The World Sailing Championships are the highest event organized by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF). They are held every four years and bring together all Olympic classes in a single event, at the same venue and on simultaneous dates, for 15 days. However, other years each class celebrates its intercontinental championship separately. They serve to assign country places for the Olympic Games. Santander 2014 will therefore be a qualifier for Rio de Janeiro 2016.

Previous appointments of this event have been held in Cádiz (Spain) in 2003, in Cascais (Portugal) in 2007 and in Perth (Australia), in December 2011.

960 boats, 1,400 sailors and 95 countries represented are the most important figures of this event, which in total moves nearly 5,000 people, including participants, team officials and technicians, members of the organization, volunteers, journalists and companions.