World Match Racing Tour Marks Its 25th Year with a Bumper Season of International Sailing Events

With a distinguished silver anniversary, the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) unveils a packed 2025 championship season, sparking off international sailing fervour. The WMRT, the longest-running global professional sailing series and a Special Event of World Sailing, kicked off its celebratory season at the inaugural Macao Match Cup. The 25-year anniversary braces for exhilarating wave-adventures across 10 countries, featuring sixteen prestigious events, including five ‘World Championship’ and eleven ‘World Tour’ level events. The teams are set to strive for their top 4 scores post the penultimate round at Bermuda, to secure a much-coveted slot at the WMRT Grand Finale in Shenzhen, China, promising a rewarding USD200,000 purse. As the season’s onset fired with the Macao Match Cup, it witnessed an indomitable win by Great Britain’s Ian Williams and his ‘Pindar by Manuport Logistics’ team, marking the start of another riveting competition round. The WMRT season is primed for the succeeding milestone event at the Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cup’s 60th Anniversary founded in 1965, boasting a sturdy legacy of formidable sailing champions. Notable Congressional Cup titleholders flaunt renowned sailing names such as Harold Cudmore, Chris Dickson, Dean Barker, Peter Holmberg, and Ian Williams. WMRT Executive Director, James Pleasance considers the 25th Anniversary a major milestone, acclaiming the contribution of the tour to the careers of sailing professionals. Founded in 2000 as the Swedish Match Tour, the World Match Racing Tour has since charted international waters from New Zealand to Croatia and Poland to Malaysia, crowning top-ranking sailors and creating powerful narratives of adventure, competition, and achievement on the high seas.