FREMANTLE has been chosen to host the first-ever Australian leg of the lucrative World Match Racing yachting tour.

Sailors will compete for around $270,000 in prize money during the event, which will be held off Bathers Beach from March 2-7. The eventual winner of the championships stands to win $1.4m.

Fremantle is the first leg of the series, which is the longest professional sailing tour in the world. Two of the other legs are in the United States, with Denmark and Sweden also getting a guernsey.

• Freo’s been chosen to host the first round of the lucrative World Match Racing yachting tour. First prize is over $1 million.

The director of the Freo tour, Dave Mills says it’s a great sport for spectators.

“Match racing is highly competitive yacht racing. It’s fast, it’s close to shore and an awesome spectacle for onlookers. There’s a lot of prestige and a lot of money at stake,” Mr Mills said.

This year for the first time, all competitors will be restricted to sailing M32 catamarans, so they’ll have to rely solely on skills. They’ll compete on an 800-metre long course just 60 metres off shore.

Twenty countries are planning to compete.