Best boats of 2022
Turns out it takes more than a pandemic to keep sailors, naval architects and boatbuilders down. It wasn’t fair, but there’s no denying some parts of the global economy fared better than others this past year, and among the lucky…
Boats & Gear
The latest insights on racing and cruising yachts, keelboats and dinghies. Plus all of the latest gear, boating accessories, equipment and sailing clothes from Australia and around the world.
New yachts stand out at Southampton Boat Show
There may have been fewer boat launches in Britain compared to pre-COVID times, but there’s still plenty new to see at the 2021 Southampton Boat Show this September. For top-end luxury, there’s the Contest Yachts 55CS. It’s been around for a couple…
Night-time navigation tips
Would you know what blue and yellow flashing lights meant while night sailing? James Stevens answers your questions of seamanship. Question: What is the blue and yellow light ahead? Bill and Rose are on board Emma, a 13m cruising yacht. They…
How to check the health of your marine transmission
Don’t neglect the transmission for your inboard motor, as you don’t want to be left stranded if it fails. The below tips will assist you in taking better care of your marine transmission. Eyeball Look for signs of leaks running…
Fastnet Race: Jump pack rescue mission
Baltimore RNLI was launched last night (Thursday 12 August) to assist a yacht taking part in the Rolex Fastnet Race that was suffering power problems 1 mile east of the Fastnet Rock Lighthouse off the coast of West Cork. The…
Luxury sailing yacht runs aground
The iconic 24.2 metre Perini Navi sailing yacht Malizia has run aground on the Italian island of Stromboli. The yacht, which was originally commissioned by Prince Rainier III of Monaco, was on charter at the time of the incident, according to reports, with five…
The ideal boat maintenance log
No matter how you feel about selling your boat, the process will go easier if you have kept a detailed maintenance log extending all the way back to when you bought it. The reason this will ease the process is…
How to retrieve an anchor in rough seas
Would you know what to do if you had a fouled anchor in rough seas? James Stevens looks at the problem and provides the solution. Question: Can you retrieve a fouled anchor in rough sea? Dave and three friends are…
Vale Bruce Kirby, Laser designer and Olympic sailor
Boat designer and three-time Olympian Bruce Kirby, best known globally as the designer of the Laser 14 Olympic sailing dinghy, passed away at his home in Connecticut on 19 Jul 2021, at the age of 92. In 1969, at the…
Power up with solar panels
Boat solar panels are the gift that keeps on giving; free power, coupled with zero running costs – what could possibly be better than that? The fact of the matter is that there are costs associated with boat solar panels…
The ins and outs of antifouling
Summer always seems to come and go fast, and before you know it, you are preparing your boat for winter. During this time, it’s important to start figuring out how and when you want to antifoul your boat. Typically, antifouling…
Weather preparation for offshore sailing
Libby Greenhalgh has navigated around the world twice with the Volvo Ocean Race; and her experience has given her an exceptional eye for weather. Greenhalgh sat down with North Sails to share her steps for planning a trip offshore. NS:…
NAVatHOME – Navigation made easy
NAVatHOME Australia is the perfect online learning platform for sailors and motor boat enthusiasts keen to hone their skills, including navigation, passage planning, weather forecasting, rules of the road and more. Practical sailing skills only get you so far. Without…
Fountaine Pajot unveils new 47ft sailing catamaran
Fountaine Pajot has announced a new model, the Tanna 47, to join its award-winning cruising range. Featuring a sleek design, the Tanna 47 delivers outstanding comfort and space with superb natural light throughout the interior. The catamaran features a large…
Historic schooner capsizes
On Friday evening, local first responders rescued 18 people from a historic schooner which capsized near the town of Bath, Maine. That evening, Coast Guard Sector Northern New England watch standers received a report that the historic schooner Mary E had capsized…
Just Launched …… Motoryacht.com.au
The time has finally come for the announcement of the launch of our second site, motoryacht.com.au, a new media and news source for all things Motor Yacht. The site is now live and already attracting a lot of attention both across…
Perfect partnership for reef preservation
Thousands of visitors are set to arrive on the Whitsunday coast for the annual Great Barrier Reef Festival (August 5 – 8), as Airlie Beach comes alive to celebrate the Whitsundays’ lifestyle and the communities at the heart of the Great…
Margate Marina: Major improvements continue
Nestled in the quiet waters of North West Bay south of Margate, one of Tasmania’s newest and best equipped marinas is continuing its major redevelopment. Margate Marina represents one of Tasmania’s largest private marina investments, ideally situated on the gateway…
Measuring boats not a popularity contest
You can’t win an Olympic medal in sailing without having a fast boat. Just like in motor racing where winning comes from a combination of man and machine working together in harmony, the same is true in Olympic sailing. To…
New launch: SVR-LAZARTIGUE trimaran
The exceptional SVR-LAZARTIGUE trimaran, launched on July 22, breaks the codes in terms of current technologies, and it is no exaggeration to say that she’s a machine from a whole other era. For a great many years, the CDK Technologies…
Viper WRL System: effective lubrication for mooring ropes
The cleaning and lubrication of mooring ropes are typically done by hand, which is unsafe, time-consuming, ineffective, and very messy. The Viper WRL System has been designed to provide safe, simple and effective lubrication of your wire ropes by: Reducing direct contact with the rope and the…
Inaugural Brisbane Yachting Expo
Yachtshare and the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron are proud to present the inaugural Brisbane Yachting Expo. Spread over three days from the 30th July – 1st August, the Expo showcases leading sailing and motor yacht brands in the heart of Brisbane’s yachting…
Capturing moments: Onne van der Wal
Known throughout the sailing world by his first name only, Onne (pronounced “on-ah”) is still creating indelible images, 40 years after his photos first made a splash in Sail magazine in 1982. He was a professional sailor back in those days, sailing…
New recycled-based Dyneema for 11th Hour Racing
Marlow Ropes is delighted to announce the use of a new recycled-based Dyneema® that will be used as part of a pilot scheme using the 11th Hour Racing Sailing Team, who compete in offshore sailing events, such as The Ocean Race….
