Courtois Claims Sixth Title at Women’s Match Racing

San Francisco Bay may have a reputation as a stern teacher, but skipper Pauline Courtois (FRA) and her Match in Pink by Normandy Elite Team proved to be quick studies at the 2026 World Sailing Women’s Match Racing World Championship, held from 30 September to 4 October. The event, hosted by St. Francis Yacht Club, featured 11 teams racing in J/22s under varied conditions. Courtois and her crew, including Maëlenn Lemaitre, Louise Acker, and Laurane Mettraux, battled through to secure a historic sixth consecutive world-championship title. Remarkably, they won 19 of the 20 matches they sailed.

“St. Francis Yacht Club would like to congratulate Pauline Courtois and her Match in Pink by Normandy Elite Team on their world-championship title,” said Susan Ruhne, StFYC’s 2026 Commodore. “The Bay delivered varied conditions over four days of racing, and StFYC’s Cityfront racecourse provided the best stadium-style viewing experience possible.”

This year’s regatta was marked by unusual weather conditions typical for October in San Francisco, with light breezes dominating for much of the event. StFYC’s race officials worked hard to maximize racing opportunities once the wind filled in. Felix Weidling, StFYC’s Race Director, noted the competitive nature of the event, highlighting that there were no easy races, and every team arrived well-prepared.

The regatta format included a Round Robin phase followed by Quarterfinals and Semifinals, with the top four teams advancing to the finals. Despite the challenges, race officials managed to complete both Semifinal lineups by Saturday evening, which set the stage for an exciting finish on Sunday.

In the Grand Final, Courtois faced Nicole Breault’s Vela Racing team, who were representing StFYC. The match saw lighter wind conditions, but the tides and currents of the Bay remained significant factors. Courtois and her team showcased their mastery of the local sailing conditions, ultimately winning the match with a score of 3-0.

Courtois acknowledged the tight nature of the final, stating, “It was a really tight final; the score doesn’t reflect how tight it was. We are really happy to win against Nicole and Team Vela. It’s always a tight battle, and it was really fun.”

The victory secured Courtois and her team the gold medal from World Sailing and the prestigious Françoise Pascal Memorial Trophy. Breault’s team took home the silver, while Julia Aartsen’s Out of the Box team secured the bronze medal following their success in the Petit Final.

The 2027 World Sailing Women’s Match Racing World Championship is set to take place at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in Auckland from 22-26 November 2027.