Most famous sailing catamaran races

Publication date: 17.12.2024

Modern catamaran sailing races are a spectacular sight for adrenaline seekers and thrill enthusiasts. Professional sailors compete in maneuvering skills while designers showcase cutting-edge engineering innovations. The prestige of these sailing competitions attracts wealthy sponsors, as participating teams spend hundreds of millions of dollars preparing for the cup battles.

The oldest regatta in the history of sailboat racing, the America's Cup, has been held since 1851, when Queen Victoria of England announced yacht races within the British fleet and carelessly invited foreign participants. Sailors from the former colony built the fastest boat for these competitions, pompously named it America, and humbled the former mistress of the seas, England. The coveted prize went to America and remained undefeated by other contenders for over 100 years.

Under current rules, any yacht club meeting the requirements of the America's Cup Deed of Gift can enter the competition for the trophy. The race involves two yachts—the current cup holder and the challenger. If there are multiple applicants, qualifying races are held among them. The location of the regatta and the class of participants are chosen by the defending champion. Typically, America's Cup races take place every three to five years.

Future contenders for the prestigious trophy establish the race regulations, specifying the competition venue, yacht type, and equipment. Then begins the battle of engineers. Entire teams of technologists seek innovative ideas and original solutions to maximize improvements within strict constraints. This is the main distinction of the America's Cup—it's a competition of shipbuilders, not just sailors. Creating, testing, and implementing bold ideas and cutting-edge technologies under extreme conditions is the motto of the America's Cup.

From the very beginning, the first races were won by a newly designed flat-hulled yacht with a sharp bow. Later, hull materials shifted to aluminum, lightweight fiberglass, and durable carbon fiber. Australian engineers helped their team break the hegemony of American technologists by introducing Kevlar sails and designing a special winged keel to alter the yacht's dynamics. The hydrofoil system allows speeds of up to 100 km/h. Yachts flying above the water with sleek silhouettes and enormous sails deliver incredible excitement to spectators of sailboat racing.

Modeled after the America's Cup, the International Catamaran Challenge Trophy was initially called the Little America's Cup.

In 1961, the British responded to American claims of having the fastest sailboat. Participants agreed on rules, defined catamaran specifications, and sailors from the Old World won the very first competition. The trophy remained in England for eight years.

During race preparations, sailboat designers actively applied their innovations. The revolutionary introduction of wing masts became a key focus in further catamaran testing. Australian shipbuilders conducted numerous training races among Class C yachts and earned their well-deserved award. The next step was developing combinations of wings and soft sails, with rivalry between Australia and America continuing for several years.

In the 2000s, the Little America's Cup owners and the Class C Catamaran Association created separate events. Joint competitions became a thing of the past, and current races now follow different directions.

The unofficial younger brother of American races - the Extreme Sailing Series offers the most spectacular urban catamaran competitions. Their main feature is the ability to watch the sailboats right from the shore, as the races take place in port waters. Each stage in the series is held in a new location, sometimes even on a different continent. Three times these stadium sailing competitions were held on the Neva River in St. Petersburg.

The organizers of Extreme 40 races turn them into a real adrenaline rush for spectators - a sparkling show of high-speed maneuvers and extreme situations. All teams compete on completely identical vessels under equal conditions, where maneuvering skills and catamaran handling at short distances come to the fore. The start and finish happen right in front of the audience, with frequent contact battles and vessel collisions. There's no time for mistakes, but fatal accidents happen often. The results of these sailing competitions are almost always unpredictable.

Typically, 8 to 14 races are scheduled per day, with short 10-12 minute durations allowing sailors to demonstrate their professionalism and skill in windy and rough conditions. The teams include champions and world-famous racers, with the competition rules requiring one of the five crew members to be either an amateur, a woman, or a participant under 25 years old.

The entire competition setup is designed to maximize public attention. Races are broadcast in real time on websites and large monitors with live commentary on distance, speed and other parameters. On special guest days, anyone can board a boat and participate in a race with world-class stars.

The Extreme 40 sailing catamarans incorporate numerous innovations to achieve maximum speeds. Their dynamic movement, original design and ease of handling leave no spectator indifferent. The crew's quick reactions, virtuoso maneuvering, and coordinated teamwork in constantly changing conditions require high skill while adding intrigue and unpredictability to race outcomes. The proximity of catamarans to spectators, fast overtakes, risky tilts and incredible turns provide complete immersion in the racing process. Adrenaline and emotions are present both for competitors on board and guests in the stands.

Sports publications and TV channels cover these catamaran races as a bright event in extreme sports. The attention from professionals and enthusiasts of other active sports worldwide expands opportunities for developing sailing competitions at Extreme Sailing Series venues.