ISAF Nations Cup for Match Racing

The Nations Cup, which was first introduced to the world in 1991, is based on a series of Regional Finals with the top crews meeting at a Grand Final. The aim of the event is to broaden the availability of match racing and provide international match racing competition for national authorities and sailors at reasonable cost, whilst acting as an incentive for national match racing programmes.

Held three times previously, the Nations Cup triggers a pyramid of events, with nations holding club and then national championships to select their teams to attend the Regional Qualifiers, which in turn lead to the Grand Final, where nations are pitted against each other, creating a sound, viable and appealing series of events.

Each Regional Final, which will have an open and women’s division, with entries limited to only one entry from each of the nations within that region eligible to participate, thus promoting a national event and ensuring that all nations have the opportunity to participate.

Regional Finals will be held over a maximum of four days, with one or two crews going through to the Nations Cup Grand Final. As in the past, the Regional Finals will offer the opportunity for match racing clinics prior to the event.