Iconic Sydney Harbour to host 2023 World Sailing Youth Match Racing World Championship

This will be the first time an Australian club will host the Youth Match Racing World Championship. Sydney joins Helsinki (FIN), Swinoujscie (POL), Moumea (FRA), Los Angeles (USA), Lago di Ledro (ITA), Yekaterinburg (RUS), Auckland (NZL) and Pornichet (FRA) as a host city for the event. 

David Graham, World Sailing CEO, said, “Sydney is an iconic venue where the harbour waterways always deliver exciting racing and it is excellent news that the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia will host the 2023 World Sailing Youth Match Racing World Championship. 

“Australian teams have won five of the nine Youth Match Racing World Championship titles to date, and serving as host nation in December will add another chapter to an already long and proud history in the event.” 

Up to 12 teams from across the globe will take part in the five-day event where they will compete onboard the CYCA’s fleet of Elliott 7m keelboats. Competition takes place over five rounds: a round robin, a repechage, Quarter finals, Semi finals and the Grand final, with a Petit final to determine third and fourth place. 

The Elliot 7m is an exciting, modern, dynamic, state-of-the-art 7 metre keelboat which combines high performance at all points of sail with controlled manoeuvrability and stability. Its One Design production allows sailing skill to shine, ensuring fair competition.   

The event will also mark a milestone moment for the CYCA as its Youth Sailing Academy celebrates its 30th anniversary season. The Academy is one of the world’s leading youth keel boat programs, with alumni going on to win the America’s Cup, Olympic medals and The Ocean Race amongst many other national and world titles. 

“We are absolutely delighted to host the best youth sailors in the world and welcome them to the CYCA in the summer of 2023. We are tremendously proud of our YSA which will celebrate its 30th anniversary during the event,” added Commodore Arthur Lane.  

The World Sailing Youth Match Racing World Championship is open to competitors who will be under the age of 23 on 31 December 2023. Crews consist of four or five members, and include at least one female and one male sailor, with a total weight limit of 350kg. 

The Notice of Race is available here, and the event brochure can be downloaded here. Eligible teams are encouraged to submit a request of invitation to their Member National Authority (MNA) by Friday 8 September 2023. Successful entrants will be notified by Friday 15 September 2023.