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Sailing News for April 23, 2026

The season is building momentum across the board, from busy start lines in the UK J/70 Grand Slam where top teams are already trading blows, to Sail Port Stephens delivering one of its best editions yet with tight racing and a mix of polished race boats and classic underdogs taking silverware. Foiling grabbed the spotlight with British U18 sailor Toby Smith casually resetting the WASZP speed record at 31 knots after spotting a gust and sending it, a reminder of just how fast the next generation is getting. Behind the scenes, World Sailing is investing in the people who make racing happen, rolling out global training programs to strengthen race management from grassroots to elite level. Across competitive fleets, high-speed foiling, and the systems that support it all, sailing is hitting that early-season stride where everything starts to click, and the pace only goes one way from here.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

Ready to roll: J/70 UK Grand Slam Series begins (3 min read)
The UK J/70 fleet is back, and it’s go time. Over 20 boats are lining up off the Hamble and Cowes to kick off a seven-event Grand Slam, with a mix of seasoned hitters and fresh faces jumping in. Defending champs Calypso and rivals like Jelvis and DSP are already circling each other, so expect zero warm-up laps. There’s also new race tech in play with Vakaros Racesense promising slicker starts and less downtime. Early season, but it’s already shaping up spicy.

Sail Port Stephens: Passage series declared ‘best ever’ (4 min read)
Five days, big fleet, and near-perfect conditions wrapped up what many are calling the best Sail Port Stephens yet. Jambo played it smart to lock in Division 1, while standout wins across the divisions came down to consistency, local knowledge, and not breaking stuff at the wrong time. There’s everything from polished race machines to a $5K restored classic taking silverware, which tells you the vibe. Tight racing, strong breeze to finish, and just enough chaos to keep it interesting. Safe to say, everyone’s already booking next year.

Youth Sailing/Development

World Sailing opens global race official training push for 2026 (4 min read)
Not all heroes are on the helm. World Sailing just dropped its 2026 training lineup, and it’s a full-on global tour for race officials looking to level up. From Japan to Michigan to Argentina, the pathway to international status is wide open, but spots are tight and demand is high. There’s also a big push at the grassroots level, with clinics and national training aimed at growing the next wave of volunteers. Less chaos on the water starts with better people running the show, and this is how they get there.

Foiling

New WASZP speed record set at 31.0 knots (3 min read)
Casual post-race sail turns into a 31-knot heater. British U18 sailor Toby Smith just reset the WASZP speed record after spotting a gust and sending it in 35 knots like it was nothing. No special setup, no grand plan, just a well-timed jibe and full commitment. Even better, he thinks there’s more in the tank, throwing out 34 knots as the next target. Youth foiling isn’t just coming up fast, it’s already properly quick.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

Flat water, tropical vibes, and a Hobie Tiger F18 ready to stretch its legs. This timelapse out of Kaneohe Bay shows a clean launch and smooth sailing with just enough breeze to keep things interesting. It’s not survival mode, more like dialed-in cruising with flashes of speed when the puffs roll through. Shot on a 360 cam, you get that full “on the boat” feel without getting wet. Easy watch, and honestly, kind of makes you want to go sailing immediately.