Rio will host the Sailing World Cup with teams from 40 countries on the 2016 Olympic racecourses. Ten years after the Olympics, the SSL Gold Cup will bring together more than 20 Olympic medalists in Guanabara Bay from November 18 to December 13, Robert Scheidt will captain SSL Team Brazil.
From November 18 to December 13, 2026, Rio de Janeiro will host the “Sailing World Cup.” In the waters of Guanabara Bay, on the racecourses that hosted the sailing competitions at the 2016 Olympic Games, teams from 40 countries will compete in the second edition of the SSL Gold Cup. Ten years after the Olympics, the competition will put this iconic setting back at the heart of an international sailing event, bringing together more than 20 Olympic medalists, shore-based activities and opportunities for the public to experience the sport.
The details were presented by the Brazilian Sailing Confederation (CBVela), one of the event’s organizers, on Tuesday (October 6) at AXIA Marina da Glória, with sailors Robert Scheidt and Mario Tinoco in attendance.
A two-time Olympic champion and five-time Olympic medalist, Scheidt will skipper SSL Team Brazil as it takes on some of the sport’s leading names. Beyond the competition itself, the event aims to bring together athletes, fans, residents of Rio and tourists in a program centered around AXIA Marina da Glória.
The return to the Olympic racecourses connects the competition with the sporting legacy of Rio 2016 and creates a new opportunity to bring the public closer to sailing and Guanabara Bay. Organizers expect around 500 athletes to take part and estimate that the event will generate approximately 11,000 hotel nights in Rio. The presence of teams and visitors is also expected to benefit restaurants, transportation and tourism services, extending the event’s impact across the city’s economy.
“It’s a fantastic event that will bring together some of the biggest names in sailing to crown the best team in the world in Guanabara Bay. I would like to thank Eduardo Cavaliere and Sports Secretary Bruno Ramos for their support of such an important competition for the sport and for Rio de Janeiro. We want to leave a legacy for Brazilian sport and for the city, and we invite everyone to come and be part of this celebration at Marina da Glória,” says Robert Scheidt.
Equal boats, different talents and a collective challenge
Sailing features different boat classes, each with its own characteristics and demands. At the SSL Gold Cup, athletes with experience across these different classes come together to compete using the same equipment: all teams race identical SSL47 boats, approximately 14 meters long.
With the boats identical, the difference comes down to the crew. Team chemistry, reading the wind, strategy, and precision in maneuvers become decisive. The challenge is to turn individual talent into a team capable of working in unison: every decision and every movement on board can determine who crosses the finish line first.
The comparison with the FIFA World Cup helps explain the format. Athletes wear their countries’ colors, face other national teams in groups and progress through successive stages toward the final. On the water, fans follow a competition in which collective performance determines the result.
The qualification process involves more than 65 countries, with 40 teams earning a place in the final stage in Rio. Before the main competition, the city will also host the Americas Qualifiers from November 10 to 16.
The main competition begins on November 18, with group racing and successive qualification stages. The quarterfinals and semifinals will take place between December 7 and 12. On December 13, four teams will compete in a single decisive race for the world title.
From watching the racing to getting out on the water
For those who have never followed a sailing race, the event will offer different ways to discover the sport. In addition to the SSL Gold Cup races, the program will feature races in other classes, sailing experiences and activities for different age groups.
On land, the program will include shows and entertainment, as well as radio-controlled boat races, a sticker album and building activities with blocks. Official ceremonies will also be part of the schedule, introducing the teams and celebrating key moments throughout the competition.
The aim is to give visitors the opportunity to follow the athletes, see the boats up close and discover firsthand how sailing works. The full program, including schedules and information on access and participation, will be announced soon.
“Hosting a competition of this scale is an opportunity to bring people from Rio and tourists closer to sailing. We want people to follow the races, get to know the athletes and have the opportunity to experience the sport themselves. By combining high-level competition with activities for the public, we can increase interest in sailing and strengthen the city’s connection with Guanabara Bay,” says Marco Aurélio de Sá Ribeiro, Executive Director of CBVela.
Meet the crew representing Brazil
Led by Robert Scheidt, with Mario Tinoco among its members, Team Brazil will bring together sailors with experience across different classes. Their combined experience will be put to the test aboard a boat in which every athlete has a specific role and must work in close coordination with the rest of the crew.
Under Robert Scheidt’s leadership, Team Brazil includes Alfredo Rovere, Andre Fonseca, Bruna Patricio, Giovanna Prada, Guilherme Hamelmann, Joao Signorini, Leandro Azambuja, Mario Sergio de Jesus and Mario Tinoco.
In the inaugural edition of the SSL Gold Cup, held in 2023 in Gran Canaria, Spain, Brazil finished eighth. Hungary won the title, followed by Italy and the Netherlands. Now, the Brazilian team will have the opportunity to compete on home waters, against the backdrop of one of the country’s most iconic landscapes.
Event information
SSL Gold Cup 2026 — Sailing World Cup
Main phase: November 18 to December 13, 2026
PanAmericas Qualifiers: November 10 to 16
Grand Final: December 13
Race venue: Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro
Event base: AXIA Marina da Glória
Public activities: Marina da Glória and Praia do Flamengo, according to the schedule to be announced
Full schedule:
