RNZYS to host 2027 World Sailing Youth & Women's Match Racing Worlds
by World Sailing 11 Sep 07:00 PDT
Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and Emirates Team New Zealand launch brand new Elliott 7 Fleet © James Somerset / Emirates Team New Zealand
World Sailing has announced that the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) in Auckland, New Zealand, has been selected to host the 2027 World Sailing Youth Match Racing World Championship and the 2027 World Sailing Women’s Match Racing World Championship, with the support of Auckland Council Events.
Bringing together the brightest rising stars and the world's elite female match racers, the dual pinnacle events are scheduled to take place back-to-back in November 2027 on Auckland’s iconic Waitemata Harbour.
The 2027 World Sailing Youth Match Racing World Championship will be held from 15-20 November 2027, and the 2027 World Sailing Women’s Match Racing World Championship follows from 22-26 November.
As the home of the America’s Cup and the world-renowned Emirates Team New Zealand Youth Training Programme, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron provides a fitting stage for two of World Sailing’s pinnacle match racing championships. The 2027 events will carry added significance as RNZYS celebrates the 40th anniversary of its Youth Training Programme, marking four decades of developing some of New Zealand’s finest sailing talent.
Ferran Muniesa, World Sailing’s Director of Events, said: "World Sailing is thrilled to bring the 2027 Youth and Women’s Match Racing World Championships to Auckland. Our excitement to bring these major match racing championships to Auckland, made even more poignant in the 40th year or the Youth Match Racing programme, underlines the strategic importance of developing youth and women’s pipelines, and confidence in the RNZYS's world-class hosting capabilities.
“By combining the Youth and Women's Match Racing World Championships into a premier racing window, World Sailing aims to foster immense collaboration and visibility for these high-adrenaline disciplines, offering spectators a showcase of intense, tactical, boat-on-boat duels.”
David Blakey, Commodore, Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, said: “To be entrusted with hosting not one, but two World Sailing World Championships is an enormous honour. It reflects the reputation the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron has built over many years as a leader in international match racing and youth development.”
“These championships align perfectly with our vision of creating pathways for sailors to reach the highest levels of the sport while inspiring the next generation. We look forward to welcoming competitors, officials and supporters from around the world to Auckland for what promises to be an unforgettable celebration of match racing.”
Mayor of Auckland Wayne Brown says the championships are a great fit for Auckland.
“Auckland is a sailing city, and the Waitemata Harbour is one of the best places in the world to showcase the sport.
“As a sailor and RNZYS member, I’m especially pleased to see these championships coming here. They’ll bring top international talent to Auckland, inspire the next generation, and reinforce our reputation as a world-class sailing destination.
“Auckland Council Events is proud to support these events, and we look forward to welcoming competitors and supporters in 2027.”
RNZYS Youth Training Programme graduate and youth match racing sailor Ethan Fong, currently ranked No. 2 in the world, represented New Zealand at the 2026 Youth Match Racing World Championship in Denmark and will remain age-eligible for the 2027 championship.
“Having raced the Youth Worlds in Denmark, it’s pretty cool knowing the next one will be here at home. Racing a World Championship on the Waitemata, on waters we know so well and in front of friends, family and everyone at the Squadron, would be pretty special. There’s obviously a lot of sailing and qualifying to happen before then but having the Youth Worlds here at RNZYS gives us something pretty big to aim for.”
New Zealand’s top-ranked female match racing skipper Megan Thomson, a former world No. 1 and currently ranked No. 6 in the World Sailing Women’s Match Racing Rankings, finished third when RNZYS last hosted the Women’s Match Racing World Championship in 2022.
“Having the Women’s Worlds here is a really exciting opportunity for female sailors coming through in New Zealand. They’ll get to see some of the best match racers in the world competing right here at home and see first-hand where the pathway can take them. Hopefully it gets more young women excited about match racing and gives those already involved something pretty special to aim for.”
Steve Armitage, Yachting New Zealand Chief Executive: "Hosting the 2027 World Sailing Youth and Women's Match Racing World Championships is a significant milestone for sailing in New Zealand. These championships reinforce New Zealand's reputation as a world-leading sailing nation and provide an outstanding opportunity to showcase our exceptional race management, volunteers, and sailing venues to an international audience. Yachting New Zealand is proud to support the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in delivering what will be a world-class event in Auckland."
The official Notice of Race (NoR), containing eligibility criteria, boat class specifications, entry deadlines, and full event schedules, will be formally issued in November. National Authorities and skippers are encouraged to visit the official World Sailing event portal for more information.
Website: sailing.org/events