USA 1 from California are the 2026 Team Racing World Champions after defeating USA 2 from Massachusetts 3–0 in Sunday’s final on Riddarfjärden. Great Britain claimed bronze after beating New Zealand 2–0, bringing four days of intense racing in Stockholm to a close.
A delighted Alex Curtiss stepped ashore to loud applause after USA 1 secured the world title. The final was sailed as a best-of-five, but USA 1 needed only three races to claim the championship.
“It feels really good. We’re all such great friends and have such amazing support from Newport Harbor Yacht Club. We’re so honoured to represent the United States,” said Curtiss.
He was also quick to praise the host club and the unique setting in Stockholm.
“The regatta was incredible. To have 80-plus volunteers drop five days of their life to come and support us just makes us feel so much more special.”
Great Britain take bronze
Great Britain secured the bronze medal with a 2–0 victory over New Zealand in two highly competitive races filled with tactical manoeuvres and close situations.
“It was really tough. New Zealand are very good. There were so many changes during the races and it could have gone either way. But we managed to win both races close to the finish line,” said British team captain Scott Wallis.
The team comes from the prestigious Royal Thames Yacht Club in London, but none of the sailors had previously competed at a Team Racing World Championship. The bronze medal is therefore the first World Championship medal for this team.
Arthur Henderson, helmsman of the second British boat, was especially pleased to see nations from around the world competing in Stockholm.
“Now I hope even more nations will get involved in team racing.”
220 races in four days
The final day was sailed in stable westerly to north-westerly winds, although the strength varied throughout the day. In total, the championship produced 220 races, an extraordinary logistical achievement for a four-day World Championship.
For Steven Wolff, World Sailing’s delegate and event controller, the scale and atmosphere of the championship were among its defining features.
“It’s been a champagne championship. The conditions were amazing, the venue is amazing, the city is amazing, the volunteers are amazing. We got 220 races in and we picked a world champion. What more could we ask for?”
But when asked what he would remember most, Wolff immediately pointed to the people behind the event.
“I think what I’ll remember most is all of the volunteers, all of the club members. So many people were involved, doing work still on the dock. I think it’s a real testament to the culture of team racing that so many people wanted to help.”
The location on Stockholm’s waterfront added another dimension.
“Being on the city front, having people cheering, that’s just wonderful.”
Praise for the organisers
The praise was echoed by sailors throughout the championship. USA 2 skipper Will Bailey described the event as one of the best-organised team racing competitions he had experienced.
“This has been one of the most well-run and best organised team racing events that we’ve ever been to, nationally or internationally.”
For GSYS project manager Magnus Myrenberg, the response has exceeded expectations.
“It has become so much better than I dared to hope.”
He points to the club’s members and their fearless “go for it” attitude, race officer Annika Ekman and the close cooperation with World Sailing’s Steven Wolff as key factors behind the success.
“Together with Steven Wolff, we have developed the project step by step into what it has become. And all the club’s volunteers have stepped up enormously, putting so much time and energy into this.”
The partnership with the City of Stockholm was another important part of the event.
“The city has supported us in ways we could never have imagined. They opened doors to everything from the ports to the traffic office, contributed to our sustainability work and hosted the regatta dinner in the Golden Hall at City Hall.”
Japan leave with a new ambition
For Japan, the championship ended with two victories on the final day, against Australia and Finland. The team climbed from 11th to 10th in the King of the Castle.
The result was not what the team had initially hoped for, but the experience proved valuable.
“We learned many things from other sailors and other countries. We improved a lot here in just four days, rather than practising in Japan.”
The team now hopes to continue developing its team racing and return to the world stage.
“We would like to continue the challenge for team racing on the big world stage.”
Denmark already looking ahead
For Denmark, the championship ended in the knockout rounds after seven victories but ultimately too many losses to progress further.
The team is already discussing a new Danish team racing project, with ambitions to attract more sailors to the discipline and potentially stage a major event in the centre of Aarhus.
Stockholm has provided plenty of inspiration, particularly the way sailing, spectators and city life have been brought together around the Race Village and waterfront.
A bigger future for team racing?
The championship also raised a bigger question: where does team racing go from here?
Event delegate Steven Wolff believes the discipline has a strong case for a future Olympic place.
“We’re certainly hopeful in the team racing world that we can find a way to get into the Olympics.”
One of the biggest changes in recent years has been the move towards two boats versus two, rather than the traditional three-versus-three or four-versus-four format.
“It’s a third less people. It’s easier to organise, there are fewer boats, and it’s also a little more exciting.”
The return of a World Championship after a gap of around a decade, and the participation of more than ten nations in both 2025 and 2026, are important steps in developing the discipline internationally.
After four days, 220 races and countless tactical battles, USA 1 are world champions and Stockholm has given team racing fresh momentum for the future.
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