Historic first as SSL goes live at the SEA Games with Asia's top sailors
by Star Sailors League 14 Dec 2025 04:18 PST
15-18 December 2025
SSL 33rd Southeast Asian Games 2025 © Martina Orsini
For the first time, Star Sailors League racing will be broadcast live at the SEA Games. Nation against nation, top elite sailors will race under their national flags.
With racing set to begin tomorrow, the stage is ready for one of the most significant moments in Asian sailing. A historic dimension adds further weight to this edition, with Her Majesty Queen Suthida of Thailand sailing alongside SSL Team Thailand.
Day 0 at the SEA Games sailing venue has been all about preparation, pride, and presence. Crews have completed registration, official weight-ins, and photo sessions, while national anthems echoed across the venue. Anticipation built on the water during the afternoon under a hot breeze, as teams stepped into the spotlight for final training sessions ahead of racing, which begins on 15 December.
The SEA Games bring together 11 nations, more than 12 700 athletes, and over one billion people across participating countries. With 574 gold medals contested across all sports, this is the largest multi-sport event in the region. Sailing now takes its place on this stage through the Star Sailors League, competing in the official keelboat class. Often described as the Football World Cup in sailing, the SSL format places national teams at the center and puts athletes in the global spotlight.
Training day and final preparations on the water
Training sessions took place on the water today as teams fine-tuned roles and communication. All teams had the opportunity to train for one week in November prior to the Games. For many sailors transitioning from successful dinghy careers to this larger keelboat format, this marked their first experience onboard the SSL 47. Final preparations today were intense and highly focused.
Malaysia's Khairunnisa Afendy, known as Nissa, returns to elite competition after a 12-year break. "I've done a lot of physical training for the games," she said. "We have only had one session on the water before this, but we know our roles now. This boat is very different from the 470. It is challenging and fun."
On Team Myanmar, Captain Sithu leads a squad that only began its campaign a few months ago, arriving motivated and ready to compete. Tactician Su Myat Soe embraced the team format. "In dinghy sailing, you do everything yourself," she explained. "Here I can focus fully on tactics. The rest of the team takes care of the boat, and I can enjoy the racing more."
Swiss coach and commentator Yann Dorsett, who has worked with Star Sailors League for a decade, sees something special ahead. "The quality of athletes here is on the same level as Olympic sailors," he said. "This is a huge stage for visibility. I expect tight margins from the first start and racing that will be decided in the final meters of the final race."
As Nissa added ahead of racing, "If we win the race, I want to share to the world that age does not matter. Just keep doing what you love and pursue your dreams."
Tomorrow, those dreams hit the start line as nations race for pride, visibility, and glory at the SEA Games.
Sustainability at the core of the event
Following leading global initiatives including Clean Regattas, World Sailing's Sustainability Agenda 2030, and the IOC Sustainability Strategy, sustainability is embedded across the SEA Games sailing venue. Recycling bins are placed throughout the site, water refill stations encourage the use of reusable bottles, and a plastic-free policy is enforced across catering and operations.
How and where to follow the racing
Join us from 15-18 December 2025 as Asia's top sailors race for pride and glory, pushing beyond limits in the ultimate test of courage and skill at the SEA Games sailing competition.