America's Cup, Olympics, Vendée GlobeWhat awaits us in the super sailing year 2024

Nils Leiterholt

 · 02.01.2024

One of the biggest highlights comes right at the end: The 10th Vendée Globe starts in November
Photo: Ricardo Pinto/Team Malizia
Three absolute sailing sport highlights as well as other great regatta events, maritime festivals and important trade fairs are creating anticipation for the 2024 sailing year. The most important dates at a glance

The year 2024 beckons with three major sailing events within a few months: the Olympic sailing regatta off Marseille kicks things off from 28 July to 8 August, followed by the opening ceremony of the 37th America's Cup in Barcelona on 22 August. After that, it will only be two weeks until the tenth anniversary edition of the Vendée Globe kicks off on 10 November 2024.

28 July to 8 August: Olympia 2024- Sailing under the sign of the rings

The sailing world looks to the southern French coast. The sailing competitions of the Olympic Games will be held off Marseille. The DSV squad last won silver once (Lutz/Beucke in the 49er FX) and bronze twice (Heil/Plößel in the 49er and Kohlhoff/Stuhlemmer in the Nacra 17) in Tokyo in 2021. German medal hopes are also justified for the first time this year in the new 470 mixed format.

From 22 August: 37th America's Cup

Who will take on defending champions Emirates Team New Zealand in front of Barcelona? This question must be answered before the showdown for the world's oldest sporting trophy begins on 12 October. The challengers are from Great Britain, Italy, France, the USA and Switzerland. The best team can sail against the Kiwis for the "ugly jug".

10 November: Start of the 10th Vendée Globe

The starting signal for the anniversary edition of the Vendée Globe is given in Les Sables-d'Olonne. 40 single-handed sailors will take up the challenge of sailing solo and non-stop around the world. Whoever succeeds here will rise to the Olympus of the offshore sailing scene. At Boris Herrmann's premiere in 2020, the world was in lockdown and followed the Hamburg native in particular. Now he is setting off again with his new "Malizia - Seaexplorer".

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All of the venues - Marseille (Olympics), Barcelona (America's Cup) and Les Sables-d'Olonne (start and finish harbour of the Vendée Globe) - are likely to be in a state of sporting emergency. All of these European destinations are also easily accessible for German fans. If you want to join in the excitement on site, you should organise your accommodation in good time.


Further highlights in the 2024 sailing year:

7 January: Arkea Ultim Challenge

In Brest, six skippers will embark on the ultimate multihull single-handed challenge: they will race non-stop around the globe in huge and fast tris. It will be interesting to see who makes it.

20 to 28 January: boot in Düsseldorf

The world's largest boat and water sports exhibition takes place on the Rhine at the beginning of the year. YACHT will be there.

17 to 20 May: "Skagen Year" at the North Sea Week

On Whitsun weekend, sea sailors will compete for the 89th time as part of the North Sea Week. In 2024 it will be round Skagen again!

22 to 30 June: Kiel Week

The world's biggest sailing event takes place four weeks before the start of the Olympic sailing competitions. A good time to get in the mood!

13/14 July: SailGP final of the fourth season

Things will heat up again at the SailGP in 2024! The fourth season is already underway. The big season finale off San Francisco is scheduled for the summer.

12 to 17 July: Brest Festival

A fleet of more than 1,000 boats gathers in France. It is the largest maritime festival in the country with visitors from all over the world.

15 to 23 July: Classic Week

The friends of classic yachts are going on a cruise together this year. They will stop off in several harbours in southern Denmark and Schleswig-Holstein. The meeting will take place for the fifth time in 2024.

6 to 8 September: Hamburg Yacht Festival

For the second time, the In-Water trade fair will take place just outside Hamburg in the Wedel marina. Sea and lake lovers welcome!

10 to 15 September: Cannes Yachting Festival

Europe's leading in-water boat show opens on the Côte d'Azur in mid-September. The new products of the season will be on display in two marinas.

25 to 29 September: Interboot in Friedrichshafen

For the first time, the 63rd water sports fair on Lake Constance will only open its doors for five days instead of nine as in previous years.

28 November to 1 December: Boot & Fun Berlin

Boot & Fun attracted over 45,000 visitors to the capital at the end of 2023. Sailors are now also getting their money's worth: more and more sailing boats are being exhibited.


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