The governing body has launched the process to select hosts for the Continental Olympic Qualifiers for the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Games, as well as the Last Chance Regatta, the final opportunity for sailors to secure Olympic qualification.
Candidacies are additionally invited for the 2027, 2028, and 2029 Youth Match Racing World Championship, as well as the Women's Match Racing World Championship, both following the same three-year cycle. World Sailing said the formal bid guidelines and technical requirements are now available online. "These events play a critical role in the global sailing calendar and the Olympic pathway," the governing body stated.
Ireland is playing its part in the LA quadrennial with next season's staging of the 2026 ILCA World Championships at Dun Laoghaire Harbour, a critical mid-cycle indicator.
The LA28 Olympic sailing events are scheduled to take place from July 16th to 28th, 2028, showcasing the sport across two iconic Southern California venues. Belmont Shore in Long Beach will host the board events, while the Port of Los Angeles will be the venue for the boat-based competitions.
The sailing programme begins with men's and women's kite on July 19th, 2028, followed by windsurfing on 20 July. Boat events open with dinghy, followed by mixed multihull and dinghy, with men's and women's skiff closing the competition on 28 July.
The events are structured to ensure gender equality in both athlete numbers and competition opportunities, building on the framework established for Paris 2024. In a move to maximise spectator engagement and broadcast coverage, the ten events will be staged consecutively.
Belmont Shore, which previously hosted sailing during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, will also serve as a hub for aquatics events, including open water swimming and coastal beach sprint rowing. Following the board events, sailors will move to the Port of Los Angeles for the boat-based competitions, set against the stunning Pacific coastline.
The LA28 Olympic Games run from July 14th - 30th, 2028, with sailing expected to be a highlight, demonstrating speed, skill, and strategy at the heart of Southern California's iconic maritime venues.
Saturday, December 20, 2025
Fifteen-Strong Squad Set for Orange Bowl Challenge
IslandStats.com
A total of 15 Bermuda sailors are preparing to fly the island’s flag at the 2025 Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta in Florida. The prestigious event, hosted by the Coral Reef Yacht Club in Miami, is the largest youth regatta in the United States and serves as a vital proving ground for the world's burgeoning sailing talent.
Bermuda’s contingent will be heavily represented in the massive Optimist Fleet, where 12 sailors are set to test their tactical skills against hundreds of international rivals. The squad includes Leo De Couto, Hudson Pitcher, Benjamin De Couto, Aaron Riker, Miguel Leite, and Ishmael Dill. They will be joined on the start line by Thomas McBain, James De Couto, Alfie Jansma, Rex Henagulph, Calypso Coulter, and Ethan Adelsberg.
While the main Optimist fleet battles for top honors, Thatcher Coulter will be the island's sole representative in the Green Fleet, a category specifically designed to provide high-level competitive experience for less seasoned sailors.
Bermuda will also have a presence in the high-performance ILCA classes. Sean Pedro is set to battle in the ILCA 4 fleet, while Miguel Power will compete in the more physically demanding ILCA 6 Division.
The regatta, which traditionally runs between Christmas and the New Year, offers these young athletes the chance to gain invaluable international experience as they navigate the challenging currents and competitive start lines of Biscayne Bay.
Sunday, December 14, 2025
Sebastian Kempe Hosts Elite Sailors in Bermuda
IslandStats.com
Bermuda's rising sailing star, Sebastian Kempe, is putting in intensive work on his home waters ahead of the 2026 season, but he is not training alone. Kempe is hosting a high-calibre training camp, welcoming elite international competitors to the island.
Kempe, who recently rounded off an excellent 2025 by finishing strong at the Vilamoura Grand Prix, is using the Bermudian climate and challenging conditions for his pre-season preparations.
He is being joined by two significant figures from the international sailing circuit: James Perceval-Cooke (UK): Perceval-Cooke sails for the highly regarded British Sailing Squad and is actively campaigning in the ILCA 7 class with his sights set firmly on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Juan Maegli (Guatemala): The trio is completed by the hugely experienced Juan Maegli, a five-time Olympian for Guatemala. Maegli's expertise and long career at the highest level provide invaluable mentorship for the younger sailors.
The trio is dedicating time to training in the wide range of weather conditions Bermuda has to offer, putting in the necessary hours and physical effort required at the elite level.
For Kempe, this intensive training camp is a crucial part of his path towards his own long-term goal of representing Bermuda at the Olympic Games. The opportunity to train alongside sailors with current Olympic-level campaigns, like Perceval-Cooke, and a five-time veteran like Maegli, offers a significant advantage as he refines his skills in the highly competitive ILCA 7 class.
Tuesday, December 09, 2025
Curtis & Tucker Crowned Winter Series Champions
IslandStats.com
The Comet Class Winter Series has concluded with all races taking place in the breezy St. George's Harbour, resulting in a decisive victory for the duo of Maxwell Curtis and his crew Wesley Tucker, who were crowned overall champions.
The partnership of Maxwell Curtis and Wesley Tucker proved to be the most consistent pairing over the series, finishing as champions with a low score of just 8 points. Their overall performance across the regattas sealed a convincing victory.
Dale Brangman and his crew, Tre’sure Nanette, secured the runner-up spot in the series. They finished second overall with a total of 20 points.
Rounding out the podium was the duo of Gladwin Lambert and his crew Gregory Proctor, who finished the series in third place with 25 points.
The successful conclusion of the Winter Series in St. George’s Harbour marks a competitive season for the Comet Class fleet.
Evans Returns to Offshore Racing in Cabbage Tree Challenge
IslandStats.com
Bermudian sailor Rockal Evans has successfully completed a challenging 172-nautical-mile race in the Cabbage Tree Island event, marking his return to offshore sailing after nearly a decade away.
Evans competed in the race as part of the crew aboard the TP52 yacht named Smuggler, where he served as mainsheet trim. The race presented a rigorous test of endurance and navigation, starting late in the afternoon and running overnight to finish the following day.
"I competed in this race on the weekend," Evans confirmed. "It was an overnight race starting at 5:00 in the afternoon and finishing the next day. My first time offshore sailing in about 9 years".
The Smuggler crew, with Evans contributing to the mainsheet trim, finished strongly in both the overall and divisional rankings finishing 34th overall and 14th in Division One.
Evans' successful return to offshore competition on the high-performance TP52 signals his continued engagement in high-level sailing.
