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Sailing News for March 23, 2026

Tensions are rising in the America’s Cup world as Ineos takes legal action to reclaim the AC75 Britannia from Ben Ainslie’s new team, while the U.S. SailGP squad is building real momentum with improved communication and a settled lineup. Racing remains as competitive as ever, with the Figaro opening up to a stronger international field, Auckland’s Harbour Classic delivering tight, high-energy action, and the Round Ireland Race shaping into a wide-open contest. Match racing is heating up ahead of the Ficker Cup, while big ILCA fleets are already turning consistency into the deciding factor early in the season. Across all levels, from elite campaigns to local racing, the sport continues to evolve through rivalry, opportunity, and constant progression.

Sail GP/America’s Cup

Ineos takes legal steps to get boat off Ainslie (3 min read)
Things just got spicy in the British America’s Cup camp. Ineos is going legal to get its £180m AC75 Britannia back from Ben Ainslie’s new team, setting up a full-on ownership showdown ahead of the next Cup cycle. Ainslie’s side says the boat is theirs and already part of their AC38 plans, so don’t expect this to be settled quietly. From teammates chasing history to courtroom rivals, this split has officially turned into a proper heavyweight fight.

Catching up with SailGP’s Taylor Canfield (4 min read)
Fresh off a big win in Sydney, Taylor Canfield is feeling the momentum as the U.S. SailGP Team starts to look seriously dangerous. He breaks down how they’ve become a light-air weapon, why better communication onboard is quietly making a huge difference, and how a younger, all-American lineup is starting to click. There’s still a long season ahead, but this team finally feels like more than just potential. Also, yes, F50s are still insanely hard to sail, especially when everyone’s packed onto the same racecourse.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

The Nacra/NCA Queensland State Titles (2 min read)
Easter plans, sorted. The Nacra and NCA State Titles are heading to Lake Samsonvale with a stacked lineup of cats from 4.5s to F18s, and a big fleet already shaping up. Expect flat-water blasting, up to nine races, and just enough off-water chaos with pizza, BBQs, and maybe a trivia night if sailors behave. Cheap entry if you sign up early, plus sleepover options at the club if you’re going full regatta mode. Classic grassroots racing with a proper social twist.

International skippers bring new ambition to 2026 La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec (4 min read)
The Figaro is getting a serious shake-up, and the French dominance might finally be under pressure. Ireland’s Tom Dolan is back to defend his historic win, but now he’s got a growing pack of international talent chasing him, including Brits, Americans, and some very data-hungry newcomers. Think machine learning meets solo offshore suffering. With a new mid-season slot and a more global fleet, this edition feels less like a closed French proving ground and more like a full-on international battleground.

Skippers announced for 2026 Long Beach Yacht Club Ficker Cup (3 min read)
The Ficker Cup lineup is locked in, and it’s stacked with serious match racing talent. Local legend Scotty Dickson is back chasing redemption after 22 Congressional Cup attempts, while rising stars like Sweden’s Oscar Engström and Australia’s Tom Picot are ready to shake things up. With only two golden tickets to the Congressional Cup on the line, expect aggressive dial-ups and zero room for mistakes. This one’s shaping up as a proper mix of old-school experience and hungry new blood.

PIC Harbour Classic delivers tight racing and big fleet energy in Auckland (3 min read)
Auckland’s Harbour Classic is quickly turning into a mini Barcolana with Kiwi flavor, and this year’s edition brought the vibes. Light breeze built just enough to keep things interesting, with boats trading positions metres apart and plenty of banter flying across the fleet. Seaquesta took the overall win, but the real story was the mix of boats, close racing, and proper dock-to-dock atmosphere. Grassroots sailing at its best, with just enough edge to keep everyone honest.

Olympic Class/Dinghy Sailing

ILCA 2026 National Open Series – Round 2 at WPNSA (3 min read)
Big fleet, tight racing, and zero room for mistakes at WPNSA as 186 ILCA sailors went head-to-head in round two of the UK series. Sam Whaley took control of the ILCA 7s, while Toby Waggett backed up his round one win to stay red hot in the stacked ILCA 6 fleet. The ILCA 4s saw Thomas Semmens keep things clean with a low-score win. With another round coming up fast, this series is already turning into a proper consistency battle, not just a one-weekend shootout.

Tech & Gear

The Best Specialist Yachts 2026: Impressive daysailers and sportsboats (6 min read)
This year’s “specialist yachts” lineup is basically a playground for weird, wonderful, and wildly clever ideas. The standout Woy 26 proves wood can still look insanely cool and high-tech, while the Tortue 147 leans full mad-scientist catamaran with treehouse vibes and a floating cocktail lounge. There’s everything from recyclable race boats to trailerable cruisers you can rig in under an hour. It’s less about one winner and more about where boat design is heading, and honestly, it’s getting pretty interesting.

Mast unstepping while your boat is still afloat (5 min read)
No crane? No problem. This clever trick shows how to drop your mast using two neighboring boats as a DIY floating crane, as long as you’ve got calm water, solid rigs, and a bit of teamwork. It’s equal parts practical seamanship and slightly nerve-wracking geometry, with over 100kg swinging around on halyards. Done right, the whole thing only takes minutes, but the setup is everything. A great reminder that sailors will always find a way, especially when the yard says “no crane.”

RS CAT12 vs Hobie Wave: Real-World Test in Tasmanian Conditions (3 min read)
This is the kind of boat test you actually want to watch, two sailors, two beach cats, and zero fluff. The RS CAT12 and Hobie Wave go head-to-head in proper Tasmanian conditions, with everything from setup to speed put under the microscope. It’s not just specs either, they score both boats on the all-important “fun factor,” which honestly says more than any data sheet. Expect honest takes, a few laughs, and at least one moment where someone yells “yeehaaw.”

Sailing Highlight of the Day

Day two of the Maxi Regatta turned into full-throttle coastal racing in one of the best venues on the planet. Think 100-footers blasting around islands, constant sail changes, and crews working overtime just to keep up with the pace.