The World Match Racing Tour will stage its Finals in Saudi Arabia for the first time this November, with AMAALA Yacht Club hosting a double-header that pairs the Women's World Match Racing Tour Final directly with the Open Tour Final for the first time.
Both events carry a $200,000 prize purse, the first time equal prize money has been offered across the open and women's world tours. It also makes the women's event the largest prize purse ever offered for an all-female sailing event.
AMAALA Yacht Club sits on Saudi Arabia's northwestern Red Sea coast, where organisers say pristine waters and reliable trade winds will provide exceptional racing conditions.
The Women's WMRT Final runs from Monday 2 November to Saturday 7 November, with the Open WMRT Final following from Monday 9 to Saturday 14 November. The winners of each event will be crowned 2026 Match Racing World Champions by World Sailing.
James Pleasance, Executive Director of the World Match Racing Tour, called it a milestone year for the circuit. "This is a milestone year for the World Match Racing Tour," he said. "Not only is it the first time both world match racing tours will be hosted together, but I am particularly proud of our shared vision and achievement with AMAALA in announcing the first-ever 100% equal prize money across the open and women's world tours."
Adrian Peet, General Manager of AMAALA Yacht Club, framed the Finals as evidence of the club's wider ambitions in the region. "Hosting the Finals is an important milestone for AMAALA Yacht Club," he said. "Not only does it demonstrate the club's commitment to the sport, but it is also evidence of our ambition to support the growth of sailing in the region and establish the Red Sea as the leading destination for yachting."
He added: "Bringing the Finals together for the first time makes the occasion even more significant. We look forward to welcoming the world's best match racers to AMAALA and showcasing everything this extraordinary destination has to offer."
Launched in 2022, the Women's World Match Racing Tour remains the only professional match racing series for women worldwide, and continues to be a key pathway for female sailors chasing world championship honours.
