Have you considered investing in a charter yacht?
It is rare to be able to have your cake and eat it too, as the old proverb goes, but investing in a charter yacht is probably the closest thing. When you buy a yacht and place it in charter,…
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.
Personal locater beacon RescueMe PLB1 activated in successful rescues
Ocean Signal has emphasised the importance of carrying a personal locator beacon both at sea and on land after details emerged about three recent rescues involving the company’s RescueME PLB1. Claimed by the manufacturers to be the world’s smallest personal…
B&G introduce Zeus 2 Glass Helm sailing navigation system
B&G has introduced its multifunction navigation system, the Zeus2 Glass Helm. Suited to bluewater cruisers and super yachts, the Zeus2 Glass Helm brings together sail-specific features with a dual independent output for unprecedented sailing navigation. Zeus2 Glass Helm features fast…
B&G introduce ForwardScan a forward looking sonar system
B&G announced ForwardScan, a forward-looking sonar device for finding anchoring spots and highlighting rocks and obstructions below the water’s surface. ForwardScan allows sailors to avoid potentially dangerous areas and sail with confidence in unfamiliar waters. With an effective range of…
Bushnell release the Marine range of binoculars
Bushnell’s range of optics and gadgets encompasses a vast range of outdoor activities and the Marine is the latest set of binoculars tailored specifically for boating. Fully fog-proof and waterproof to stand up to the changing conditions on the water,…
Jeanneau Australia offering Black Label price savings
Jeanneau has announced a special offer on select models within the Sun Odyssey range with special prices under its 'Black Label' promotion. The Sun Odyssey 409 won the European Yacht of the Year Award upon its launch. Now available in…
New Lewmar custom swing retracting bow thrusters for boats 9m to 20m
Suitable for boats from 9m to 20m, the Lewmar range of swing thrusters are designed to provide a completely fair hull with minimal drag when raised, offering an advantage for higher performance sailing yachts and fast planning or semi-displacement hulls….
Bavaria and Nautitech step into the future as one company
Since 2012 it has been on Bavaria's agenda to enter the market for catamarans over 35 feet. They have been investigating various strategies and negotiating with several potential partners. “The first contact with Nautitech Catamarans and its founder Bruno Voisard…
Pro-Ma marine diesel treatment to eradicate diesel bug
What is it? Diesel bug is the common term given to the myriad bacteria, mould and other micro-organisms found in diesel fuel. These organisms live in the water (a result of contamination or condensation) and feed on the intermediate by-products…
Espresso 12 coffee machine available for yachts
The Espresso 12 was designed by people who enjoy coffee who wanted to ensure that the quality of the coffee was not compromised by the portability and practicality of the machine. Weighing just 3.9 kilograms the compact design draws 350…
The OK Dinghy – standing the test of time
Few classes have stood the test of time as has the OK Dinghy. As a concept it was born in the mind of the same Danish sailor who brought the Optimist dinghy to Europe, but the designs were laid down…
Isara Yachts appoint Southern Yachting as distributors for Australia/NZ
The range of Isara catamarans, built at the company’s Ta Yang yard in Taiwan, includes a 45, 50, 55 and 65 footers. Southern Yachting is headed by Jonathan (Jon) Harris. Jon is a long term member of the Australian Olympic…
Marlow Ropes appoint Harken as new distributor in Australia
Sydney-based Harken Australia provides technical support, supply and distribution to the Australian leisure marine industry. The company already handles product ranges from marine deck hardware manufacturers, including Harken, Spinlock, Edson Steering and McLube. Paul Honess, Sales Director for Marlow Ropes Ltd…
Foiling GC32 cats return to the racecourse in France
Racing for the GC32 one design foiling catamarans of The Great Cup continues next week in the south of France. Four GC32s will compete in their own class at Marseille One Design, a brand new event backed by the Ville…
Ronstan releases new stainless and smaller Clear Start sailing watches
Melbourne, Australia – Understanding that no two sailors are alike, Ronstan has just expanded its Clear Start sailing watch range with two new styles and five new models designed specifically for sailors. They include a new smaller size watch that…
Oceanis 60 now available from Beneteau
Beneteau believe its Oceanis flagship cruiser looks majestic, on a voyage or at anchor. The Oceanis range, which Beneteau created in 1986, has been extended by the Oceanis 60. Characterised by a large cockpit, an open deck plan, a high-performing…
McConaghy Boats continues to flourish
In 2000, when Jono Morris and Mark Evans took over the reins of Australia’s premier boat builder, McConaghy, uppermost in their minds was growing the business to its full potential. Fourteen years on, it has exceeded their expectations. Established in…
Vicsail debuts new Sly 43
Having seen the new Sly43 at the Pittwater Marine Expo, at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, I thought “wow something different from Italy.” She is a little less beamy than the current range of new boats and has some serious…
Strong presence for Bavaria at the Southampton Boatshow
Bavaria will stage its largest display ever in the UK. The Southampton show has one of the largest temporary marinas in Europe and the show will run from the 12th to 21st September. Around 500 exhibitors will display over one…
Awlgrip by AkzoNobel supplies Extreme Sailing Series
AkzoNobel has entered into a two-year partnership to supply the Extreme Sailing Series an annual global stadium racing circuit featuring some of the latest high performance hull coatings. Bringing the action to a larger public with sailing close to shore, and dramatically…
Stealth i14 being built in China by China New Yachts
Constant innovation and boat handling are synonymous with the International 14 which has remained remarkably progressive considering it is one of the oldest racing classes in the world. Encouraged by a semi-restricted class rule, the i14 is all about controlled…
Patrice has clean sweep at Airlie Beach Race Week
The McConaghy Ker 46 Patrice has won the IRC division of this years Airlie Beach Race Week. With six consecutive first places Patrice secured overall victory and did not need to sail the last race. For Tony Kirby and his…
Positive outcome for Multihull Solutions at the Sydney International Boatshow
Multihull Solutions had an exceptional sales result at the 2014 Sydney International Boat Show recording four unconditional catamaran sales and signing three conditional contracts. At the show Multihull Solutions sold a TAG 50 catamaran as well as three Fountaine Pajot…
Mantus appoint Marine Innovations as Australian/NZ distributor
The Mantus anchor is a multi-purpose boat anchor now available in Australia and New Zealand from Marine Innovations. Distributors claim that over the past decade tests performed by various marine publications indicate that the new generation type boat anchors out-perform…
Nautitech Catamarans acquired by Bavaria Yachts
Bavaria Yachtbau and Nautitech Catamarans have finalised negotiations for the French catamaran manufacturer to be acquired by the Giebelstadt-based company. With this move, Bavaria expands its product portfolio of monohull yachts to include the growing market for catamarans and continues…
Win a trip for two to one of seven ports of call.
