Match Racing Tours finish in Middle East

The 2026 finale for the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) and the Women’s World Match Racing Tour (WWMRT) will be hosted by AMAALA Yacht Club on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast. This multi-year agreement will mark the first time the WMRT has staged events in the Middle East.

Additionally, for the first time in the history of the Tours, prize money for the Open and Women’s finals will be equalized. “The equal prize money reflects the caliber of athletes competing across both Tours and the importance of developing meaningful pathways for the next generation of sailors and world champions,” said James Pleasance, Executive Director for both Tours.

In the lead-up to the 2026 Finale, the partnership will include WMRT developing a series of workshops and training programs at AMAALA, designed to support emerging sailors, umpires, race officials, and coaches. These initiatives will form part of AMAALA Yacht Club’s broader commitment to education, skills development, and the long-term growth of sailing in the region.

“This partnership is about much more than hosting a season finale,” notes Adrian Peet, General Manager of AMAALA Yacht Club. “It reflects our ambition to build an outstanding yachting establishment on the Red Sea — one that contributes to the global sailing calendar, develops talent, and delivers world-class competition in a responsible and sustainable way.”

AMAALA is also hosting the The Ocean Race 2027 finish.

The 2026 calendar for WMRT and WWMRT has not yet been released.

Details: Open Tour – Women’s Tour

Founded in 2000, the World Match Racing Tour promotes the sport of match racing around the world and is the longest running global professional series in the sport of sailing. The winner of the WMRT each year is crowned the Match Racing World Champion.

The Women’s World Match Racing Tour was launched in 2022 to continue the hugely successful legacy of the WIM Series (Women’s International Match Racing Series), which began in 2013 to provide a global match racing series for female sailors.

Source: WMRT