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Sailing League 2026 – Setting Course for the Future Together!
The Sailing League is kicking off the 2026 season – and we proudly look back on a year that elevated sailing in the USA to a whole new level.
2025 was a year full of passion, teamwork, and unforgettable moments on the water.
Looking Back at 2025 – Major Achievements and Strong Emotions
At the U.S. events, the teams from Richmond Yacht Club and San Francisco Yacht Club secured Wildcards for the SAILING Champions League Final in Kiel, Germany.
There, they competed side by side with the world’s best sailors and finished in 15th and 32nd place – a milestone for American sailing.
JUL 11 – JUL 13 2025 / © SCL / Sailing Energy
JUL 11 – JUL 13 2025 / © SCL / Sailing Energy
JUL 11 – JUL 13 2025 / © SCL / Sailing Energy
🔗 Event recap: SAILING Champions League Final 2025
Another highlight: The U.S. National Youth Triplehanded Championship for the Sears Cup, hosted by St. Francis YC.
The winning team from San Francisco YC earned a Wildcard for the Youth Champions League Final in Altea, Spain – and brought home the silver medal!
But the real prize? Lifelong friendships and memories that go far beyond the finish line.
NOV 07 – NOV 09 / © Sailing Energy / SCL
2nd place, Youth SAILING Champions League 2025
NOV 07 – NOV 09 / © Sailing Energy / SCL
🔗 Event recap: Youth SAILING Champions League Final 2025
Looking Ahead to 2026 – The Journey Continues
The new season is already underway!
We are very proud that the Sailing League format is gaining more and more popularity in the USA.
For 2026, we are looking for additional yacht clubs that would like to host an event, so that we can build a West Coast and East Coast conference similar to the NFL and then experience the “Superbowl” of sailing.
Confirmed Qualifier Events for the Sailing Champions League Final
Two regattas are confirmed as qualifiers for the Sailing Champions League Final in Rungsted, Denmark (October 2–4):
- West Coast: Sailing League San Francisco – May 30–31
A weekend full of action on the San Francisco Bay! The best teams from the West Coast will battle it out for a spot in the international final. The backdrop? Breathtaking. The atmosphere? Electric. Whoever wins here will make history!
Contact: Felix Weidling,
racedirector@stfyc.com, (415) 820 3710.
- East Coast: Eastport YC – September 26–27
Sailing against the historic backdrop of Annapolis – an event that combines tradition and top-level performance. The East Coast’s finest sailors will be on the starting line, and the tension is rising: Who will claim the ticket to Denmark?
Contact: Jeff Borland,
jborland@systematicsolutns.com, (410) 320 1843.
Mark your calendars and start preparing your team – the road to Rungsted begins here!
And that’s not all: Together with US Sailing, we’ve agreed that the winners of the 2026 Sears Cup will travel to the Youth Sailing Champions League Final in Oslo, Norway (September 4–6) – a dream come true for young sailors.
What is the core idea of league sailing?
The concept is simple and familiar: it’s club against club, similar to many other sports like football, baseball, or ice hockey.
This structure brings an exciting dynamic to sailing and fosters team spirit and club culture.
🔗 Video: The Core Idea of League Sailing
It’s simple: We are already familiar with it. It’s club against club like in many other sports as football, baseball or ice hockey. Learn more about the format of league sailing.
🔗 Video: What makes the sailing league format so special?
The unique structure and the opportunity to compete on an international level.
Call to all clubs
If you are interested in hosting a US Sailing League event in 2026, please get in touch with us.
Your support and participation are crucial to further expanding and establishing this exciting format.
About
Idea of West Coast and East Coast conference similar to the NFL and then experience the “Superbowl” of sailing.
WHO IS THE BEST INTERNATIONAL SAILING CLUB?
The most successful National Sailing League clubs compete against each other in four SAILING Champions League events. Each club forms a team from its most accomplished sailors. To win the title and the much sought-after trophy, the clubs have to perform under pressure and put in a world-class performance when it matters most. Short races, one-design boats, a standardised course and a competition between the most prestigious sailing clubs in the world – all these ingredients combine to guarantee sailing at its best.
YOUTH SAILING AND WOMEN’S SAILING CHAMPIONS LEAGUES
Following the exponential growth of the league format, the next obvious steps were to create special leagues for Youth and Women’s competition. So for the first time in 2018 we saw sailors competing in the Youth SAILING Champions League and Women’s SAILING Champions League. It’s all about making league sailing as accessible and attractive as possible to a wider group of sailors, as well as increasing the appeal to sponsors and commercial partners.
THE IDEA BEHIND SAILING CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
It’s a straightforward format that has been working well in football for years; now we have clear proof that it also works for sailing: An international club competition generating high levels of media interest and a competition that clubs, sailors and fans can all identify with.
The idea behind SAILING Champions League is simple: it’s the championship of the national champions. The most successful clubs of the National Sailing League countries are competing against each other to fight for the title: “Best Sailing Club of the Year”.