Please select your home edition
Edition
Cyclops 2022 November Load Pin LEADERBOARD

Quest for Olympic Virtual Sailing glory to begin on 17 March 2023

by World Sailing 1 Mar 04:03 PST 17 March - 5 May 2023
Olympic Virtual Sailing © World Sailing

World Sailing and Virtual Regatta have joined forces once again to offer players from around the world the opportunity to test themselves against the best and become an Olympic Esports Series winner as part of the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Olympic Esports Series 2023.

Competition in the Olympic Esports Series 2023 will take place over two categories. A 30-day Offshore endurance race around the world and and an Inshore competition featuring multiple classes including the Nacra 17, 49er, ILCA.

The offshore category will tour the world's virtual oceans as players sailing the Ultime, one of the sport's fastest classes, race around the world starting and finishing in Singapore, where the Olympic Esports Series finals will take place.

Registration for this category opens Wednesday 1 March and participants can sign up here. The race itself will take place from Friday 31 March until Tuesday 2 May.

The action for the inshore category begins on 17 March 2023 with the first of eight qualifiers. The top player from each of the qualifier finals will advance to the live finals, held during the Olympic Esports Week in Singapore. They will be joined by the top male player and top female player with the highest ranking throughout the qualifiers.

The live final will be held from Thursday 22 June until Sunday 25 June as part of the inaugural Olympic Esports Week at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre where the top 3 players from the offshore category will be awarded with their trophies.

Sailing joins eight sports already confirmed for the event. The live final will feature archery (Tic Tac Bow), Baseball (WBSC eBASEBALLâ„¢: POWER PROS), Chess (Chess.com), Cycling (Zwift), Dance (JustDance), Tennis (Tennis Clash), Taekwondo (Virtual Taekwondo) and Motorsport (Gran Turismo).

World Sailing Commercial Director, Scott Over, said, "The growth in popularity of esailing over the past five years has been incredible, as shown with the success of the previous series ahead of Tokyo 2020 that attracted over 250,000 players from 100 countries. Virtual Regatta is the most popular sailing game in the world with more than one million players per year.

"We are looking forward to seeing the fierce competition for places over the coming months as players race to book their spot in Singapore and the chance to compete live in front of fans for the prestigious title of Olympic Esports Series winner."

Virtual Regatta founder, Philippe Guigné said, "This is the second time Virtual Regatta has featured following the inaugural series in 2021. We are really proud to represent sailing in esports alongside some amazing publishers and international sports federations.

"The OES is a key component on the esailing calendar and with the introduction of the live event in Singapore, it's going to be an amazing showcase of competition and community."

Olympic Esports Series inshore qualification events:

  • OES Qualifier 1: Friday 17 March - Monday 20 March
  • OES Qualifier 2: Thursday 23 March - Sunday 26 March
  • OES Qualifier 3: Wednesday 29 March - Saturday 1 April
  • OES Qualifier 4: Saturday 8 April - Tuesday 11 April
  • OES Qualifier 5: Friday 14 April - Monday 17 April
  • OES Qualifier 6: Friday 21 April - Monday 24 April
  • OES Qualifier 7: Friday 28 April - Monday 1 May
  • OES Qualifier 8: Friday 5 May - Monday 8 May

The live final in Singapore will be available to watch worldwide through olympics.com and social media channels.

Related Articles

World Sailing statement on the Ukraine situation
Regarding Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials Following the Mid-Year Meeting of the World Sailing Council, the World Sailing Board has met to consider the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in response to guidance for International Federations from the IOC. Posted on 23 May
World Sailing Show goes behind the scenes
At SailGP season 3 finale, then talk to Rolex World Sailors of the Year May's World Sailing Show focuses on Tom Slingsby's Team Australia in San Francisco as SailGP season three honours are decided. Posted on 22 May
Steering the Course festival opens
Sailing clubs around the world unite to shape pathways for women World Sailing kicked off the third edition of its global women's sailing festival, Steering the Course, with clubs around the world showing the full range of opportunities for women in the sport. Posted on 19 May
Training courses for women - Registrations opened
For women's coaching, officiating and instructor clinics World Sailing is inviting MNAs, Events, Class Associations and Sailing Clubs to register for training courses designed to broaden the skills of women in sailing as part of this year's Steering the Course global women's sailing festival. Posted on 20 Apr
World Sailing issues statement
Regarding individual Russian or Belarusian athletes and support personnel World Sailing welcomes the new guidance from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board, recommending the Conditions of Participation for individual athletes and support personnel with a Russian or Belarusian passport. Posted on 14 Apr
World Sailing appoints Para World Sailing Manager
Hannah Stodel will oversee the promotion and development of Para Sailing World Sailing has appointed four-time British Paralympian Hannah Stodel as the new Para World Sailing Manager. Hannah will oversee the promotion and development of Para Sailing with the objective of achieving reinstatement to the Paralympic Games. Posted on 27 Mar
Greenboats wins World Sailing Sustainability Award
Friedrich J. Deimann received the bespoke trophy from the Sail Africa Youth Development Foundation German boatbuilders Greenboats has received the World Sailing 11th Hour Racing Sustainability Award in recognition for their game-changing design that has been proven to lower emissions and increase the lifespan of high-performance racing yachts. Posted on 27 Feb
World Sailing's first development program in Sudan
With support from the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Olympic Solidarity fund World Sailing has taken another step forward in its goal to grow sailing in Africa with the delivery of its first ever sailing development programme in Sudan with support from the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Olympic Solidarity fund. Posted on 17 Feb
World Sailing's Steering the Course 2023
Aiming to shape a pathway for women within the sport World Sailing has announced that the 2023 edition of its annual women's sailing festival, Steering the Course, will aim to introduce female sailors to the sport by highlighting the many different pathways and careers available in sailing. Posted on 14 Feb
Sailing not included in Paralympic Games for LA28
David Graham, "...an extremely disappointing day for our whole sport" World Sailing has vowed to continue supporting Para Sailing worldwide following the news that the sport will not be included in the Paralympic Games for LA28. Posted on 30 Jan
Selden 2020 - FOOTERVisit Pensacola 2023 FOOTERDoyle Sails 2020 - By Sailors For Sailors 728x90 BOTTOM