12 US Teams to Compete at Combined 49er, 49erFX, and Nacra 17 Worlds

Cagliari ahead of the combined 49er, 49erFX, and Nacra 17 Worlds © US Sailing

Twelve US teams - four Nacra 17, five 49er and three 49erFX - have landed in Cagliari, Italy for the combined world championship taking place October 7-12.

Crystal clear waters, fantastic wind, and warm temperatures set the scene for one of the largest events on the Olympic fleet's calendar. 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.

Representing the US:

Nacra 17
Stephan Baker / Sophie Fisher (US Sailing ODP)
Kay Brunsvold / Cooper Delbridge (US Sailing ODP)
Carson Crain / Lindsay Gimple
Mika Sternberg / Josh Goldberg

49er
Andrew Mollerus / Trevor Bornarth (US Sailing Team)
Nicolas Muller / Duncan Williford (US Sailing ODP)
Liam Walz / Abie Griggs (US Sailing ODP)
Nevin Snow / Ian MacDiarmid
Jordan Janov / Grant Janov

49er FX
Lilly Myers / Maddie Hawkins (US Sailing ODP)
Kelly Cole / Ellie Glenn (US Sailing ODP)
Paris Henken / Helena Scutt, 2016 Olympians

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.

• 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.

• 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.

How to follow

Daily Tracking:
Follow every tack and gybe with live race tracking here.

Livestream Coverage:
Tune in for the Final Series and Medal Series from October 10-12, featuring full livestream coverage with the same acclaimed ALVAA Media crew that brought you the 2024 Worlds in Lanzarote. Expect epic drone footage, on-water cameras, detailed graphics, and live stats from the racecourse. Watch on the 49er YouTube.

Results & Highlights:

• 49er Results
• 49erFX Results
• Nacra 17 Results
• Daily Highlights on YouTube and LIVESTREAM