All 10 Olympic sailing events are contested in fleet races – meaning a group of boats race against each other with the first boat to cross the finish line named the winner. For each of these classes, competition consists of an opening series and a medal race. A total of 190 races (including medal races) will take place.

• Women's Windsurfing (iQFoil): 22 opening series races, 1 quarterfinal race, 1 semifinal race,  1 medal race 
• Men's Windsurfing (iQFoil):  22 opening series races, 1 quarterfinal race, 1 semifinal race,  1 medal race 
• Women's Skiff (49er FX) 12 opening series races, 1 medal race 
• Men's Skiff (49er): 12 opening series races, 1 medal race 
• Men's One Person Dinghy (ILCA 7): 10 opening series races, 1 medal race 
• Women's One Person Dinghy (ILCA 6): 10 opening series races, 1 medal race 
• Mixed Two Person Dinghy (470): 10 opening series races, 1 medal race 
• Mixed Multihull (Nacra 17): 12 opening series races, 1 medal race 
• Women's Kiteboarding (Formula Kite):  16 opening series races, 12 semifinal races, 6 medal races 
• Men's Kiteboarding (Formula Kite): 16 opening series races, 12 semifinal races, 6 medal races 

After each race of the opening series, a boat is given a score based on when it crosses the finish line (first = one point, second = two, third = three, etc.). At the end of the opening series, the 10 boats with the lowest scores advance to the medal race. Sailors may exclude their worst score in the first 10 or 12 races.

After completing 10 or 12 races, the top-10 boats with the lowest score go on to compete in the medal race. The points scored in the medal race cannot be excluded and are worth double.