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24 hours of sailing news in 5 minutes.
Sailing News for January 13, 2026
SailGP Season Six kicks off in Perth with the Flying Roos setting the tone through speed, confidence, and a very on-brand Hollywood pep talk. Junior fleets sharpen at the Optimist Nationals, heavy weather delivers lessons at Starcross, and the World ARC fleet slips the dock lines for a 15-month lap of the globe. From foiling spectacle to grassroots racing, the season is fully in motion.
Sail GP/America’s Cup
BONDS Flying Roos kick off new SailGP season with briefing from co-owners Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds (3 min read)
SailGP season six starts in Perth and the BONDS Flying Roos are warming up with a very on-brand pep talk from Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds. The new video, made by Maximum Effort, leans hard into humor while quietly reminding everyone this team is seriously fast. Tom Slingsby loves the vibe, BONDS loves the exposure, and SailGP gets another pop culture crossover. Serious racing energy, delivered with jokes and comfy undies.
Olympic Class/Dinghy Sailing
Finals fleets locked in for Optimist National Championship in Hobart (4 min read)
The qualifying dust has settled in Hobart and the Optimist Nationals are officially in finals mode. Breezy Derwent conditions shook things up, but NSW’s Walter Heeley was untouchable, going three-from-three to lead the Gold Fleet. Tight battles are brewing behind him, with just a handful of points separating the chasers and plenty of fast kids ready to pounce. Gold, Silver, Intermediates and Green Fleet all locked in now. Three days to go, and it’s properly on.
GP14 World Championship 2026 at Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club – NoR published (2 min read)
The GP14 Worlds are officially on the calendar, with the Notice of Race now live for August 8 to 14, 2026 at Royal North of Ireland YC. Interest is already heating up with 74 pre-entries chasing a capped fleet of 100 boats. Expect tight one-design racing, classic GP14 tactics, and plenty of legendary Irish hospitality ashore. If you’re thinking Worlds, this one’s shaping up fast.
36th Starcross Steamer at Starcross Yacht Club (2 min read)
The Starcross Steamer lived up to its reputation with big breeze, big splashes, and plenty of carnage. What started as 80 entries turned into 23 very brave boats battling 22 to 25 knots in a shortened pursuit race. Capsizes were frequent, gear failures inevitable, and eventually the race was abandoned so rescue crews could mop things up. No official finish, but huge respect to everyone who sent it, swam it, and sailed it back in one piece.
Cruising
World ARC Fleet Begins 15-Month Circumnavigation (4 min read)
The World ARC 2026–27 fleet has officially cast off from Saint Lucia, kicking off a 15-month, 19-country lap of the planet. Fresh trades, big smiles, and years of planning finally turned into forward motion as the fleet headed for Panama. Families, doublehanders, and seasoned ocean roamers are all in the mix, bound by shared prep, nerves, and excitement. It’s not a race, but it is a serious commitment. Dreams launched, dock lines dropped, world officially getting smaller.
Sailing Highlight of the Day
The RORC Transatlantic Race delivered its best start in over a decade, with near-perfect trade winds and a jaw-dropping fleet charging west from Lanzarote. Superyachts, foiling multihulls, family crews, and two-handed teams all shared the same start line, then disappeared one by one over the horizon. Early scraps saw Baltic 111 Raven and Palanad 4 trading blows, while MOD70s Argo and Zoulou lit the fuse offshore. Three thousand miles to Antigua, and it’s already on.