SSL Gold Cup promotional sailing event held in Rio de Janeiro

Three identical SSL47 sailboats cruised past the Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon beaches on November 1 and 2 to promote the upcoming SSL Gold Cup. The event featured a mixed crew of sailors from Brazil, France, Peru, and Chile, including Olympic bronze medalist and Star Sailors League president Xavier Rohart and Pan-American champion Gabriel Portilho Borges.

The SSL Gold Cup, often referred to as the “World Cup of Sailing,” utilizes identical SSL47 vessels to ensure competition is decided by crew skill rather than equipment advantages. The tournament is scheduled to begin on November 18 at the Marina da Glória. Rio de Janeiro has been selected as the host for the 2026 competition, which is expected to run until December 13 at the same venue used for the Rio 2016 Olympic sailing events.