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 boat: Hanse 320 Australian Hanse distributor Windcraft is targeting new territory with the value-for-money Hanse 320, reports Caroline Strainig. Every time I see a new boat, I am amazed how much space they have packed in. “Surely, this must…
Jeanneau's latest racer combines short-handed practicality with IRC sensibilty, By Andy Robertson. Giants such as Jeanneau and Beneteau have long since learned not to dabble in the niche markets, to make short to medium sized runs of race type boats….
Any yacht venturing offshore needs one of these! Designed for use by rescue teams, and in particular for cutting people out of wrecked cars and collapsed buildings, it must be the quickest and simplest way of cutting rod or wire…
Sunbeam shines in EuropeA model from the European-built Sunbeam range which will arrive in Australia shortly has been voted Europe's top yacht of the year by experts from 11 leading yachting magazines. Winning features cited include deck/hull design, the brightness…
Practical: my boat Kirsten Wilkins and her partner Paul find the Hood 23 fits the bill when it comes to getting on the water without spending up big. When we tell people we have a yacht, they usually give us…
Azzura Marine, has launched one of the world's fastest luxury sailing multihull yachts. Azzura Marine's Managing Director confirmed that the 32 metre multihull, Necker Belle (formerly Lady Barbaretta), has undergone a major refit and refurbishment. The light weight, all-carbon fibre…
The new Simrad NSE series of multifunction displays incorporates radar, chartplotter and sonar technology. The versatile NSE8 and NSE12 are compatible with the most powerful marine technology available, including BR24 Broadband Radar and BSM-1 Broadband Sounder, and come pre-loaded with…
Navico Australia goes directNavico Australia is to expand its distribution strategies to supply Simrad and Northstar products directly to all Australian dealers and boatbuilders from its Sydney logistics centre.Navico Asia Pacific's chief operations officer, John Scott, said several factors ð…
DECKEYE VIEW: SUPERMAXI This is one feline that definitely purrs, reports Kevin Green, from the deck of the newest 98ft carbon rocketship. The 10 knot northeasterly breeze blew across a relatively quiet Sydney Harbour as Leopard sliced through the flat…
The Hydro is a watersports version of the popular Crocs Cayman footwear, using the same proprietary Croslite material. Lightweight, anti-microbial and extremely well cushioned, the Hydro incorporates a neoprene upper, with slip-resistant, non-marking soles, and has a recommended retail price…
Living Legends: Mick York David Salter celebrates the life-in-progress of a remarkable Australian yachtsman. WE’VE ALL met them. Some of us have been lucky enough to sail with them. They’re that special breed of yachtie who seem to embody all…
PROFILE: WILL OXLEY Back home after a hectic year of international yacht racing, Will Oxley talks to Lulu Roseman about what drives him in his role as a navigator and sailor. Having clocked up over 200,000 nautical miles during his…
Wild Oats XI's new rig reinvents old technology, by Bob Ross. CONTINUOUS carbon fibre rigging construction, the latest measure to reduce weight and windage aloft, was demonstrated effectively by both line honours winner Wild Oats XI and Tattersall's Cup overall…
Beneteau in Airlie BeachThe exclusive French range of Beneteau yachts and sister companies is now represented in the Whitsundays.Mike (The dealership includes Beneteau sailboats, Lagoon Catamarans and Wauquiez yachts. As well as selling new boats, Vicsail Whitsunday offers warranty and…
In this year's Northern regatta season, the brands of Bavaria Yachts and X-Yachts accounted for five series wins, one second and one third. With 28 podium finishes in the Cruising divisions from 17 races over 10 divisions, this is an…
CLASSIC RESTORATION: Nerida Sir James Hardy’s beautiful 1933 gaff cutter Nerida sank at her mooring last June after being struck by runaway yachts during two violent Sydney Harbour storms. David Salter outlines the restoration. WHERE DO you start’ Nerida was…
Brisbane-based company Lanotec produces a range of lanolin-based natural lubricants. Lanolin, derived from sheep’s wool, is a biolubricant and is more environmentally friendly than traditional petro-chemical based lubricants.The biolube is biodegradable and non-toxic. Lanotec is dedicated not only to the…
Veteran British sailor George Stead, who spends the northern hemisphere winters in New Zealand, has developed the BoatiesFryPan, which is rectangular-shaped to fit boat and other compact recreational stoves. Measuring 250x200x45mm and weighing 950gm, the pan is made of 4mm…
Fountaine Pajot has enhanced its Flagship Class of luxury sailing catamarans with the launch of the spectacular Galathea 65. Priced from AUD$3.3m, the Galathea 65 is the largest cruising vessel ever built by Fountaine Pajot and is constructed with isopthalic…
Bellingham Marine Australia (BMA) recently completed another project in theSouthport area. BMA was contracted by 'Abigroup' and the Gold Coast City Council, to design, construct and install a floating public access pontoon as part of the Gold Coast City Council's…
