# World championships in sailing

World championships in sailing are world championships organised or sanctioned by World Sailing (formerly the International Sailing Federation or ISAF). As a sport, sailing has the largest number of world championships due to the diversity of equipment and disciplines.

## Championships

The number of titles is due to the diversity of equipment. Sanctioned World Championships fall into the following categories:

### World Sailing – Initiated Championships

| Championship | Event | Held | Current holder | Editions | Frequency |
| Sailing World Championships | Male/Female/Mixed | 2003– | Champions in ten disciplines | 4 | Every 4 years |
| Youth Sailing World Championships | Youth Male/Female/Open | 1971– | Champions in nine disciplines | 47 | Annual |
| ISAF Team Racing World Championship | Open | 1995– | United States (2015) | 11 | Variable |
| ISAF Offshore Team Racing World Championship | Open | 2004– | no longer held | 4 | |
| Women's Match Racing World Championship | Female | 1999– | MacGregor, Frost, Watkins, Stanley & Lawrence (2017) | 19 | Annual |
| Youth Match Racing World Championship | Youth | 2014– | Price, Williams & Blanc-Ramos (2017) | 4 | |
| Para World Sailing Championships | Variable | | Champions in three disciplines | | Annual |
| IYRU Women's World Championships | Female | 1978 to 1992 | no longer held | | Annual |
| eSailing World Championship | Open | 2018 Onwards | | | Annual |
| Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat World Championship | Male & Female Pair | 2020 Onwards | | | |
| Class Committee Keelboat World Championship | Open | 2020 Onwards | | | |

### World Sailing – Sanctioned World Championships

* ISAF Open Match Racing World Championship (Presently awarded to the overall winner of the World Match Racing Tour originally a world sailing event)
* Nations Cup
* Offshore Racing Congress Rating System
** Currently ORCi
** former ORC Worlds include the IMS, IMS 500, IMS 670, 1/4 TON, 1/2 TON and 1 TON ClassWorld Championships
* International Radio Sailing Association Class World Championships
** IRSA / 10 Rater World Championship
** IRSA / Radio A Class World Championship
** IRSA / Marblehead World Championships
** IRSA / One Metre World Championships
* Extreme 40 World Championship (Authorised Once)
* International Association for Disabled Sailing (IFDS) (from 1990s to 2014)
* Blind Sailing World Championship originally recognised through IFDS
* Blind Match Racing World Championship originally recognised through IFDS
* Other Disabled Sailing World Championships (Such as none technical)
* PWA World Championships also recognised as a special event

### World Sailing Classes – None Fleet Racing

* Formula 18 Raid Worlds (Coastal Fleet Racing)
* Optimist Team Racing Worlds (Inter Country Team Racing)
* International 14 Team Racing Worlds (Inter Country Team Racing)

