Courtois claims sixth straight world title

Pauline Courtois (FRA) overcame across a range of conditions to win the 2026 World Sailing Women’s Match Racing World Championship on October 1-4 in San Francisco, CA.

Courtois and crew Maëlenn Lemaitre, Louise Acker and Laurane Mettraux, representing France’s Club de Voile Saint-Aubin Elbeuf, battled 11 teams in J/22s to win a historic sixth consecutive world-championship title. Courtois and crew won 19 of the 20 matches that they sailed.

While big breeze, strong tides, and churning currents often define San Francisco Bay sailing, the AP flags were hanging limply for three out of the four mornings. Host St. Francis Yacht Club worked hard to maximize racing opportunities once the breeze filled in each day.

“The Round Robin phase was lengthy with a 12-team fleet, but the progression after that was clear, competitive and ultimately produced a deserving champion,” said Felix Weidling, StFYC’s Race Director.

“The depth of talent at this event was remarkable. There were no easy races and no clear gaps in performance. Every team arrived extremely well prepared, highly professional and ready to compete at the highest level.”

The regatta’s multi-stage format began with 12 teams competing in the Round Robin on Thursday and Friday, followed by the eight-strong Quarterfinals and a separate stage on Saturday that determined positions five through eight of the regatta’s overall standings, with the top four advancing to match-point Semifinal matches, which concluded on Sunday.

“We had 20 knots on the first day, so the sailors got the big breeze that they signed up for, and they’ve also had these tactical lighter conditions,” said Becky Ashburn, the regatta’s Course Race Officer. “I think anyone who could sail tactically and well, and who could overcome the current and figure that out to keep winning—day after day—is certainly a winner.”

In Sunday’s match-point Semifinals, skipper Nicole Breault’s Vela Racing team (USA; Molly Carapiet, Hailey Thompson and Molly Vandemoer), representing StFYC, ultimately beat skipper Julia Aartsen (NED) and her team Out of the Box (Nerine Usman, Eva Asbeek Brusse and Ismene Usman), representing the Royal Netherlands Yacht Club.

In the other bracket, Courtois (FRA) and her Match in Pink by Normandy Elite Team beat skipper Lucie Gout (FRA) and her L4C Racing Team (Flavie Foucher, Clarisse Baissac and Lomane Valade), who were representing France’s APCC Voile Sportive.

This created a Petit Final that pitted Aartsen’s Out of the Box against Gout’s L4C Racing Team.

“We sailed our best event so far, so it’s really great,” said Aartsen. While she described her third-place finish as the best result of her career, Aartsen was clear that her crew enabled this great result. “They helped me stay focused,” she said. “They did everything that they could do right, and that resulted in third place. Without them, I was nothing.”

The Grand Final saw Breault’s Vela Racing line up on their hometown waters against Courtois’ Match in Pink by Normandy Elite team, defending their five consecutive world championship titles.

Wind conditions might have been lighter than usual, but the Bay’s tides and currents were still major factors.

While one of Vela Racing’s mottos is “We Go to War,” Courtois’ Match in Pink by Normandy Elite Team proved by the Grand Final that they, too, had mastered the Bay’s fluvial tricks.

Final score: Courtois 3, Breault 0.

“They fight as hard as ever in every single race they sail,” said Breault of Courtois and company. “They don’t ever let down. I applaud them: They are world champions and they’re showing it every year.”

This might have been Match in Pink by Normandy Elite Team’s sixth consecutive world-championship win, but Courtois said the team had to fight hard for every point.

“It was a really tight final; the score doesn’t reflect how tight it was,” said Courtois. “We are really happy to win against Nicole and Team Vela. It’s always a tight battle, and it was really fun.”

As for the secret to their success, Courtois pointed to old-fashioned speed.

“My team did an amazing job keeping the boat going fast all the time, which I think was a big key for us to win the match, because when you are faster, it’s easier,” said Courtois. “I think that’s a really big part of match racing, and it’s a big team job.”

While falling to 8th in the knock-out rounds, local skipper Lindsey Baab (USA) was recognized for their first-place performance in the regatta’s opening Round Robin series.

The 2027 World Sailing Women’s Match Racing World Championship will be hosted by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron on Novemeber 22-26 in Auckland, New Zealand.

Event details – Results

Source: World Sailing