Daily Sailing Debrief - February 12, 2026

Feb 12

Here is the comprehensive debrief of the latest news and results from the February 11–12, 2026 cycle, curated for your newsletter.

America’s Cup: The Road to Naples Begins

Cagliari Confirmed for First Preliminary Regatta The "Road to Naples 2027" officially kicks off in Cagliari, Sardinia, from May 21–24, 2026. This event marks the first time teams will go head-to-head in AC40s since the 37th Cup. Each team is permitted to field two boats: one for the primary crew and a second for a mix of Youth and Women sailors, emphasizing the new "multi-squad" structure for AC38. America's Cup Official
Taihoro Returns After Stealthy Midnight Transfer Emirates Team New Zealand’s AC75, Taihoro, has returned to its Auckland base following a clandestine midnight transfer across the Harbour Bridge. The boat has undergone a major refit to meet the new AC38 Technical Regulations, featuring a leaner deck layout and updated electronic and hydraulic control systems. Afloat
J Class Revival: Rainbow Returns to the Fold In a significant boost for heritage racing, the J Class yacht Rainbow has been purchased by Admiral's Cup winner Peter Harrison. This move, coupled with Louise Morton returning as the J Class Association lead, signals a resurgence of the class for the 2026 and 2027 seasons. Afloat

Germany SailGP Team Secures Blue Pool Capital Investment The German squad has closed a significant funding round, welcoming Blue Pool Capital and David Blitzer’s "Bolt" family office as minority shareholders. They join existing owners Thomas Riedel and Sebastian Vettel in a bid to scale the team’s technical capabilities ahead of the Auckland event. Afloat
Waitangi Weekend: Auckland Prepares for High-Stakes Showdown SailGP returns to the Waitematā Harbour this weekend. With home favorites "The Black Foils" looking to recover from their Perth damage, the league is bracing for a massive turnout at its largest-ever purpose-built race stadium. Live Sail Die

2026 World Sailing Youth Match Racing Selection US Sailing has released the official selection procedures for the 2026 Youth Match Racing World Championship in Denmark. Applications are open until March 15 for U.S. athletes looking to secure a spot on the international stage. US Sailing
Nagini Wins Back-to-Back Aramex Dubai to Muscat Titles The 33rd edition of the D2M race concluded with the Irish crew aboard the Farr 30 Nagini clinching the overall IRC victory for the second year in a row, narrowly beating the line-honors winner Heaven Can Wait on corrected time. EuroSail News

SW108 Kalantis Hits the Water in Cape Town Southern Wind has launched the third unit of the SW108 series, Kalantis. Featuring naval architecture by Farr Yacht Design and exterior styling by Nauta, the 35-meter yacht is designed as a "smart cruiser" optimized for shorthanded sailing and high performance. SuperYacht Times
Gitana 18: The "500 Sensor" Trimaran A deep dive into the new foiling Ultim trimaran Gitana 18 reveals it may be the smartest boat ever built. Equipped with over 500 sensors and custom autopilots designed by the Rothschild family's racing stable, the boat represents the future of autonomous foiling in the offshore space. Yachting World

RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show 2026 The show returns to Farnborough (Feb 21-22) with a focus on "smarter set-ups." Key highlights include the launch of the Harken ILCA boom vang system and the introduction of new 15mm Dynamic Blocks by Allen. RYA Official