Four Canadian sailing teams set to compete at the 2025 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 Worlds in Italy

by Sail Canada 2 Oct 11:04 PDT October 7-12, 2025

Antonia and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance in 49erFX © Sail Canada

A total of four Canadian teams will take part in the 2025 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championships, to be held October 7-12 in Cagliari, Italy.

The group of eight Canadians who will be competing includes Canadian Sailing Team members Antonia and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance in 49erFX, Arie Moffat and Will Jones as well as Thomas and William Staples in 49er, in addition to Galen Richardson and Madeline Gillis in Nacra 17.

A new competition format will also be tested ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games in order to better promote the sport.

"After spending 10 days on the water in the venue, we've seen just about every wind condition possible, so we know we need to be ready for anything," said Antonia and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance, who are currently first in World Sailing rankings in 49erFX.

"A new medal race format for the 2028 Olympics will be trailed at this event, bringing some excitement and unfamiliarity. Overall, the venue is spectacular, and we're excited to bring our best to the racing. We're proud to represent Canada at these World Championships and really appreciate everyone's support and for following along."

A new competition format

A new competition format will be tested and evaluated in Cagliari, aligned with recommendations from a World Sailing working group designed to meet the expectations of the International Olympic Committee and Olympic broadcasters by reducing complexity, improving clarity, and enhancing the sport's overall appeal to a global audience.

At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the competition schedule was comprised of a four-day qualifying series at a pace of three races per day. At the end of the qualifying series, the top 10 qualified for the medal race, which was held on day 5 and where the sailors' points from the qualifying series were carried over while points added on that day were doubled.

The new competition format to be tested in Italy for the 49er/49erFX events is as follows:

Five days of Opening Series

Three days of Qualifying Series:

a maximum of nine races through the three days of the Qualifying Series are scheduled for two or three fleets comprised of an approximately equal number of boats;
sailors will aim to be amongst the top 25 ranked boats at the end of the Qualifying Series to compete in the Gold Fleet in the Final Series and have a chance to be on the podium. Remaining boats will race in the Silver and Bronze Fleets.
worst score over the first 5 days to be excluded;
points will be carried over in the Final Series.

Two days of Final Series:

a maximum of seven races for the Gold Fleet, and eight apiece for the Silver and Bronze fleets, through the two days of the Final Series are scheduled;
sailors will aim to be amongst the top 20 ranked boats at the end of the Final Series to be able to compete in the Medal Series and have a chance to be on the podium;
worst score over the first 5 days to be excluded;
points will be carried over in the Gold umpired Race.

One day of Medal Series:

Gold umpired Race

the top 20 boats of the Gold Fleet, following the Final Series, will race in one Gold umpired Race; this is a first as usually, Gold Fleet racing is not umpired and teams have to protest at the end of the day and decisions are made by a jury on shore;
the top four boats following the Gold umpired Race, based on their cumulative scores of the Opening Series and Gold umpired Race, will take part in the 4-point Race. Before the 4-point Race, the boat that is ranked first shall receive 3 points, the second, 2 points, the third, 1 point, and the fourth shall receive no points.

4-point Race

The winner of the 4-point Race shall be awarded 4 points; no other boats shall score.
The Gold umpired Race and the 4-point Race scores are non-discardable.

For the Nacra 17 competition:

Five days of Opening Series

Two days of Qualifying Series:

a maximum of six races through the two days of the Qualifying Series are scheduled for one fleet;
the top 20 ranked boats at the end of the qualifying series make the Gold Fleet in the Final Series and have a chance to be on the podium. Remaining boats will race in the Silver fleet;
one worst score over the first 5 days to be excluded;
ranking will be carried over to the Final Series.

Three days of Final Series:

maximum of eight races scheduled through the three days of the Final Series for the Gold Fleet, and nine for the Silver fleet;
all boats from the Gold Fleet will qualify for the Medal Series;
qualifying ranking and Gold Fleet points will be carried over to the Gold umpired Race;
one worst score over the first 5 days to be excluded;

One day of Medal Series:

Gold umpired Race

all the boats in the Gold Fleet will race in one Gold umpired Race (this race is non-discardable) - this is a first as usually, Gold Fleet racing is not umpired and teams have to protest at the end of the day and decisions are made by a jury on shore;
the top four boats following the Gold umpired Race, based on their cumulative scores from the Qualifying and Final Series and the Gold umpired Race, will take part in the 4-point Race. Before the 4-point Race, the boat that is ranked first shall receive 3 points, the second, 2 points, the third, 1 point, and the fourth shall receive no points.

4-point Race

The winner of the 4-point Race shall be awarded 4 points; no other boats shall score.
The Gold umpired Race and the 4-point Race scores are non-discardable.

A total of 400 sailors and 200 boats are registered for the event, including 96 boats in 49er, 58 in 49erFX and 44 in Nacra 17.

Canadian sailors at the 2025 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championships

49er