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Sailing News for January 08, 2026

NorthStar Canada head into SailGP 2026 with real momentum after podium consistency and a breakthrough win that put them firmly on the contender list. SailGP’s new long term training base with American Magic signals a more settled and professional league structure, while America’s Cup and SailGP politics continue to shift behind the scenes. Offshore and match racing delivered record runs, shock exits, and wide open finales.

Sail GP/America’s Cup

SailGP Team Guide: Everything You Need To Know About NorthStar Canada (5 min read)
NorthStar Canada quietly became one of SailGP’s most interesting teams in 2025. Led by Olympic gold medalist Giles Scott, they ripped off three straight podiums and grabbed their first-ever event win in Los Angeles. The season wasn’t spotless, with injuries and a mid-year dip, but a strong Abu Dhabi finish proved the pace is real. With fresh muscle added for 2026, Canada feels closer than ever to becoming a genuine title threat.

SailGP and American Magic unite to establish global league’s first long-term training base (4 min read)
SailGP just put down roots, and it’s a big move. From September 2026, teams will train at American Magic’s high-performance base in Pensacola, giving the league its first long-term, year-round training hub. Think shared facilities, consistent conditions, and fewer mad scrambles between race weekends. It’s a clear sign SailGP is growing up fast, and North America just became a serious center of gravity for foiling talent.

America’s Cup & SailGP: Several developments expected in coming weeks (5 min read)
The SailGP and America’s Cup rumor mill is officially paying off. A 14th SailGP team is imminent, likely a Hannah Mills-led project backed by Athena Racing and UAE money, while American Magic is circling investments and deepening its SailGP footprint in Pensacola. Athena has also locked in major private equity backing, loosening old ties and reshaping Cup politics. Add Youth and Women’s America’s Cup entries, and the next few weeks could seriously redraw the sailing power map.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

Last leg of the Mini Globe Race: Harris breaks records, Stitelmann still keeps the lead (6 min read)
The Mini Globe Race is on the home stretch, and it is delivering proper small-boat drama. Keri Harris sent it straight into the Agulhas Current and smashed the race record with a wild 217-mile day, surfing a 19-footer at full tilt. Renaud Stitelmann still leads overall, but only by days, not weeks. Add katabatic blasts, a torn mainsail rescue, and 6,000 miles left, and this thing is far from settled.

Shock upsets as World No. 3 and No. 4 exit WMRT Final in Shenzhen (5 min read)
Light winds turned giant-killers in Shenzhen, knocking out world No. 3 Johnie Berntsson and No. 4 Ian Garreta before the quarterfinals even began. A glassy 8–10 knots punished every small mistake and completely flipped the script at the WMRT Final. Defending champ Ian Williams cruised through, while Timothée Rossi quietly stole the spotlight with a comeback run. With two top seeds gone, this regatta just became anyone’s game.

Cruising

The ultimate sabbatical: The reality of raising a family on a yacht in Chile (8 min read)
This is family cruising turned all the way up to Patagonia. Five people, one 40-year-old Hallberg-Rassy, glaciers calving into fjords, kids sailing an Optimist in ice-filled waters, and parents constantly weighing risk versus wonder. It’s honest about the stress, the cold, and the paperwork, but also about whales, bonfires, snowball fights, and total freedom. Equal parts adventure log and reality check, it’s a reminder that “sabbatical” can mean sailing straight into the wild.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

Proper skiff chaos from Race 5 of the 2026 Australian 16ft Skiff Nationals at Belmont. Tight starts, boats sending it fully powered, and zero room for mistakes as crews fight every shift and gust. This is classic 16ft sailing: fast, unstable, and brutal if you get it wrong. Even without commentary, the speed and aggression say everything. If you like high-risk, high-reward dinghy racing, this one’s worth a click.