2026 Santa Maria Cup

USA’s Team BAAM, skippered by Allie Blecher, successfully defended their Santa Maria Cup title on June 3-6 in Annapolis, MD. Blecher defeated Sweden’s Anna Östling and the Wings Sailing Team 3-1 in a dramatic final to win the second stage of the 2026 Women’s World Match Racing Tour.

Ten teams raced J/22s in a double round robin format which advanced the top four to vie for the title. Blecher, sailing with crew Beka Schiff, Katja Sertl, and Ali Blumenthal Stokes, won the qualifying stage.

Claiming third place overall was the Netherlands’ Julia Aartsen and Team Out of the Box, who defeated Sweden’s Martina Carlsson and the Beyond Racing Team 2-0 in the Petit Final to complete a highly successful Santa Maria Cup debut.

The final day of racing began with the completion of the semi-final stage. Blecher entered the morning holding a commanding 2-0 lead over Sweden’s Martina Carlsson and wasted little time securing her place in the final, winning the next race to complete a convincing 3-0 win over Carlsson.

In the second semi-final, Sweden’s Anna Östling and the Wings Sailing Team resumed racing with a 1-0 advantage over Dutch skipper Julia Aartsen. A former Santa Maria Cup champion, Östling drew on her experience to control the series, winning the next two matches to advance to the final with a 3-0 match win.

With two of the most accomplished teams in women’s match racing set to face off, anticipation was high as Principal Race Officer Sandy Grosvenor launched the first-to-three-point championship final between Blecher and Östling.

The opening race immediately delivered drama. Östling was ruled over the start line early and was forced to fight back from behind, but Blecher controlled the race from the front to claim the first point of the series.

The Swedish team responded in style in race two. After a tightly contested match, Östling found an opportunity to pass and levelled the score at 1-1, setting up a pivotal third race.

That third encounter proved to be one of the most important races of the regatta. Östling led from the start and appeared in control, but a forced extra tack on the final upwind leg allowed Blecher to gain the inside advantage approaching the top mark. The American skipper seized the opportunity, overtaking the Swedish team and converting the lead into a crucial win to move ahead 2-1.

With the title within reach, Blecher and her crew produced one final composed performance. Aggressive pre-start tactics earned Team BAAM a penalty against Östling, forcing the Swedish team onto the defensive. Despite carrying the penalty, Östling managed to take the lead and worked to build enough separation to complete her penalty turn before the finish.

As the boats charged down the final leg, Östling launched a last-ditch attack near the finish line, attempting to force an error from the American crew. Blecher remained calm, avoiding the trap and crossing the line ahead to secure the race, the match and the 2026 Santa Maria Cup title.

“It’s amazing to win this event again,” said Blecher. “We kept our heads in the game and just kept plugging away, even when we were behind. This is the first time our team has sailed together since last year, so it makes the win even more special. It’s a spectacular event and we can’t wait to come back.”

For Julia Aartsen and Team Out of the Box, third place marked an impressive result in their first appearance at the Santa Maria Cup. The Dutch team defeated Martina Carlsson’s Beyond Racing Team 2-0 in the Petit Final to secure a podium finish and valuable championship points.

“We have loved being here in Annapolis this week,” said Aartsen. “It’s a fantastic venue, and the race organisation and hospitality have been world class. We’re very proud of our result and hope to be back again next year.”

The Women’s World Match Racing Tour now moves to Sweden for Stage 3 of the championship, the Nordea Women’s Trophy, taking place from June 29 to July 4 in Marstrand on Sweden’s west coast. One of the most iconic venues in match racing, Marstrand will once again bring together the world’s leading women’s match racing teams as the battle for the 2026 Women’s World Match racing Tour continues.

Event details – Results – Photos

2026 Schedule
Stage 1 – KDY Women’s Match Race, Copenhagen – May 7-10
Stage 2 – Santa Maria Cup, Annapolis USA – June 3-6
Stage 3 – Nordea Women’s Match Race, Marstrand, SWE – June 29-July 4
Stage 4 – Bermuda Women’s Match Race, Bermuda, – Oct 13-18
Stage 5 – WWMRT Final AMAALA, Saudi Arabia – Nov 10-14 (Provisional)

Details: womenswmrt.com

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) providing a global match racing series for female sailors. The name of the series was re-launched as the Women’s World Match Racing Tour with its continued mission to expand and strengthen global match racing and promote opportunities for competitive women’s sailing at every level. The Women’s World Match Racing Tour is the world’s first and only professional sailing series for women providing a valuable pathway for aspiring female world champions in the sport of sailing.

Source: WWMRT