A match race is a one-on-one duel between two identical sailboats, testing the skill and mental acuity of the skipper and crew. While history is vague about when the sport began, it is fair to say that the first match race probably occurred when two sailors met on the same expanse of water and tested the speed of each other's craft. This type of informal racing continues among sailboat owners today throughout the world.

In modern organized racing, the most renowned match race is the America's Cup in which one yacht challenges the defender for the Cup, but in that event, the yachts and the equipment are not exactly the same. The Brut by Fabergé events provide a real test of sailing skill. In each event a fleet of matched and identically equipped yachts is used and is generally exchanged between skippers during the regattas to ensure that the best helmsman and crew will win.

The first match race in the America's Cup occurred in 1870 between the U.S. defender Magic and the English challenger Cambria . Since then every race in the 29 events which have followed, as well as all of the defender and challenger trial races, have been match races.

The sport of match race sailing has enjoyed spectacular growth during the past decade. Just ten years ago, there were only a handful of match race regattas being held around the world, and a ranking system had not yet been established. By 1989, a ranking system was implemented and has been administered ever since by the International Yacht Racing Union (IYRU) in London. Points are awarded to skippers for first through tenth place finishes in match racing events. The events are ranked as well, giving added weight to major regattas and less emphasis to local or regional events.