Sailing

In sailing, competitors race along courses marked out by buoys, propelled solely by the wind: the race is won by interpreting wind shifts, currents and the rules of right of way better than the others. In the Olympic classes, a series of races is held over several days; the scores are totalled — with the lowest score being the best — and the event concludes with the medal race, which counts double. The first regattas between pleasure craft date back to the 17th century between England and the Netherlands; in 1851, the America’s Cup was established, and it remains the oldest international sporting trophy to this day. Sailing has been part of the Olympic programme since 1900 and has changed classes and formats several times over the years, culminating in the recent introduction of foiling boards, which glide above the water. On the water, the sport requires an understanding of the race course, tactical awareness and physical responsiveness: in single-handed dinghies, the sailor balances the boat with their body for hours on end, whilst on foiling boards speeds exceed 30 knots, with balance maintained by just a few centimetres of the fin submerged. Penalties are served on the water, with penalty turns. At the 20th Mediterranean Games in Taranto 2026, the sailing competition will take place from 27 August to 2 September in the waters off the Torpediniere Nautical Centre, with four titles up for grabs: the men’s and women’s ILCA 6, ILCA 7 and iQFOiL, with the medal race bringing the programme to a close.

• 1Races are held on buoy courses: the winner is the competitor with the lowest score across the series of races
• 2The rules of right of way (starboard tack, windward, mark) are set out in the World Sailing Racing Rules
• 3Infractions are penalised on the water with penalty turns, or referred to the jury
• 4The final medal race awards double points to the top finishers in the series
• 5Four titles will be contested in Taranto (ILCA 6, ILCA 7, men’s and women’s iQFOiL) from 27 August to 2 September