### World Sailing Classes – Fleet Racing

Classes that are members of World Sailing are entitled to hold World Championships if they are spread into a minimum of two continents and have certain number of nations and continents take part in two of the last three championships (the number of nations depend of the size of the equipment).
| Class category | Class | Title | Discipline | Gender | Category | Year first held | Year last held | Frequency | Note |
| Dinghy | 29er | 29er World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 2000 | present | annually | |
| Dinghy | 420 | Open 420 World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | 1972 | 1987 | annually | |
| Dinghy | 420 | 420 World Championships | Fleet | Mixed & Men | – | 1988 | present | annually | |
| Dinghy | 420 | Women's 420 World Championships | Fleet | Female | – | 1988 | present | annually | |
| Dinghy | 420 | 420 Youth World Championship | Fleet | Open | Under 17 | 2016 | present | | |
| Dinghy | 420 | 420 Team Racing World Championship | Team | Open | Nationality | 2015 | present | | |
| Centreboard | 470 | 470 World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | 1970 | 1984 | annually | no longer held |
| Centreboard | 470 | 470 World Championships | Fleet | Mixed & Male | – | 1985 | 2000s | annually | |
| Centreboard | 470 | Men's 470 World Championship | Fleet | Male | – | 2000s | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | 470 | Women's 470 World Championship | Fleet | Women | – | 1985 | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | 470 | 470 World Junior Championship | Fleet | Mixed & Men | Junior | 1999 | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | 470 | 470 World Junior Championship | Fleet | Female | Junior | 1999 | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | 49er | 49er World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 1997 | 2008 | annually | no longer held |
| Centreboard | 49er | 49er World Championship | Fleet | Male | – | 2008 | present | annually | no longer held |
| Centreboard | 49er | 49er Junior World Championship | Fleet | Open | Junior | | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | 49er FX | 49er FX World Championships | Fleet | Female | – | 2013 | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | 49er FX | 49er FX Junior World Championship | Fleet | Female | Junior | 2014 | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | 505 | 505 World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 1956 | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | B14 | B14 World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 1998 | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | Byte | Byte World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | Byte | Byte World Championship | Fleet | Make | – | | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | Byte | Byte World Championship | Fleet | Female | – | | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | Cadet | Cadet World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 1967 | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | Contender | Contender World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 1970 | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | Enterprise | Enterprise World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | | | | |
| Centreboard | Europe | Europe World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | 1966 | 1977 | annually | no longer held |
| Centreboard | Europe | Europe World Championships | Fleet | Male | – | 1978 | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | Europe | Europe World Championships | Fleet | Female | – | 1978 | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | Finn | Finn Gold Cup (Worlds) | Fleet | Open | – | 1956 | 2000s | annually | no longer held |
| Centreboard | Finn | Finn Gold Cup (Worlds) | Fleet | Men | – | 2000s | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | Finn | Finn Silver Cup (Worlds) | Fleet | Open? | Youth | 1999 | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | Finn | Finn Master World Championship | Fleet | Open | Masters | 1970 | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | Fireball | Fireball World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | Flying Dutchman | Flying Dutchman World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 1956 | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | Flying Junior | Flying Junior World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | | | | |
| Centreboard | GP14 | GP14 World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 2000s | present | various | |
| Centreboard | International 14 | International 14 World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | | | | |
| Centreboard | International 14 | International 14 Team Racing World Championship | Team Nations | Open | – | | | | |
