November’s World Sailing Show celebrates a season of excellence at the World Sailing Awards

With an impressive lineup of Olympians, champions and innovators in attendance, it was an emotional evening for all of the winners and nominees and the World Sailing Show was there to capture all of the incredible achievements. Read more about the World Sailing Awards here.

• Singapore crowns this year’s winners at the 2024 World Sailing Awards 
• Team Emirates New Zealand retains the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup 
• 23,400 miles of ocean await as the Vendee Globe fleet departs from Les Sables d’Olonne 
• RS Venture Connect World Championships chart a new course for inclusive sailing 
• SailGP returns for Season 5 with new teams, new venues and plenty of intrigue 
• The Rolex Middle Sea Race arrives in Malta for a two-day, 606 nautical mile island race 

The World Sailing Show then heads to Barcelona to recap a history-making America’s Cup match for Team Emirates New Zealand. Despite a spirited comeback from INEOS Britannia, the Kiwis put in a series of epic performances to seal an unprecedented hat-trick of victories in the foiling era. 

In sailing the action never stops, and on 10 November a huge crowd gathered at Les Sables d’Olonne in France to witness the start of the Vendee Globe, the ultimate non-stop unassisted round the world race. The IMOCAs left the harbour with many colourfully dressed for the occasion. The race will see 40 skippers embark upon a three-month journey where they will pass the three legendary capes and cover 23,400 miles of open ocean. The World Sailing Show hears from some of the skippers and the medical staff who will be assisting them along the way.  

The World Sailing Show then heads to Rutland in the United Kingdom for the Para Sailing World Championship and Inclusive Sailing World Championship, held together for the first time at the RS Venture Connect World Championship. Elliott Finnestrand and Nilas Goa Diab of Norway finished first overall to take the Inclusion gold while defending champions Ange Margaron and Olivier Ducruix of France retained their title in the Para category, but sailing as a sport was the winner as it proved this format can succeed and bring the sport together. 

SailGP is back for Season 5 with new teams, new venues and several line-up changes. This season sees the debut of Team Mubadala Brazil which will be driven by the first female driver Martine Grael and added Andy Maloney from Australia, while Ruggero Tita joins Red Bull Italy alongside Kyle Langford who switches from New Zealand, and Giles Scott prepares to lead Team Canada. 

The World Sailing Show catches up with Francesca Clapcich on board Upwind by MER Concept, the high-performance racing program for female sailors competing in the 2024 Ocean Fifty series about what it takes to race a multihull in one of offshore sailing’s most competitive formats. 

Over 100 boats from 30 countries assembled for the 45th edition of Rolex Middle Sea Race in Valletta, including last year’s overall winner Bullet, for a 606 nautical mile circuit that was far from plain sailing. The calm after the storm saw the lead change multiple times right up until the final approach. 

There is also a roundup of all the action from the final round of the GWA Wingfoil and GKA Kite Surf World Cups, the penultimate event of the World Match Racing Tour – the Bermuda Cup, and a look ahead to Foiling Week Pensacola 2025.