Sardinia Team Race World Championship OpenSkiff: In Cagliari, solo sailing becomes a true team sport

by Elena Giolai 13 Nov 2025 19:45 AEDT 13-16 November 2025

O'Pen Skiff Team Race World Championships © Elena Giolai

Under 17 sailors from 5 nations, 3-per-team format and spectacular racing ahead in Su Siccu.

In Cagliari, solo sailing becomes a true team sport

After the Sardinia Team Race World Championship for the RS Aero class - which delivered three days of spectacular battles in the team race format — Cagliari is now ready to host the second part of the event, dedicated to the OpenSkiff youth class, reserved for Under-17 sailors. Starting Thursday, teams will arrive from Italy (two teams qualified at the Italian Championship: Circolo Vela Arco and Lega Navale del Sulcis), Switzerland, France, Poland and Hungary, ready to compete inside the Su Siccu basin - a perfect natural stadium for team racing and easily visible from the Cagliari waterfront, with the chance, who knows, of spotting Luna Rossa heading out for training!

Racing format: 3 sailors per team, with at least one Under 13

Unlike last week's U25 RS Aero version (with two sailors per team), this time each team will race with three athletes, including at least one Under 13, to encourage growth, inclusion and generational transition within youth sailing. The 3 vs 3 team race format makes the competition even more dynamic and strategic: once again, finishing first is not enough — what counts is achieving the lowest total score among teammates. A format that teaches collaboration, quick decision-making, communication and mutual support: the core values of youth sailing.

O'Pen Skiff Team Race World Championships - photo © Elena Giolai

Programme

Thursday: team arrivals, boat preparation and optional practice on the racecourse. Friday morning: colour and bib assignment, official pairing list (the match-by-match schedule), and the start of racing, which will continue throughout the weekend.

An international laboratory of youth sailing

The event, organised by the Lega Navale Italiana - Sulcis Section in collaboration with Società Canottieri Ichnusa, the International OpenSkiff Class and the Italian Sailing Federation, is supported by the Tourism Department of the Sardinia Region, which continues to invest in sailing as a driver of sustainable sport tourism, thanks to mild weather conditions even in autumn. Sardinia once again confirms its role as a strategic platform for the training and development of young sailors, with an international format that aims to become a fixture in the calendar of European youth teams.

See you in Su Siccu

Cagliari is preparing to welcome another weekend of young sailors, tight maneuvers, tactical shifts and plenty of enthusiasm an extraordinary way to experience sailing as a true team sport, while being carried away by the energy of the new generation, who find in this "team game" both learning and great fun.

Note: Scoring combinations that guarantee a team win

In 3 vs 3 team racing, the team with the lowest total points wins.