Sardinia RS Aero & OpenSkiff Team Race World Championship - Preview
by Elena Giolai 5 Nov 17:32 UTC
13-16 November 2025
Sardinia Team Race World Championship RS Aero © Elena Giolai
International youth sailing returns to centre stage in Cagliari for a unique double appointment: the Sardinia Team Race World Championship RS Aero & OpenSkiff, two consecutive weekends of team racing featuring young athletes in the Under 25 and Under 17 categories.
The event, supported by the Region of Sardinia - Department of Tourism and organized by the Lega Navale del Sulcisat the Società Canottieri Ichnusa with technical support from the Italian Sailing Federation, confirms the island's commitment to investing in sport, youth development, and the extension of the sailing season. Sardinia continues to establish itself as an ideal sailing destination well beyond summer, thanks to exceptional weather conditions: these days in Cagliari temperatures still exceed 23 degreesC, and the wind—as always—is a key player.
This championship stems from the innovative format introduced four years ago with the first European Team Racing Championship dedicated to the RS Aero 5 class for Under 25 sailors, who until then had no opportunities for this type of racing in dinghies other than the Optimist (ages 9-14). This year, the event evolves and doubles, becoming one major international showcase - the Sardinia Team Race World Championship RS Aero & OpenSkiff - spread across two long weekends, with spectacular team racing in the waters off Su Siccu, next to the Luna Rossa base and the Marina di Bonaria.
The first weekend will feature the RS Aero Under 25 fleet, with teams from Italy 1 and 2, Sweden, Monaco, Ukraine, Argentina, Romania, and Belgium 1 and 2. Each team is made up of one male and one female athlete, in a format that promotes gender balance, teamwork, and international exchange. From tomorrow, Thursday 6 November, teams will begin training sessions and boat preparation ahead of racing scheduled from Friday to Sunday, 9 November. Defending the title are Filippo Vincis and Alice Sussarello (LNI Sulcis - ITA 1), while rising star Andrea De Matteis (Nox Oceani Porto Rotondo) teams up with Lidia Farci (LNI Sulcis) for ITA 2.
The second weekend will be dedicated to the younger OpenSkiff (Under 17) fleet, the Italian Sailing Federation's youth class that has experienced extraordinary growth both internationally and in Italy in recent years, confirming its role as a talent incubator and training ground for the next generation of sailors. Once again, racing will follow the team racingformat - dynamic, tactical, and highly spectacular - ideal for engaging spectators and showcasing the strategic dimension of sailing in a short and adrenaline-filled format. Final team confirmations are under way, but Su Siccu and the Cagliari waterfront will once again provide a natural stage of exceptional beauty, making this event a highlight of the sporting calendar and showcasing the well-established organizational capabilities of the Lega Navale del Sulcis together with the Società Canottieri Ichnusa, which this year has successfully hosted five major youth sailing events.