Match Racing
A match race consists of two identical boats racing against each other. This is a one-on-one duel of strategy and tactics and the objective is simple - to cross the finish line first.
A match racing course is always a windward/leeward course and each race takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. A match race begins four minutes before the starting time when each boat must enter the starting area from opposite ends of the start line. As soon as they enter the starting area, they will engage in a pre-start battle as each one tries to gain an advantage over the other. They both try to cause the other boat to infringe a rule and so receive a penalty or to simply get the most advantageous position on the starting line for themselves so they are in control of the race.
Match racing is officiated by umpires on the water who follow the boats and make instant on-course decisions about whether a penalty is given. The umpire boat will use yellow and blue flags to indicate which boat has been given a penalty or a green flag if no penalty is given.
When a boat is penalised it must complete a full circle penalty turn. This can be done at any time during the race before the finish line. If one boat has a penalty and the other also gets one before the first has taken theirs then they are cancelled out. If a boat receives three penalties then it is disqualified.
Latest Events
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 WIM Series has been changed and re-launched as the Women’s World Match Racing Tour.
The WIM Series was launched in 2013 by Women’s International Match Racing Association (WIMRA) following the worldwide success of the introduction of women’s match racing in the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The mission of the WIM Series was to expand and strengthen global match racing and promote opportunities for competitive women’s sailing at every level.
Women’s Match Racing World Championship
Roll of Honour
| Year | City | Country | Boat | Crew | MNAs | Teams | Winner |
| 1998 | Dubai | United Arab Emirates | J/22 | 4 | Betsy Alison USA |
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| 1999 | Genoa | Italy | J/22 | 4 | 14 | 23 | Dorte O. Jensen DEN |
| 2000 | St. Petersburg, FL | USA | Sonar | 4 | 16 | 24 | Dorte O. Jensen DEN |
| 2001 | Lago di Ledro | Italy | J/22 | 4 | 8 | 17 | Dorte O. Jensen DEN |
| 2002 | Calpe | Spain | J/22 | 4 | 7 | 16 | Liz Bayliss USA |
| 2003 | Sundsvall | Sweden | J/80 | 4 | 6 | 12 | Malin Millbourn SWE |
| 2004 | Annapolis, MD | USA | J/22 | 4 | 7 | 16 | Sally Barkow USA |
| 2005 | Hamilton | Bermuda | J/24 | 5 | 7 | 12 | Sally Barkow USA |
| 2006 | Copenhagen | Denmark | DS 37 | 6 | 6 | 12 | Dorte O. Jensen DEN |
| 2007 | Saint-Quay-Portrieux | France | Beneteau First Class 8 | 4 | 9 | 12 | Claire Leroy FRA |
| 2008 | Auckland | New Zealand | Elliott 6 | 4 | 9 | 14 | Claire Leroy FRA |
| 2009 | Lysekil | Sweden | DS 37 | 6 | 7 | 12 | Nicky Souter AUS |
| 2010 | Newport, RI | USA | Sonar | 4 | 14 | 20 | Lucy MacGregor GBR |
| 2011 | Perth | Australia | Elliott 6m | 3 | 20 | 29 | Anna Tunnicliffe USA |
| 2012 | Gothenburg | Sweden | Elliott 6m | 3 | 12 | 16 | Silja Lehtinen FIN |
| 2013 | Busan | South Korea | K30 9m | 5 | 8 | 9 | Tamara Echegoyen SPA |
| 2014 | Cork | Ireland | J/80 | 4 | 8 | 13 | Anna Kjellberg SWE |
| 2015 | Middelfart | Denmark | Match 28 | 5 | 8 | 16 | Lotte Meldgaard DEN |
| 2016 | Sheboygan, WI | USA | Elliott 6m | 3 | 6 | 9 | Anna Oestling SWE |
| 2017 | Helsinki | Finland | J/80 | 5 | 7 | 14 | Lucy MacGregor GBR |
| 2018 | Ekaterinburg | Russia | Ricochet 747 | 4/5 | 6 | 11 | Lucy MacGregor GBR |
| 2019 | Lysekil | Sweden | Fareast 28R | 4/5/6 | 8 | 12 | Lucy MacGregor GBR |
| 2020 | No event | No event | – | – | – | – | No winner |
| 2021 | Cherbourg | France | J/80 | 4/5 | 5 | 8 | Pauline Courtois FRA |
| 2022 | Auckland | New Zealand | Elliott 7m | 4/5 | 6 | 14 | Pauline Courtois FRA |
| 2023 | Middelfart | Denmark | Blu26 | 4/5 | 6 | 11 | Pauline Courtois FRA |
| 2024 | Jeddah | Kingdom of Saudi Arabia | Fareast 28 | 4/5/6 | 4 | 6 | Pauline Courtois FRA |
| 2025 | Chicago | USA | Tom 28 | 4/5 | 7 | 12 | Pauline Courtois FRA |
Youth Match Racing World Championships
Roll of Honour
| Year | City | Country | Boat | Crew | MNA | Teams | Winner |
| 2014 | Helsinki | Finland | J/80 | 4 or 5 | 15 | Joachim Aschenbrenner DEN | |
| 2015 | Świnoujście | Poland | Tom 28 | 4 or 5 | 12 | Sam Gilmour AUS | |
| 2016 | Noumea | New Caledonia | Elliot 6 | 3 or 4 | 10 | Will Dargaville AUS | |
| 2017 | Newport Beach | USA | Gov.Cup 22 | 4 or 5 | 12 | Harry Price AUS | |
| 2018 | Lago di Ledro | Italy | J/22 | 3 or 4 | 12 | Ettore Botticini ITA | |
| 2019 | Ekaterinburg | Russia | Ricochet 747 | 4 or 5 | 12 | Tom Grimes AUS | |
| 2020 | Auckland | New Zealand | Elliot 7 | 4 or 5 | 8 | 12 | James Hodgson AUS |
| 2021 | Newport Beach | USA | Gov.Cup 22 | 4 | 5 | 9 | David Wood USA |
| 2022 | Pornichet | France | J/80 | 4 or 5 | 10 | 12 | Jeffrey Petersen USA |
| 2023 | Sydney | Australia | Elliot 7 | 4 or 5 | 9 | 12 | Ange Delerce FRA |
| 2024 | Jeddah | Kingdom of Saudi Arabia | Fareast 28 | 4 or 5 | 10 | 12 | Cole Tapper AUS |
| 2025 | Gdynia | Poland | RS21 | 4 or 5 | 11 | 16 | Marin Micoulot FRA |