Scott Vogel, President of Composite Rigging, announced that the company is sponsoring the “ECsix T-Shirt Design Contest.” According to Vogel, “Everyone and anyone have a chance to win an expenses-paid “trip for two” to one of seven ports-of-call along the…
Lightwave Yachts to launch 45' Maestro at Raby Bay
Lightwave Yachts will be officially launching its Lightwave 45 Maestro, at Raby Bay Harbour pontoon on Saturday 9 August at 11.30am. By making some modifications to its 45 model, the Lightwave team has created a 45 foot catamaran with a…
Weta Marine launch the updated 2015 Weta
With a shift of manufacture to Xtreme Sailing Products based in Singapore, Weta Marine has taken the opportunity to improve its Weta trimaran. The design footprint is unchanged and the ‘one design’ rule will remain in place, but new moulds…
Oyster announce new coupe model the Oyster 675
The new Oyster 675 completes for now a new third tier to Oyster’s range, meeting the evolving needs of owners and how they view and crew their sailing. The twin rudder hull by Humphreys Yacht Design is configured and engineered to…
Sales at St Kilda's newest marina exceed expectations
Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron’s new marina opened just last February, but already the demand for the 20 year leases has seen them snapped up, with only 4 remaining on offer. General Manager Rod Austin said he was delighted with the…
Popular boxed anchoring kits offered by BLA
Due to customer demand BLA now offers a range of popular anchoring kits packaged in an informative retail carton. Each complete anchoring kit includes a galvanised sand anchor suitable for mud or sand bottoms, appropriate length of galvanised chain, two…
Good-natured ribbing expected at Sydney International Boat Show
Production boat importers all like to claim that their range of yachts is the fastest, most comfortable, strongest, best value-for-money and most modern. When you put them altogether in a small area, therefore, bragging rights become very important. According to…
Follow the Moonshadow to the Sydney International Boat Show
Taiwan boat builder Tayana Yachts will be making its debut at the Sydney International Boat Show (SIBS), launching its 'Elegance' range of blue water cruising yachts with Moonshadow, a Tayana Voyager 58 at Cockle Bay Marina. For the first time…
Highfield Ocean Master 640 to debut at SIBS
The Highfield Ocean Master 640 rigid inflatable will have its world debut at the Sydney International Boat Show. The 640 RIB performs well without compromising visual appeal. The models range from 3.5 to 6.4 metres giving buyers a flexibilityto select…
Inaugural Foiling Week at Lake Garda labelled a success
The inaugural Foiling Week took place on Lake Garda from 5 – 11 July and is already causing quite a stir in the fast and furious world of foiling. The new event created by Luca Rizzotti with colleagues Andrea Ratti…
Quantum Sails Australasia introduce a new loft to service FNQ
Quantum Sails Australasia has announced it has expanded its support in Queensland by signing on Sail Structures. With offices in Cairns, Port Douglas and Townsville, Sail Structures will service and support all the North Queensland customers, alongside Quantum Sails Queensland,…
The Hanse 455 will be launched by end of July
Hanse Yachts have released its latest model, the Hanse 455. Designed by Judel/Vrolijk & Co this yacht has 10% more sail area than the previous model. The builder claims that the cockpit is the largest in the class. All halyards,…
Eleven international teams to compete in the 33rd Copa del Rey Mapre
Eleven teams from seven different nations will compete for the 33rd Copa del Rey MAPFRE in the Nespresso X-35 class. The international fleet of X-35 will pit their skills in the Bay of Palma for the eighth consecutive year. The X-35…
The new Catalina 275 wins awards in the USA
The new C275 has a powerful rig with large main and self-tacking jib which makes it not only fast, but also easy to sail, claim the builders. The cockpit is appointed with comfortable, ergonomically designed outboard coamings. Designed by Gerry…
Premier Mike Baird christens raffle prize yacht Amazing Grace
A perfect Sydney day greeted NSW Premier Mike Baird as he arrived at Middle Harbour Yacht Club to officially name the prize Hanse 345 in the Amazing Grace raffle. The yacht raffle with a total prize value of over $250,000…
