Top 5 sailing races in the world

The yachting industry is full of competitions - professional and amateur. The racing of boats first started in Holland before being introduced in England and America in the 17^th century. Since then, yacht clubs and marine institutions have organised all sorts of competitions for social and recreational purposes. Sailboat races come in a variety of different styles, such as single-handed, around the world, coastal and fleet racing.

Many people might want to attend one of these races, so Yachting Pages has put together a list of top 5 significant sailing races in the world:

1. Cowes Week

One of the oldest and largest annual sailing regattas of its kind in the world, Cowes Week is an iconic feature of the British sporting calendar. It takes place at Solent with 8,000 competitors, from world champion professionals to amateurs. It is also worth mentioning that Cowes Week has onshore events and parties. It is extremely famous for its iconic fireworks finale on the last day.

2. Volvo Ocean Race

Formally known as the Whitbread Round the World Race, the Volvo Ocean Race has taken place every three years since 1973. Starting in Europe in October, it’s known as the longest and the most challenging professional event worldwide as its duration is almost nine months and the competitors face strong weather conditions.

3. America’s Cup

The America’s Cup is one of the oldest international sailboat racing events, dating back to 1851. Its prestigious reputation attracts the top professional sailors, yacht designers and the majority of wealthy entrepreneurs and sponsors. The competition is not only focused on sailing skills but also on sail design.

4. Vendée Globe

The Vendée Globe is named after the Département of Vendée, France, where the race starts and ends. A single-handed, non-stop round the world race, it’s widely known as one of the most challenging and extreme sporting events. Its duration is more than three months and it takes places every four years. The Vendée Globe puts sailors under great amounts of pressure and it tests their ability to deal with various technical elements during challenging moments.

5. Barcolana

Barcolana is one of the largest and most popular regattas in the Mediterranean. Its first race was in 1969 and it takes place every year in the Gulf of Trieste, Italy. The race attracts thousands of participants with approximately 25,000 sailors and 250,000 spectators who can enjoy the race from plenty of stands in Trieste. The participating boats are divided into several categories depending on their LOA. The competition allows sailors as young as eight years old to participate, including kite surfers and windsurfers.

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