J/70 fleet racing at the SAILING Champions League © SCL / Sailing Energy 2026
The SAILING Champions League Qualifier Istanbul 2027 is part of the international club competition of the National Sailing Leagues. Hosted within the Eker Olympos Regatta, it brings together the clubs ranked second and third in their National Sailing League, competing for a place in the SAILING Champions League Final 2027.
Event Facts
| Dates |
13 to 15 August 2027 |
| Venue |
Istanbul, Türkiye |
| Host event |
Eker Olympos Regatta |
| Boat |
J/70 |
| Participants |
Clubs ranked second and third in their National Sailing League from season 2026, plus one or two wildcards |
| Qualification for |
SAILING Champions League Final 2027 |
The Format
The SAILING Champions League is raced in the league format, which brings the structure of club competitions known from other team sports to sailing. At its centre are the clubs, not individual sailors. Each club is represented by a team of its most accomplished sailors.
Racing takes place on short, standardised courses in one-design J/70s provided by the organiser. Equal equipment puts the focus entirely on the performance of the crew and the club behind it. The aim is a competition that clubs, sailors, media and fans can identify with.
The Pathway
League sailing began in 2013 with the German Sailing League. In 2014, Denmark followed as the next nation, and in the same year the SAILING Champions League was founded to connect the National Sailing Leagues in one international competition. Today, National Sailing Leagues are raced in 23 nations, and the number continues to grow.
Within this system, the national season leads to the international stage. National champions qualify directly for the Final, the championship of the national champions. The clubs ranked second and third compete in the Qualifiers, together with a limited number of wildcards. Places are earned through national league racing.
The pathway reaches beyond Europe. The SAILING Champions League Asia Pacific and the US Sailing League run their own qualification events, and their best clubs join the European teams at the Final. One season, one Final, one title: the best sailing club of the year.
