The World Cup will be open to the sailing events chosen for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Competitions.

Incorporating existing major events, the series will kick off with Sail, Melbourne Australia, in December 2008. Followed by the Rolex Miami OCR USA; the Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia MAPFRE Palma Spain; Semaine Olympique Francaise Hyeres France; the Delta Lloyd Regatta Medemblik the Netherlands; Kiel Week Germany; and Skandia Sail for Gold Weymouth Great Britain. Additional events may join the series in future years. The Notice of Series for the ISAF Sailing World Cup including details of the scoring system will be posted on 21 July 2008.

ISAF President Goran Petersson said "The ISAF Sailing World Cup will bring a new focus to Olympic sailing demonstrating the excitement, skill and passion of the sport. It will give Olympic sailors a clear annual competition structure, the media a definitive series to feature, and sponsors will obtain exposure across a host of top quality events that will be at the forefront of the sailing calendar". Commission have given the World Cup a resounding thumbs up. An annual Olympic sailing World Cup is a popular choice.