James Mayo, Paul Cayard, and Ben Lamb have written themselves into Etchells sailing history, claiming the 2026 Etchells World Championship off San Diego aboard Magpie AUS 1526 with a race-nine victory. The win hands Mayo a third consecutive world title in the class, a feat not accomplished in over 40 years.
Magpie completed the regatta on 56 points. Scott Kaufman and Rogue USA 1519 took second on 73 points, while John Sommi's Encore USA 1529, the 2023 World Champion, completed the podium in third on 80 points.
Racing on the final day was held up for nearly two hours while cloud cover burned off and a steady breeze filled in. When conditions allowed, the fleet got under way in around 10 knots of wind. Those on the water described what followed as quintessential San Diego sailing, a combination that made for a challenging yet thrilling final contest.
Most competitors favoured the left side of the starting line before spreading across the full course. Canada's Luke Lawrence was first to the windward mark, steering Cruel Jane CAN 1531 to the front of the fleet. Magpie pressed hard in pursuit, steadily closing the gap after passing through the gate and moving clear of the Canadians by the second windward mark. The downwind leg stayed tight, but Magpie and its decorated crew crossed the finish line first to confirm the championship.
Cayard, the current Rolex Yachtsman of the Year, reflected on a regatta he had entered having spent just 20 days ever sailing an Etchells. "I stepped into a very good team," he said. "A lot of great teams were here, so it is an honor to win and have my name on the same trophy as some of my idols like Dennis Conner and Vince Brun." Asked whether Etchells racing would feature in his future, his answer was direct: "for sure."
Lamb, a two-time previous Worlds winner, spoke with evident pride about the team's closing run. "The last five races we could not have sailed any better. I'm so proud of how the team pulled together, just attacked the race course the whole time," he said. "This is probably the hardest Etchells Worlds I've ever done. Just to be mixing it up with the countless Olympians, America's Cup winners, and World Champions feels good, but to win is just incredible."
For Mayo, the victory carried weight well beyond the scoreboard. "This has honestly been a very challenging six months for our team. At the end of the day you have to trust the people around you and the pieces of the puzzle come together," he said. "This is a dream come true, it's very emotional. Together everyone achieves magic." On whether he would chase a fourth consecutive title, Mayo kept his answer simple: "I think Hong Kong would be a wonderful place to sail."
A prize-giving ceremony is scheduled for this evening on the deck of the San Diego Yacht Club Clubhouse. Full results, a summary of the week's racing, and details on the 2027 Etchells Worlds in Hong Kong are due to be released tomorrow.