| Centreboard | Laser | Laser World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | 1974 | 2000s | annually | no longer held |
| Centreboard | Laser | Laser World Championships | Fleet | Men | – | 2000s | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | Laser | Laser U-21 World Championships | Fleet | Male | Youth Under 21 | | | annually | |
| Centreboard | Laser | Laser Masters Great Grand Master Worlds | Fleet | Open | Masters | | 2013 | annually | |
| Centreboard | Laser | Laser Masters Grand Master Worlds | Fleet | Open | Masters | | 2013 | annually | |
| Centreboard | Laser | Laser Masters Master Worlds | Fleet | Open | Masters | | 2013 | annually | |
| Centreboard | Laser | Laser Masters Apprentice Master Worlds | Fleet | Open | Masters | | 2013 | annually | |
| Centreboard | Laser Radial | Men's Laser Radial World Championships | Fleet | Men | – | | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | Laser Radial | Women's Laser Radial World Championships | Fleet | Female | – | 1989 | | | |
| Centreboard | Laser Radial | Laser Radial World U-21 Championships | Fleet | Female | Youth Under 21 | | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | Laser Radial | Laser World Youth Championships | Fleet | Men | Youth | | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | Laser Radial | Laser Radial World Youth Championships | Fleet | Female | Youth | | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | Laser Radial | Laser Radial Great Grand Masters World Championship | Fleet | Open | Masters | | 2013 | annually | |
| Centreboard | Laser Radial | Laser Radial Grand Masters World Championship | Fleet | Open | Masters | | 2013 | annually | |
| Centreboard | Laser Radial | Laser Radial Masters World Championship | Fleet | Open | Masters | | 2013 | annually | |
| Centreboard | Laser Radial | Laser Radial Apprentice Masters World Championship | Fleet | Open | Masters | | 2013 | annually | |
| Centreboard | Laser 4.7 | Laser 4.7 World Championship | Fleet | Men | Youth | 2002 | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | Laser 4.7 | Laser 4.7 World Championship | Fleet | Men | Youth Under 15 | 2002 | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | Laser 4.7 | Laser 4.7 World Championship | Fleet | Female | Youth | 2002 | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | Laser 4.7 | Laser 4.7 World Championship | Fleet | Female | Youth Under 15 | 2002 | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | Laser 4.7 | Laser 4.7 Masters World Championship | Fleet | Open | Masters | 2002 | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | Laser 2 | Laser 2 World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 1980s | 2010s | | |
| Centreboard | Laser Vago | Laser Vago World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | | | | never held |
| Centreboard | Lightning | Lightning World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | | present | | |
| Centreboard | Mirror | Mirror World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | | present | | |
| Centreboard | Moth | Moth World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | 1973 | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | Musto Performance Skiff | Musto Performance Skiff World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 2007 | present | various | |
| Centreboard | OK Dinghy | OK Dinghy World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 1973 | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | O'pen BIC | O'pen BIC World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | | | annually | |
| Centreboard | Optimist | Optimist World Championship | Fleet | Open | Youth | 1974 | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | Optimist | Nations Optimist Team World Championship | Team National | Open | Youth | | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | RS100 | RS100 World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | RS500 | RS500 World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | RS Tera | RS Tera (Sports Rig) World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 2008 | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | RS Feva | RS Feva (Pro Rig) World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 2008 | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | Snipe | Open Snipe World Championship (Commodore Hub E. Isaacks Trophy) | Fleet | Open | – | 1934 | present | bi-annually | |
| Centreboard | Snipe | Youth Snipe World Championship (Vieri Lasinio Di Castelvero Trophy) | Fleet | Open | Youth | 1973 | present | bi-annually | |
| Centreboard | Snipe | Masters Snipe World Championship (Id Crook Memorial Trophy) | Fleet | Open | Masters | 1986 | present | bi-annually | |
| Centreboard | Snipe | Women's Snipe World Championship (Roy Yamaguchi Memorial Trophy) | Fleet | Women | – | 1994 | present | bi-annually | |
