, Luna Rossa, and K-Challenge. The group is pitching a more collaborative future with shared revenues, cost controls, independent management, and a plan to run the Cup every two years. More teams could still join, but this already feels like the biggest structural shake-up in decades. The Cup just got very interesting again.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

2025 Magnus Olsson Prize Awarded to Charlie Dalin (4 min read)
Offshore racing machine Charlie Dalin just added another massive trophy to the shelf, winning the 2025 Magnus “Mange” Olsson Prize. Dalin’s résumé is already wild, from Figaro dominance to IMOCA wins and a record-smashing Vendée Globe victory by nine days. Even more incredible, he raced while undergoing cancer treatment. This award isn’t just about speed, it’s about grit, brains, and refusing to quit when things get brutal.

RS Fest 2026 Heads West to San Francisco Bay (4 min read)
RS Fest is officially going west, and it’s bringing the party to San Francisco Bay. Richmond Yacht Club will host RS Fest 2026 over Labor Day weekend, with classic Bay breeze, big tides, and four stacked classes on the line. Expect Aero dominance, packed youth fleets in Tera and Feva, plus RS21 keelboats mixing it up. Add clinics, socials, and sailors flying in from everywhere, and this one’s shaping up to be the biggest RS Fest yet.

2026 IRC European Championship Notice of Race Now Live (3 min read)
The Notice of Race is out, and the 2026 IRC Europeans are shaping up to be a big one. Hosted by the International Paint Poole Regatta, racing runs May 22–25 across Poole and Bournemouth Bays with up to 150 IRC boats expected. Five race areas, top-tier race management, and proper championship conditions are all locked in. Add a Southern Area Championship and a two-handed class, and Poole is about to be very busy indeed.

Spotlight

Speeder from Lake Garda Wants His Riva Back (4 min read)
Four years after a deadly night-time crash on Lake Garda, the owner of the vintage Riva Aquarama that killed two people wants his boat returned. An Italian court jailed both men involved and ordered the Riva permanently confiscated, but the owner now claims it’s basically a wreck. Families of the victims are furious, calling it a “death boat” that should never float again. The case is closed legally, but emotionally, it’s anything but.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

The ClubSwan 28 just picked up Sailing World’s 2025 Boat of the Year, and it’s easy to see why. It’s the smallest Swan ever built, but it punches way above its weight with proper one-design pace, slick handling, and zero fluff. Designed by Juan Kouyoumdjian, it’s all about tight racing and big fun without the big-boat hassle. Expect to see these everywhere, from Swan Cups to growing US fleets very soon.