Australia's newest and smallest imported sailboat has just emerged triumphant from one of the toughest tests on the planet. A Canadian-built NorseBoat 17.5 travelled 1400 miles through the Arctic, crewed by a team of Royal Marines. “Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Oliver…
AROUND THE YARDS: SUPERYACHTS Yard work is thriving across the superyacht sector with an interesting mix of design styles, materials and construction techniques, reports Kevin Green. In the Australia-Pacific region alone, yards in New Zealand such as Alloy and Fitzroy…
CLASS PROFILE After 33 years the home-grown single-hander continues to provide keen competition for all ages, by Rob Hartnett REX FETTELL designed the popular Minnow junior sailing dinghy prior to finalising the Sabre design in 1974.Initially he considered simply stretching…
My Boat A shoal-draught that enables you to boldly go where most cruising yachts cannot go is just one of the pluses of the Norwalk Islands Sharpie, writes Petrea Heathwood. Ten years ago, after years envying the versatility of shoal-draught…
2008 BOATS The latest European yachts show an impressive increase in specifications, from starter boats to exciting cruisers, and many will be destined for our shores during the year, reports Kevin Green. Bavaria's new and improved 31 footer replaces the…
Hot Hobart Boats It's going to be tough at the top in a healthy Rolex Sydney-Hobart race fleet, writes Bob Ross. BOB OATLEY's ambition to take line honours in the Rolex Sydney-Hobart race for the third successive year with Wild…
DESIGN: BRUCE NELSON America's Cup designer Bruce Nelson’s distinguished career has encompassed many of the key designs in modern racing, including dashing Australian hopes in defending the auld mug, reports Kevin Green. New York-born designer Bruce Nelson's long and distinguished…
PROFILE: ADAM BEASHEL In sailing terms, the name Beashel goes back three generations, reports Di Pearson. Like his grandfather, father and old brother before him, Adam Beashel has excelled in the sport he grew up with and loves. Here, he…
CLASSICS YACHTS During a recent visit to Europe, David Salter surrendered to the seductions of some of the world’s great classic yachts. IT IS, of course, utterly illogical to ascribe human qualities to a yacht. They are mere wood, stainless…
Mag-Lite torches can be upgraded with a new release from Nite Ize. The 1 Watt upgrade kit is designed for AA Mini Mag-Lites, to increase their power and efficiency with a 1 watt white LED light. Offering super-bright flood or…
Is the tide high or low? Coming in or going out? Whether surfing, sailing, swimming or just strolling along the sand, you need to know. Tidetime offers Australia’s largest range of tide clocks, a unique product designed for a niche…
Marine Solutions has introduced Boat Bunkers inflatable boat fenders as a practical, space-saving alternative to traditional fenders. The Boat Bunkers fenders pack up to almost nothing for easy storage and take just seconds to prepare via a few strokes of…
Nylex has introduced three new products to its Esky High Performance range, the 2.5 litre and 5lt jugs and the 6lt Lunchtime Cooler, all ergonomically designed for comfortable use and easy transportation. The 2.5 and 5lt jugs provide maximum cooling…
New Products Lightwave's Grande plan After the release of the popular Lightwave 45 Sports in 2005, Lightwave has fast-tracked a new super-size deck design and plans to launch a 45 Grande later this year. “A Lightwave 38 owner commissioned a…
Esthec decking is a new composite material supplied in sheets or as a custom-made deck, to provide luxurious appearance and functional qualities. The Dutch company Bolidt has developed the new decking in a wide choice of colour, texture and form…
Coursemaster Autopilots has been appointed Australian importer/distributor for the Seaview range of radar and satellite antenna mounts. Coursemaster has been designing and manufacturing autopilots in Sydney for more than 30 years and exporting to Europe, Asia, Middle East and North…
AROUND THE YARDS C.2123 Main Characteristics The Italian superyacht yard in conjunction with Kiwi designer Ron Holland will build another all-aluminium yacht, the eighth in a successful series. The order for the 56m ketch, hull number C.2123 will be the…
Sean Rahilly – Man and a boat profile Between his Late father being a ship captain, and growing up close to the water in Sydney's eastern suburbs, it was inevitable that Sean Rahilly would take up sailing as a sport….
NEW OWNER'S PERSPECTIVE Partnership afloat Taking delivery of a shiny new Sydney 36CR has given Sean Rahilly's sailing a real boost, reports Di Pearson. With a ship's captain for a father and growing up close to the water in Sydney's…
NEW OWNER'S PERSPECTIVE Getting afloat with a new boat is never cheap, except perhaps when sharing the burden with others, reports Di Pearson. So many options are available to prospective yacht owners today: ticketed lessons, casual bareboat and skippered charter,…
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