| Centreboard | Splash | Splash World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | 2000 | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | Sunfish | Sunfish World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | | | | |
| Centreboard | Tasar | Tasar World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | | | | |
| Centreboard | Topper | Topper World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | Vaurien | Vaurien World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | | present | annually | |
| Centreboard | Zoom 8 | Zoom 8 World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | | present | annually | |
| (Centreboard) | 29erXX | 29erXX World Championship | Fleet | Women | – | 2012 | 2013 | N/A | no longer held |
| (Centreboard) | Buzz | Buzz World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 1990s | 2000s | annually | no longer held |
| (Centreboard) | ISO | ISO World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 1990s | 2000s | annually | no longer held |
| Keelboat | 2.4 Metre | 2.4 Metre World Championships | Fleet | Open | | 1993 | present | annually | |
| Keelboat | 2.4m / Norlin Mk3 OD | Single Person Disabled Sailing World Championship | Fleet | Open | Disabled | | | annually | Originally run by IFDS |
| Keelboat | 5.5 Metre | 5.5 Metre World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 1961 | present | various | |
| Keelboat | 5.5 Metre | 5.5 Metre World Championship | Fleet | Open | Modern | | present | various | |
| Keelboat | 5.5 Metre | 5.5 Metre World Championship | Fleet | Open | Evolution | 1961 | present | various | |
| Keelboat | 5.5 Metre | 5.5 Metre World Championship | Fleet | Open | Classic | 1961 | present | various | |
| Keelboat | 6 Metre | 6 Metre World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 1973 | present | intermittent | |
| Keelboat | 8 Metre | 8 Metre World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 1970 | present | intermittent | |
| Keelboat | 12 Metre | 12 Metre World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 1979 | present | various | |
| Keelboat | Access 2.3 | Access 2.3 World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | | | | |
| Keelboat | Access 303 | Access 303 World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | | | | |
| Keelboat | Access Liberty | Access Liberty World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | | | | |
| Keelboat | Dragon | Dragon World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 1965 | present | bi-annually | |
| Keelboat | Etchells | Etchells World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | | | | |
| Keelboat | Flying 15 | Flying 15 World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | | | | |
| Keelboat | H-boat | H-boat World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 2000s | present | | |
| Keelboat | J/22 | J/22 World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 2000 | present | annually | |
| Keelboat | J/24 | J/24 World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 1981 | present | annually | |
| Keelboat | J/70 | J/70 World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 2014 | present | annually | |
| Keelboat | J/80 | J/80 World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 2001 | present | annually | |
| Keelboat | Melges 20 | Melges 20 World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 2013 | present | annually | |
| Keelboat | Melges 24 | Melges 24 World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 1998 | present | annually | |
| Keelboat | Melges 32 | Melges 32 World Championship | Fleet | Open | Classification | 2009 | present | annually | |
| Keelboat | Micro | Micro World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 2000 | present | annually | |
| Keelboat | Micro | Micro World Championship | Fleet | Open | Prototype | 2000 | present | annually | |
| Keelboat | Platu 25 | Platu 25 World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 2007 | present | annually | |
| Keelboat | RC44 | RC44 World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 2000s | present | annually | |
| Keelboat | SB20 (Laser SB3) | SB20 World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 2000s | present | Unknown | |
| Keelboat | Skud 18 | Two Person Disabled Sailing World Championship | Fleet | Mixed & Women | Disabled | | | annually | Originally run by IFDS |
| Keelboat | Shark 24 | Shark 24 World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | 2000s | present | annually | |
| Keelboat | Soling | Soling World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | 1969 | present | annually | |
| Keelboat | Sonar | Sonar World Championships | Fleet | | | | | | |
| Keelboat | Sonar | Three Person Disabled Sailing World Championship | Fleet | Open | Disabled | | | annually | Originally run by IFDS |
