The Football World Cup in Sailing has arrived in Rio de Janeiro. On Sunday, three SSL47 racing yachts sailed past the iconic beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon, while an aircraft towing a giant promotional banner announced the upcoming SSL Gold Cup 2026. The event will bring 40 national teams, Olympic champions and some of the world's leading sailors to Guanabara Bay from 18 November to 13 December, culminating in a winner-takes-all Grand Final to crown the World Sailing Nations Champion.
The spectacle brought a new message to one of Rio's long-standing beach traditions. Aircraft towing advertising banners are a familiar sight during the city's summer weekends and public holidays, but Sunday's banner promoted a different kind of World Cup: 40 national teams, Olympic champions and medallists, knockout rounds and a winner-takes-all Grand Final between four countries. Developed by the world's leading sailors and the founders of the Star Sailors League (SSL), the championship brings nation-versus-nation competition to sailing, with crews representing their countries aboard identical boats. Rather than equipment budgets or technological development deciding the outcome, the focus is firmly on sailing skills, tactics, crew coordination and teamwork. The promotional activities along Rio's coastline will continue on Monday, 2 November, Brazil's All Souls' Day public holiday, as preparations gather pace for the opening of the championship.
The SSL47 fleet is already based at AXIA Marina da Glória, the venue that hosted the sailing events at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The marina will serve as the competition's operational base, with a dedicated sail loft and technical facilities for preparing and maintaining the fleet.
Olympic medallist Xavier Rohart joins international crews
Sunday's sailing session featured mixed crews with sailors from France, Peru, Chile and Brazil, including members of the Brazilian Naval Academy Sailing Club.
Among those on board was Xavier Rohart, France's Athens 2004 Olympic bronze medallist in the Star class and President of the Star Sailors League. He was joined by Gabriel Portilho Borges, a two-time Pan American Games sailing gold medallist, as the crews practised manoeuvres, boat handling and communication aboard the SSL47s.
For Rohart, sailing in Rio brings together the city's Olympic heritage and the challenge of competing against some of the world's strongest sailing nations.
“I have enormous respect for Brazilian sailing. Brazil has produced so many talented sailors and has an incredible level across different disciplines, from offshore racing and match racing to Olympic sailing. That applies to sailors from different generations. To be here, at the venue which hosted the sailing events at the 2016 Olympic Games, is an honour,” said Rohart.
The French sailor is also determined to challenge for the title, while recognising the strength of the host nation.
“Our expectations are always high because, of course, we want to become world champions. But we know we are competing against very strong countries, particularly Brazil, whose sailors know these waters extremely well. Our approach will be to take things day by day, always trying to do the best we can and achieve the best possible result,” he added.
The session also provided an opportunity for younger sailors to experience the demands of the SSL47.
Enzo de Giácomo Pereira, a cadet and member of the Brazilian Naval Academy Sailing Club known as GVEN, was invited with his teammates to sail aboard one of the boats used in the competition.
“Taking part in an experience like this is extremely important for us. It's an opportunity to discover a different way of sailing, learn new manoeuvres and experience a boat unlike those we're used to. Every opportunity to get out on the water contributes to our development,” he said.