Australia back as boat-building powerhouse
The NSW Government has announced an initiative to re-establish the boat building sector in Australia, after JPK Pacific was given the green light to commence manufacturing the globally successful JPK yacht brand in regional NSW. Innovation Composites of Nowra in…
The Virtual Tactician
Audio feedback, fast transmission rates and smoothing of wind data give a new approach to sailboat navigation that is easy to set up thanks to SailTimer Wind Instrument. 1. Audio: Your tablet/phone can connect on Bluetooth to the wireless, solar-powered SailTimer Wind…
2021 World Superyacht Awards
The 16th annual edition of the BOAT International World Superyacht Awards will take place in Monaco on Sunday 5th September 2021 at the Monte Carlo Sporting. The World Superyacht Awards recognise the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the most remarkable luxury yachts from…
World’s largest sailing ship detained in UK
The world’s largest sailing ship was detained today at the Port of Dover in the UK hours before the passenger cruise ship was due to begin its maiden voyage. The arrest of the ship was the latest development in a…
Sailboats with foils – an evolution
The term foil indicates a specific type of appendage that does not exist in “traditional” boats, which can increase the straightening force and counteract gravity and friction in the water. Sailboats with foils can counteract friction by lightening themselves with…
Fossil fuel free sail to Antartica
Manuel Pardi recently returned to Buenos Aires after a three-month 4,000-mile voyage in Pequod (a restored 28-ft steel yacht), which he sailed to Antarctica, powered entirely by solar and wind energy. This wasn’t Pequod’s first trip to Antarctica. The first…
Cameras to use when boating
Action cameras, adventure cameras, body- or head-cams; call them what you will – we’re talking here about the type of cameras often referred to generically as ‘GoPros’ after the company largely responsible for bringing this type of image recording device…
Tips on how to reach from Tokyo 2020 sailors
Nikki Barnes and Lara Dallman-Weiss will be representing Team USA when they race their 470 at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. They share some tips on how to reach like a champion. When reaching, it is a delicate dance of power…
Navigation Equipment – SheSails Online Workshop
If you have not long started sailing or just want to know more about what goes on at the navigation table, this online workshop on the 10th of August is for you. We will be discussing some of the navigation equipment…
Thailand International Boat Show to lead local recovery
Hit hard by the pandemic, Phuket is set to receive a boost in the new year when the Thailand International Boat Show will be held 6 – 9 of January, 2022 at the award-winning Royal Phuket Marina. Targeting those with…
Whitsundays Better Boating series
With leisure boat sales on the rise, the Whitsunday region is experiencing unprecedented levels of new visitors this year, many of which are experiencing our spectacular backyard for the first time. In addition, the annual migration of cruising yachts is…
The Marine Paintings of Russ Kramer
Acclaimed artist Russ Kramer, who specializes in historically-correct dynamic recreations of famous yacht races and turn-of-the-century yachting society, will give a presentation surveying his oil paintings, inspirations, methods and techniques. Russ will focus on the great Herreshoff America’s Cup defenders…
Sailing terms everyone should know
Knowing the right sailing terms to use on board a boat is not just a way of sounding super cool and impressing your friends, though it does works for that too… It’s actually very useful, and sometimes crucial in communicating…
Off-Wind sails for cruising boats
Three sailmakers take a look at off-wind sails that will keep your boat moving on a reach and a run. Not so long ago, most production sailboats featured sail plans that were a bit different from what one might encounter…
Top ten boat names for 2021
It’s been a tumultuous year for the world, and getting away from it all on a recreational boat has given many the respite they’ve needed. With lives upended, some recreational boat owners have chosen to reflect on the times when…
Q&A with world-renowned sailors Murray Jones and Jordi Calafat
How do you set up your rig for max speed? Whether you’re talking small boats, multihulls or keelboats, two experts that really know all about rig tune are five-times America’s Cup winner Murray Jones from New Zealand, and 470 Olympic…