| Keelboat | Star | Star World Championship | Fleet | Men | – | 2000s | 2012 | annually | no longer held |
| Keelboat | Star | Star World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 1923–2000s 2013 Onwards | present | annually | |
| Keelboat | Tempest | Tempest World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | | present | annually | |
| Keelboat | Yngling | Yngling World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | 1979 | present | annually | |
| Keelboat | Yngling | Women's Yngling World Championships | Fleet | Women | | 2002 | 2008 | annually | no longer held |
| (Keelboat) | 11:Metre One Design | 11 Metre OD World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | 1997 | 2010 | | no longer held |
| (Keelboat) | IOD | IOD World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | 2000s | 2014 | annually | no longer held |
| (Keelboat) | Ultimate 20 | Ultimate 20 World Championships | Fleet | Open | | | | | no longer held |
| Multihull | A-Class | A-Class | Fleet | Open | – | | | | |
| Multihull | Dart 18 | Dart 18 | Fleet | Open | – | | | | |
| Multihull | Formula 16 | Formula 16 World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | | | | |
| Multihull | Formula 18 | Formula 18 World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | | present | annually | |
| Multihull | Hobie 14 | Hobie 14 World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | | | | |
| Multihull | Hobie 16 | Hobie 16 World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | | present | various | |
| Multihull | Hobie 16 | Hobie 16 Youth World Championship | Fleet | Open | Youth | | present | various | |
| Multihull | Hobie 16 | Hobie 16 Women's World Championship | Fleet | Women | – | | present | various | |
| Multihull | Hobie 16 | Hobie 16 Masters World Championship | Fleet | Open | Masters | | present | various | |
| Multihull | Hobie Dragoon | Hobie Dragoon | Fleet | Open | – | | | annually | |
| Multihull | Hobie Tiger | Hobie Tiger World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | | | annually | |
| Multihull | Hobie Wildcat | Hobie Wildcat World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | | | annually | |
| Multihull | M32 | Nacra 15 World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | 2017 | present | annually | |
| Multihull | Nacra 15 | Nacra 15 World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 2016 | present | annually | |
| Multihull | Nacra 17 | Nacra 17 World Championship | Fleet | Mixed | – | 2013 | present | annually | |
| Multihull | Nacra 20 | Nacra 20 World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | 2016 | present | | |
| Multihull | Nacra Infusion | Nacra F18 | Fleet | Open | – | | | | |
| Multihull | SL 16 | SL 16 World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | | present | annually | |
| Multihull | Topcat K1 | Topcat K1 World Championship | Fleet | Open | | | present | | |
| Multihull | Tornado | Tornado World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 1968 | present | annually | |
| Multihull | Tornado | Tornado World Championship | Fleet | Mixed | – | 2010 | 2014 | – | no longer held |
| (Multihull) | C Class Cat | C Class Cat World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | | | | no longer held |
| (Multihull) | Extreme 40 | Extreme 40 World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | | | | no longer held |
| (Multihull) | Nacra Infusion | Nacra Infusion | Fleet | Open | – | | | | no longer held |
| (Multihull) | Viper F16 | | | | | | | | never held |
| (Multihull) | Hobie 17 | Hobie 17 World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | | | | no longer held |
| (Multihull) | Hobie 18 | Hobie 18 World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | | | | no longer held |
| Boards | Formula Experience | Formula Experience World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | | | | |
| Boards | Formula Kite | Formula Kite World Championships | Course | Men | – | | | | |
| Boards | Formula Kite | Formula Kite World Championships | Course | Women | – | | | | |
| Boards | Formula Windsurfing | Formula Windsurfing World Championships | Fleet | Open | Youth | 2000 | present | annually | |
| Boards | Formula Windsurfing | Formula Windsurfing World Championships | Fleet | Men | – | 2000 | present | annually | |
| Boards | Formula Windsurfing | Formula Windsurfing World Championships | Fleet | Women | – | 2000 | present | annually | |
| Boards | Formula Windsurfing | Formula Windsurfing World Championships | Fleet | Open | Youth | 2000 | present | annually | |
| Boards | Formula Windsurfing | Formula Windsurfing World Championships | Fleet | Open | Masters | | | annually | |
| Boards | Funboard | Funboard World Championships | Slalom | Open | | | | | |
| Boards | Kona | Kona | Fleet | | | | | | |
| Boards | Mistral | Mistral World Championships | Fleet | Men | | 1986 | | | |
| Boards | Mistral | Mistral World Championships | Fleet | Women | | 1986 | 2006 | annually | |
