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Sailing News for March 16, 2026

Sydney Harbour wrapped up the JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Worlds with a proper send as Yandoo secured a third straight title and Germany’s Black Knight finally grabbed a long-awaited race win in a breezy final showdown, while offshore in New Zealand the Elliott 50 Explore Racing dominated the Round North Island Two Handed Race by winning every leg of the four-stage circumnavigation. Olympic sailing turned the spotlight to Cádiz where Spain’s Pilar Lamadrid thrilled the home crowd and Brazil’s Mateus Isaac controlled the men’s final to claim the iQFOiL International Games titles after a week of full-throttle windfoil racing. Palma’s Olympic fleets wrapped their Mallorca warm-up regatta with standings locked after strong winds kept boats ashore, setting the stage for the massive Trofeo Princesa Sofia next week. Meanwhile in cruising news, three sailors survived a capsized catamaran more than 400 miles from Tahiti thanks to a distress beacon and a dramatic air and sea rescue, a reminder that preparation still matters when the ocean decides to test you.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

JJ Giltinan World Champs 2026 – Final Race (3 min read)
The Yandoo crew had already locked up the JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Worlds, but Race 9 still delivered fireworks on Sydney Harbour. Germany’s Black Knight finally grabbed a win after years of trying, holding off GC Sails in a breezy 15–18 knot northeaster with some seriously tidy crew work. The fleet blasted down the final run toward Clark Island under spinnaker in a full-speed send that looked more like a highlight reel than a regatta finish. Yandoo sealed the overall title for the third year running, while Black Knight walked away with a well-earned moment in the spotlight.

100 Women on the Water in the Tasmanian Women’s Keelboat Regatta (3 min read)
The River Derwent turned into a floating celebration as 100 women hit the water for the Tasmanian Women’s Keelboat Regatta during Bellerive Yacht Club’s centenary year. Some were seasoned sailors, others were trying their first regatta, but the vibe was simple: get out there and sail. Racing ran across Elliott 6s and two keelboat divisions, with Charlotte Armstrong taking the one-design win and Saga cleaning up the big-boat trophies. Light breezes, big smiles, and a lot of new sailors discovering they might actually like this whole sailing thing.

Explore Racing Sweeps Line Honours in the 2026 Doyle Sails Round North Island Two Handed Yacht Race (5 min read)
William Goodfellow and Jesse Turner absolutely dominated the 2026 Round North Island Two Handed Race aboard the Elliott 50 Explore Racing. The Kiwi duo didn’t just win overall line honours, they won every single leg of the four-stage circumnavigation. From a fast reach to Mangōnui to a brutal Tasman slog and a tactical finish in the Hauraki Gulf, the boat was quick everywhere. The closest challenge came from Motorboat III, but the Elliott 50 kept finding the right lanes when it mattered. Four legs, four wins, job done.

Olympic Class/Dinghy Sailing

2026 iQFOiL International Games – Champions Crowned on Thrilling Final Day in Cádiz (4 min read)
The iQFOiL International Games wrapped up in Cádiz with full-send foiling drama across senior and youth fleets. Spain’s Pilar Lamadrid thrilled the home crowd by winning the women’s title, while Brazil’s Mateus Isaac controlled the men’s final to take the top spot ahead of two Americans. Youth fleets delivered plenty of chaos too, with comeback stories, gear breakages, and tight medal races shaping the podiums. Five days, 16 races, and a stacked international field made Cádiz a proper showcase of how wild Olympic windfoiling racing has become.

Top 10 Tips for Happy Helms and Fast Boats (4 min read)
Want your dinghy to go faster? Step one: keep the helm happy. Two experienced 2000 Class sailors share ten surprisingly honest crewing tips, from hiking harder than you think is necessary to mastering the fine art of clear, short communication. The big takeaway is that great crews stay proactive, adaptable, and tuned into their helm’s personality as much as the wind shifts. Oh, and if things go sideways mid-race, just call “SUMO” – shut up, move on, and sail the next leg better.

Mallorca Sailing Centre Regatta – Olympic Class Final Results (3 min read)
Palma Bay brought the breeze on the final day of the Mallorca Sailing Centre Regatta, but a little too much of it. Strong winds kept the entire Olympic fleet ashore, locking in the standings from the previous day across a 300-boat fleet representing 41 nations. Winners included Maria Erdi in ILCA 6, Dimitri Peroni in ILCA 7, Argentina’s Majdalani and Bosco in the Nacra 17, and Nevin Snow with Ian MacDiarmid in the 49er. The warm-up is now over as Mallorca gears up for the massive Trofeo Princesa Sofia regatta next week.

Youth Sailing/Development

Youth Sail TAS 2026 Brings Young Sailors Together on the Derwent (3 min read)
More than 90 young sailors rolled into Hobart for Youth Sail TAS 2026, turning the Derwent into a floating classroom for a long weekend of coaching, racing, and general sailing chaos. Mornings were all about learning, afternoons about putting those lessons to the test in six shifty, light-wind races. The Green Fleet kids even practiced capsizing mid-river and jumped aboard a keelboat for something new. Throw in a talk from Nacra 17 Olympian Rhiannan Brown and a brand-new Spirit of S.A.I.L.I.N.G. award, and it’s safe to say the next generation is doing just fine.

Cruising

Catamaran Capsized in Polynesia, Three Sailors Survive in the Middle of the Pacific (4 min read)
Three sailors had a very long night after their 44-foot catamaran flipped more than 400 miles from Tahiti. Two clung to the overturned hull while the third sat in a failing liferaft until a French military Falcon jet found them and dropped survival gear. With helicopters out of range, a merchant ship was diverted and guided in by the aircraft after a 13-hour run across the Pacific. The crew were finally pulled aboard the next morning, bruised but alive, proving once again that a working distress beacon can literally save your life.

Tech & Gear

Make a Boat Step From Salvaged Wood and Rope (4 min read)
Getting from a low pontoon onto your boat shouldn’t require Olympic-level flexibility. One sailor built a simple DIY step using scrap plywood and spare rope for about £10, and honestly it’s a pretty clever little fix. Drill four holes, run the ropes diagonally underneath for strength, splice the ends, and you’ve got a sturdy platform that hangs off the side of the boat. Add a couple of plastic chair feet to protect the hull and you’re done. Cheap, practical, and way less awkward than scrambling aboard.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

The iQFOiL International Games in Cádiz wrapped up with six winners across senior and youth fleets after a week of full-send foiling battles. Spain’s Pilar Lamadrid thrilled the home crowd by taking the senior women’s title, while Brazil’s Mateus Isaac dominated the senior men’s final ahead of two Americans. Youth races brought the drama too, with tactical jibe-set moves, comeback runs, and a few chaotic starts deciding the podiums. By the end of the medal series, Cádiz had delivered exactly what windfoil fans want: fast boards, tight finals, and plenty of spray.