News
CLICK HERE FOR 2026 GRANT INFORMATION AND FORM
2026 U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship
Requests for invitation are now live! This premier national event brings together top women match racers to compete head-to-head in true match racing conditions, showcasing skill, strategy, and leadership on the water.
If you’re ready to test yourself against the best and be part of women’s match racing history in the U.S., this is your sign.
Host: Bayview Yacht Club
Dates: September 24 - 27, 2026
Boat: Ultimate 20s
View the Notice of Race & event details here
2026 U.S. Match Racing Championship
Seven qualifier events across the country will send top teams to the national stage to compete for the Prince of Wales Bowl.
Host: San Diego Yacht Club
Dates: October 15 - 18, 2026
Boat: J/22s
Spots are limited so line up and join the fun!
-
April 18–19 – Oakcliff Sailing, Oyster Bay, NY
-
May 16–17 – Eastport Yacht Club, Annapolis, MD
-
June 6–7 – St. Francis Yacht Club, San Francisco, CA
-
June 13–14 – San Diego Yacht Club, San Diego, CA
-
June 20–21 – Chicago Yacht Club, Chicago, IL
-
June 27-28 – Corinthian Yacht Club, Marblehead, MA
-
June 27-28 – Bayview Yacht Club, Detroit, MI
Donate to the Match Racing Fund
Interested in supporting the future of match racing in the United States? Consider donating to the David Storrs Match Racing Fund here.
Calendars and Racing Resources
Click on the links below:
2026 North American Match Racing Calendar
World Sailing Match Racing Calendar
Are you organizing or competing in a match racing event? Make sure your event is properly graded!
Grading is critical for sailors, umpires and race officials! By grading your event, it helps skippers gather "ranking points" under the World Sailing rankings that can be found here." Ranking points help teams move up the rankings leaderboard. The higher in the leaderboard they are, the better events they get accepted into and the more they learn. It also helps umpires and race officials build their resumes to help conduct events elsewhere in fleet racing, team racing, and match racing. Grading is good for everyone.
Grading Form Guidelines: All organizers must complete and submit a Match Racing Grading Form as outlined in the Match Racing Event and Grading Guidelines (World Sailing).
Submit Grading Form or Ask Questions: To submit your grading form, assistance determining your event grade, or clarification on procedures, contact the U.S. Match Racing Grading Secretary at: usmrgrading@gmail.com.
If you need help with anything match racing related, here is the list of people who can help: North American Match Racing Contact List.January 5, 2026
Top Ten List As of January 1, 2026
Below is a ranking of U.S. match racers based on their most recent World Sailing ranking.
Women's Rankings (12 of the skippers are in the top 50 world-wide; World rankings are among Women)
Open Rankings (9 of the skippers are in the top 50 world-wide)
Youth Rankings (8 of the skippers are in the top 50 world-wide)
Note: the Youth Rankings are based on results at events for sailors under the age of 23.
The Dial Up - the free North American match racing e-newsletter
Click here to receive The Dial Up and to read archived editions. The Dial Up is a FREE e-newsletter covering all things Match Racing in North America. The e-newsletter features:
- a master calendar of match racing regattas and clinics in North America
- promotion of upcoming major events
- regatta results
- coaching tips
- links to cool videos and websites
The Racing Rules for Match Racing (Appendix C)
- 2025-2028 RRS changes in Appendix C, Match Racing
- Match Racing Rules Dave Perry ppt (revised August 22, 2016)
- A Different Game by Dave Perry (revised March 1)
- To watch Dave Perry’s explanation of the Match Racing rules on YouTube, click here
North U Welcome to Match Racing 101 and Match Racing Master Class Series
In the Spring of 2020, Dave Perry led two free match racing series hosted by North U and supported by the generosity of the David Storrs family. One was a four session series called Welcome to Match Racing 101, which explained what match racing was and how each aspect worked (Prestart, Upwind & Downwind legs, Marks and Penalty System). The other was a nine session series called Match Racing Master Class, which was an advanced in-depth discussion of the rules, tactics and strategies of the four major aspects of the discipline.
200 sailors and race officials from 15 countries participated in the Welcome to Match Racing 101 series; and 250 sailors and race officials from 14 countries participated in the Master Class series.
The recordings from each session, along with the combined Chat Room transcripts of each session, are located at the link below. You are welcome to share this link with other sailors, race officials and race organizers who may be interested in learning more about match racing.
Welcome to Match Racing 101 Class Session Topics...
session 1 - Match Racing Tactics & Strategies – the Prestart
session 2 - Match Racing Tactics & Strategies – Upwind & Downwind Legs
session 3 - Match Racing Tactics & Strategies – Mark Roundings
session 4 - Match Racing Tactics & Strategies – Penalty Killing
Match Racing Master Class Session Topics...
session 1 – Rules & Tactics in the Prestart
session 2 - Rules & Tactics on the Beats & Windward Mark
session 3 - Rules & Tactics on the Runs & Leeward Mark/Finish
session 4 - Best Strategies & Tactics for the Prestart
session 5 - Best Strategies & Tactics for the Beats & Windward Mark
session 6 - Best Strategies & Tactics for the Runs & Leeward Mark/Finish
session 7 – Rules & Tactics in the Penalty System
session 8 - Best Strategies & Tactics in the Penalty System
North U Match Racing 101 and Master Class Series recordings and transcripts:
North U Match Racing Series Recordings
"A compressed file of the North U Match Racing Master Class Series recordings and transcripts"
North U Match Racing Playbook by Dave Perry
The North U Match Racing Playbook by Dave Perry, updated for the current rules, is now available for free online, thanks to the generosity of the David Storrs family and the support for match racing from North U. The Playbook contains six chapters that explain match racing tactics from the Prestart through the Penalty Killing System. In addition, the Playbook contains seven pages of drills for one and two boats, and a page of match racing resources.
To read the North U Match Racing Playbook:
https://northu.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/MatchRacingPlaybook.pdf
If you would like a paperback edition of the North U Match Racing Playbook:
Match Racing Committee
Racing Promotion
Running A race
- Hosting/Running a Match Race
- Pairing Sheet program
- How to Use the Pairing Sheet program
- Running Efficient Match Racing Events by Donald Wilson
- World Sailing Race Management Manual (see Section T for Match Racing)
- Match Racing Timer Worksheet
- Standard Match Racing Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions
- Event Grading
Racing tips
General
Coaching
- North U Match Racing Playbook
- Prestart Do’s and Don’t’s
- Communication Chart for 3
- Communication Chart for 4
- Match Racing Quiz – Green Circle
- Match Racing Quiz - Green Circle Answers
- Match Racing Quiz – Black Diamond
- Match Racing Quiz - Black Diamond Answers
- Tactics at Gates
- Winning the Left on the Starting Line
- Final Minute
- Womens International Match Racing Association (WIMRA)
- Downwind Jail by Dave Perry