| Boards | Raceboard | Raceboard | Fleet | Open | | | | | |
| Boards | Raceboard | Raceboard | Fleet | Men | | | | | |
| Boards | Raceboard | Raceboard | Fleet | Women | | | | | |
| Boards | RS:One | RS:One World Championships | Fleet | Men | – | 2012 | present | various | |
| Boards | RS:One | RS:One World Championships | Fleet | Women | – | 2012 | present | various | |
| Boards | RS:One | RS:One World Championships | Fleet | Men | Youth Under 22 | 2012 | present | various | |
| Boards | RS:X | Men's RS:X World Championships | Fleet | Men | – | 2005 | present | annually | |
| Boards | RS:X | Women RS:X World Championships | Fleet | Women | – | 2005 | present | annually | |
| Boards | RS:X | RS:X Youth World Championships | Fleet | Men | Youth | 2005 | present | annually | |
| Boards | RS:X | RS:X Youth World Championships | Fleet | Women | Youth | 2005 | present | annually | |
| Boards | Techno 293 | Techno 293 World Championships | Fleet | Men | – | | | | |
| Boards | Techno 293 | Techno 293 World Championships | Fleet | Men | Youth Under 17 | 2006 | present | annually | |
| Boards | Techno 293 | Under 17 Techno 293 Worlds | Fleet | Men | Youth Under 15 | 2006 | present | annually | |
| Boards | Techno 293 | Under 15 Techno 293 Worlds | Fleet | Women | – | | | | |
| Boards | Techno 293 | Women Under 17 Techno 293 Worlds | Fleet | Women | Youth Under 17 | 2006 | present | annually | |
| Boards | Techno 293 | Women Under 15 Techno 293 Worlds | Fleet | Women | Youth Under 15 | 2006 | present | annually | |
| (Boards) | Mistral Junior | Mistral Junior World Championships | Fleet | Open | Youth | | | | no longer held |
| (Boards) | Aloha | Aloha World Championships | Fleet | Open | Youth | 1990s | 2000s | annually | no longer held |
| (Boards) | Division I | Division I World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | | | | no longer held |
| (Boards) | Division II | Division II World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | | | | no longer held |
| (Boards) | Division III | Division III World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | | | | no longer held |
| (Boards) | Formula 42 | Formula 42 World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | | | | no longer held |
| (Boards) | Lechner A-390 | Lechner A-390 World Championships | Fleet | Men | | 1989 | 1992 | | no longer held |
| (Boards) | Lechner A-390 | Lechner A-390 World Championships | Fleet | Women | | 1989 | 1992 | | no longer held |
| Yachts | Class 40 | Class 40 World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | 2009 | present | various | |
| Yachts | Farr 30 (Mumm 30) | Farr 30 World Championships | Fleet | Open | Sailor Classification | 1998 | present | annually | |
| Yachts | Farr 40 | Farr 40 World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | | | | |
| Yachts | IMOCA 60 | IMOCA 60 World Championships | Series | Open | – | | present | | |
| Yachts | J/111 | J/111 World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | 2014 | present | annually | |
| Yachts | Mini Maxi | IMA / Min Maxi World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | 2000s | 2014 | annually | |
| Yachts | Maxi 72 | IMA / Maxi 72 World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | 2015 | present | annually | |
| Yachts | Soto 40 | Soto 40 World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | 2013 | present | annually | |
| Yachts | Swan 45 | Swan 45 World Championships | Fleet | Open | Sailor Classification | 2006 | present | annually | |
| Yachts | Swan 60 | Swan 60 World Championships | Fleet | Open | Sailor Classification | 2013 | present | annually | |
| Yachts | TP 52 | TP 52 World Championship | Fleet | Open | – | 2008 | present | annually | |
| Yachts | X-35 | X-35 World Championships | Fleet | Open | Sailor Classification | 2007 | present | annually | |
| Yachts | X-41 | X-41 World Championships | Fleet | Open | Sailor Classification | 2009 | present | annually | |
| Yachts | ORCi | ORCi World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | | | annually | |
| (Yacht) | Farr 45 (Corel 45) | Corel 45 World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | | | | no longer held |
| (Yacht) | Farr Maxi One Design | Maxi One Design World | Fleet | Open | – | | | | no longer held |
| (Yacht) | Mumm 36 | Mumm 36 World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | 1990s | 1990s | | no longer held |
| (Yacht) | ORMA 60 | ORMA 60 World Championships | Series | Open | – | 1990s | 2000s | annually | no longer held |
| (Yacht) | Open 50 | Open 50 World Championships | Series | Open | – | | | | no longer held |
| (Yacht) | Sydney 40 | Sydney 40 World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | 1990s | 2000s | | no longer held |
| (Yacht) | X-99 | X-99 World Championships | Fleet | Open | – | 1997 | 2010 | annually | no longer held |

