World Sailing Keelboat World Championship coming in 2019

World Sailing Keelboat World Championship coming in 2019 © Tomas Moya / Sailing Energy / World Sailing

The inaugural Keelboat World Championship will take place in 2019 and the bid process for Host venues and an Equipment Supplier are now open.

World Sailing's Keelboat World Championship will be a mixed competition between nations raced in a one-design Keelboat. The Championship will be a unique event that will crown the best amongst the existing world champions in one-design keelboat boat sailing.

The Keelboat World Championship will be open to all Member National Authorities (MNAs), with a sole qualification requirement; being an existing one-design keelboat World Champion as recognised by World Sailing.

Multiple entries from an MNA will be permitted if a nation has more than one class world champion. The maximum entry quota for the event is 40 teams, and up to a maximum of 240 sailors, utilising 20 supplied boats.

"Keelboat racing represents 50% of our sport with younger and older sailors racing side by side all around the world, every week," commented World Sailing President Kim Andersen. "It is crucial that World Sailing embraces the entire sport and continues to develop pathways, and offer career opportunities to all.

"The Keelboat World Championship will feature multiple World Champions competing against each other on the same boats, where only sailing skills will be the measure of success. This will be a remarkable competition and will define who are the best keelboat racers in the world."

World Sailing are now inviting Host Cities and organisations to bid to host the 2019 and 2020 editions.

Click here for the Host Venue information for bidders.

All bids must be received by World Sailing by 23:59 (BST) on 14 July 2018. A decision by World Sailing's Board of Directors will be announced on 15 August 2018.

Alongside a Host Venue, World Sailing is also requesting proposals for equipment to be used at the 2019 and 2020 editions of the Keelboat World Championship.

A fleet of 20 identical keelboats will be available to charter each year for the World Championship. World Sailing is seeking an Equipment Supplier to provide keelboats that are challenging to sail by elite keelboat sailors, have visual appeal for media and spectators and are of consistent manufacture and one-design control with effective and guaranteed quality processes and tolerances.

Click here for Proposal of Equipment for the 2019 - 2020 World Sailing Keelboat World Championship.

The submission deadline is at 23:59 on 14 July 2018. An evaluation period will run from 15 July to 7 September 2018 with a final decision to be announced on 18 September 2018.

For further information, please contact Carlos De Beltran Gutierrez, Technical and Offshore Director on .