The World Sailing Show
Published on January 23rd, 2025
The World Sailing Show delivers 30-minute episodes which feature news, profiles, and racing highlights from across the world of sailing.
January 2025 Show features:
• The latest from the 10th edition of the Vendée Globe
• Records tumble at the World Match Racing Tour Grand final in Shenzhen
• 104 yachts line up for the 79th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race
• GKA Kite World Tour comes to a thrilling conclusion in Qatar
• 14th ACO Musto Skiff World Championship decided in the final race
The January episode kicks off 2025 with the 10th edition of the round the world race where the fleet of 40 sailors, who set sail from France in November, head for home. Charlie Dalin was the first to reach Australia, while those further back were battling choppy seas in the Indian Ocean and making repairs when the weather allowed. Rounding Cape Horn, the fleet had the Atlantic in sight and the chance to make history.
Shenzhen, China hosted 12 skippers and their crews in the World Match Racing Tour Grand Final for six days of competition. After a tense round robin, the quarter-finals showed the strength of the fleet and the semi-finals showed the importance of experience, leading to a dramatic showdown in the final where a new record would be set.
The third and final round of the GKA Kite World Tour took place in Qatar in December where flat waters combined with strong winds delivered ideal conditions to crown the year’s champions. So it proved as Brazil’s Bruna Kajiya closed out a perfect season with a fifth Freestyle crown, Switzerland’s Maxime Chabloz won his first world title and 15 year old Finn Flügel secured his first world cup win.
The iconic Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race was the last major sailing event of 2024, 104 yachts taking part in the 79th edition of the offshore race. A challenging 628 nautical mile course lay ahead, and the promise of intense weather looked to suit the 100ft Maxis, but tragedy struck midway through the race leading to two sailors losing their lives in the conditions and 30 boats forced to retire.
Sydney also hosted one of the first events of 2025 as 40 sailors took part in the 14th ACO Musto Skiff World Championship. With the top two tied going into a final day showdown, it was always going to be a tight battle as the leaders jostled for position with the championship in the balance until the end of the final race.
Source: World Sailing