## Multiple World champions

This is not a complete list but the following are known to have won eight or more World Championship titles.
| Titles | Name | Country | Class(es) |
| 41 | Bjoern Dunkerbeck | | 7 × PWA Wave World Champion 1990, 1992–1995, 1999, 2001 12 × PWA Overall World Champion 1988–1999 5 × PWA Course Racing World Champion 1990–1994 5 × PWA Racing World Champion 1995–1999 9 × PWA Slalom World Champion 1988–1994, 2005, 2011 1 × PWA Freestyle World Champion 1998 2 × ISA Speed World Champion 1994, 2005 1 × ISWC Speed World Champion 2016 |
| 25 | Vasco Vascotto | Italy | J/24 (1999), TP52 (2015), IMS, ORC, Farr 40 |
| 25 | Antoine Albeau | France | Windsurfing |
| 16 | Glenn Ashby | Australia | A Class (1996, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, F18 (2004, 2005, 2007), Tornado (2006, 2008, 2009), GC32 (2018) |
| 16 | John Kostecki | United States | Sunfish (1986), J/24 (1988), Soling (1986, 1988), Mumm 36 (1986,1997,1998), Farr 40 (1998,2008, 2011, 2014), RC44 (2010), Soto 40 (2014), J/70 (2016), Melges 20 (2016), TP52 (2017) |
| 14 | Terry Hutchinson | United States | IMS, J/24 Corel 45 (1996, 1998), TP52 (2008, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2022), Farr 40 (2014, 2016, 2017), RC44 (2017) |
| 13 | András Domokos | Hungary | Flying Dutchman (1994, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019) |
| 13 | Paul Elvstrøm | Denmark | 5.5 (1967), 505 (1957, 1959), Dragon, Finn (1958, 1959), Flying Dutchman (1962), Soling (1969, 1974), Star (1966, 1967), Snipe (1959), Half Ton (1972, 1981) |
| 13 | Robert Scheidt | Brazil | Youth Worlds (1991), Laser (1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2013), Star (2007, 2011, 2012) |
| 13 | Szabolcs Majthényi | Hungary | Flying Dutchman (1994, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019) |
| 11 | Ben Ainslie | Great Britain | Laser Radial (1993), Youth Worlds (1995), Laser (1998, 1999), Finn (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2012), Match Racing (2010) |
| 11 | Kristian Nergaard | Norway | 5.5 Metre (1990 1993 1996 2003 2008 2009 2012 2015 2016 2019 2020) |
| 11 | Stellan Berlin | Sweden | 2.4m Open (2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018) |
| 11 | William (Bill) Hardesty | United States | WMRT (2011, 2012), Farr 40 (2012), Melges 20 (2013, 2015), Melges 24 (1999, 2007), Etchells (2008, 2011, 2014), J/70 (2015) |
| 11 | Anna Livbjerg | Denmark | Europe (2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2021,2022,2023) |
| 11 | Federico Michetti | Italy | Melges 20 (2010,2012), Melges 24 (2000,2008,2010,2011,2013), Melges 32 (2016), ClubSwan 50 {2021,2023), TP52 (2022) |
| 10 | Darren Bundock | Australia | Formula 16 (2011), Formula 18 (2005, 2007, 2019), Tornado (1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008) |
| 10 | Johan Barne | Sweden | Soling/Match (1996, 1999), TP52 (2009, 2017), 5.5 Metre (2009 2012 2015 2016 2019 2020) |
| 10 | Ken Read | United States | J/24 (1985, 1986, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994), Etchells (2003), 12 Metre (2019) |
| 10 | Mathew Belcher | Australia | 420 (2000), 470 (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019), Etchells (2018) |
| 10 | Nick Craig | Great Britain | Enterprise (4 times), OK (5 times), B14 (2018) |
| 10 | Claus Hoj Jensen | Denmark | H-boat x10 |
| 9 | Frederik Dahl Hansen | Denmark | H-boat x9 |
| 9 | Jørgen Bojsen-Møller | Denmark | Flying Dutchman (1998 1990 1993 2001 2005 2007 2009 2016 2018) |
| 8 | Nathan Outteridge | Australia | |
| 9 | Dave Curtis | United States | Soling, J/24 Etchells x7 |
| 9 | Christian Schaefer | Germany | Tempest (1992, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2011) |
| 9 | Adrian Stead | Great Britain | Farr 40 (1998, 2007, 2008), RC44 (20??), 2016, TP52 (2010, 2011, 2013), Swan 60 OD (2013) |
| 9 | Anna Livbjerg | Denmark | Europe (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021) |
| 9 | Ross Halcrow | NZL | Soto 40 (2014), 6m (2022), ClubSwan 50 (2021), RC44 (2022, 2023), TP52 (2017, 2019, 2023), Maxi 72 (2017) |
| 8 | Augie Diaz | United States | WS Youth Worlds (1973), Snipe, Snipe Masters, Star (2016) |
| 8 | Graham Bantock | Great Britain | 10 Rater (1999), A Class (2005), One Metre (1994, 1999), Marblehead (1992, 1994, 1996, 1998) |
| 8 | James "Skip" Baxter | New Zealand | Farr 40 (2004 2009), TP52 (2008, 2010, 2011), RC44 (2010), ORC/IRC 2018 |
| 8 | Nick Craig | Great Britain | OK (2005 2006 2007 2011 2017), Enterprise, B14 (2017, 2019) |
| 8 | Eduardo Cordero | Venezuela | Sunfish (1993, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004) |
| 8 | Heiko Kröger | Germany | 2.4m Open, Norlin Mk3 Disabled (2016) |
| 8 | Brad Gibson | Great Britain Australia | 10 Rater (2016,2018), One Metre (2007,2015), Marblehead (2012,2014,2016,2018) |
| 8 | Vincent Hösch | Germany | Star (1981) Tempest (1993) Dragon (2003,2007) H-Boat (1991,1992,1994,2003) |
| 8 | Iordanis Paschalidis | Greece | Tornado (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) |
| 8 | Konstantinos Trigkonis | Greece | Tornado (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) |
| 8 | Jesper Bank | Denmark | |
| 8 | Blair Tuke | New Zealand | 6x 49er World Championship 1x 29er World Championship 1x Splash World Championship |
| 8 | Willem Van Waay | United States | Farr 40 2002, J/24 2019, 2023, J/70 2015, 2017, 2021, J/80 2022, Sonar 2022 |
| 8 | Jonathan McKee | United States | FD 1983, 49er 2001, Tasar (1996, 2007), Melges 24 (2005, 2010, 2011), ORCi 2023 |