DUBAI: Dubai Offshore Sailing Club, with the support of Dubai Sports Council, has announced the launch of the inaugural Kidzink Pearl Cup, one of the Middle East’s first major open youth sailing regattas.

The event takes place from Dec. 15-21 and will bring together more than 175 young sailors, aged 8 to 18, from around the world in the Optimist, ILCA 4, ILCA 6, and 29er sailing classes.

The event is presented in partnership with Kidzink, the UAE-based global leader in educational furniture manufacturing and environment design and the event’s title sponsor and strategic partner.

Created to fast-track talent in youth sailing, the Kidzink Pearl Cup will champion clean-water initiatives, inclusivity, and leadership through sport. The week-long event will feature three days of Olympic-level coaching and four days of competitive racing with sailors battling it out to become the first to raise the Kidzink Pearl Cup.

Among the international coaching team leading the event’s training clinic with GoldWinds Sailing Academy are Albert Torres, Jose Manuel Ruiz Ibanez, Vasileia Karachaliou, Matias Adaminas and Molly Hinsliff-Smith.

Charlotte Borghesi, founder and general manager of Kidzink, said: “The Kidzink Pearl Cup represents so much of what we believe in — curiosity, fun in learning, teamwork. As title sponsor and strategic partner, we are proud to support an event that not only celebrates sport but also champions learning and growth in all its forms. As a sailor myself, I know how profoundly sailing can shape communications and teamwork.”

Borghesi brings a unique perspective to the partnership. In addition to her role leading Kidzink, she is a world champion sailor, having made history in 2023 as the first helmswoman to win the SB20 World Championship, followed by victory with her team in the SB20 Women’s World Sailing Championships in Singapore in 2025. Her experience on the water informs Kidzink’s broader mission to design spaces that foster creativity, well-being, and a sense of purpose in young people.

The Kidzink Pearl Cup’s onshore program will feature workshops and discussions exploring the intersection of sport and learning, led in collaboration with Kidzink’s research team. The blueprint for these interactive sessions was first developed at the 29er Class European and World Championships this year, where Kidzink was a presenting partner.

Insights and data gathered during those international youth sailing events, which attracted more than 800 sailors from around the globe, have directly informed the company’s upcoming book, “Beyond the Box: How neuroscience-based design can transform the learning environment,” part of Kidzink’s ongoing mission to rethink how and where learning happens.

Among the young sailors competing will be 14-year-old Chloe Montanet, a member of the DOSC racing squad who represents the next wave of youth talent based in the UAE. Chloe, who started racing two years ago and is one of DOSC’s youngest assistant sailing instructors, said: “Sailing means a lot to me because it’s a sport that constantly pushes me to improve and teaches me new skills every time I’m on the water. It’s helped me build focus, confidence, and resilience, and I love how every race is different, you always have to adapt and think fast.

“I’m really excited for the Kidzink Pearl Cup. It’s such a great opportunity to meet sailors from all over the world, see different sailing styles, and learn from each other. I’m looking forward to competing, improving my skills, and being part of such a big event.”

Also taking part is Edward West, 12, born and raised in Dubai and a long-time member of DOSC. Selected to the club’s racing squad at age 9, Edward has already built an impressive track record, winning the Qatar International Optimist Regatta this year and earning a place on the Team GB Development 1 Squad. A passionate athlete on and off the water, he also plays rugby, balancing his sailing commitments with other sports.

“Sailing means everything to me. It is a sport I really enjoy as it allows me to connect with different people from around the world and I like having to adapt to the different conditions, waves, wind, and tide.

“I love the friendships I’ve made through sailing. Even though I live in Dubai, I’ve met sailors from all over the world, in the UK, Italy, Spain and Qatar. We might be competitors on the water, but off the water we help each other, share laughs, and talk about our races.”