Breaking down the boundaries between Olympic sailing and offshore racing
Creating new pathways. Opening offshore sailing to more profiles, backgrounds and nations.
That is the ambition behind the partnership between UpWind by MerConcept and World Sailing, which enabled four athletes from emerging sailing nations within the Olympic pathway to join the opening of the 2026 Ocean Fifty Series season for an immersion into the world of offshore multihull racing.
During a one-day immersion at an Ocean Fifty Series event, sailors from Guatemala, Germany and Greece experienced the demanding environment of Ocean Fifty racing: high-paced offshore sailing, collective performance, fast decision-making, systems management and life on board.
A unique experience for athletes more accustomed to other competition formats, and a concrete opportunity to discover the realities of professional offshore racing.
Building bridges between disciplines
This initiative reflects a strong belief shared by UpWind by MerConcept: talent exists everywhere, and creating bridges between disciplines is essential for the future of our sport.
By bringing together athletes from Olympic sailing and professional offshore racing teams, this partnership helps make offshore racing more accessible, more open and more diverse.
Beyond sporting performance, the programme also provides valuable experience in teamwork, adaptability, endurance management and decision-making in demanding environments.
A shared ambition for the future of sailing
Through UpWind by MerConcept, the ambition remains the same:
- create concrete opportunities for emerging talents;
- encourage greater diversity and gender inclusion in offshore racing;
- support a new generation of sailors on their pathway offshore.
Built alongside World Sailing and the teams involved in the Ocean Fifty Series, this project reflects a shared commitment to shaping a more inclusive and internationally accessible future for sailing.
Photo: David Lupion
