Luxurious Hanse 455
The latest entry into the Australian cruising market from Hanse has left owners wanting for little. The 455 has everything from the deepest forward locker I have seen, to a hidden wine rack, to a grab rail on the dodger,…
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.
B&G offers free software upgrade that gives navigators valuable startline information
B&G has announced the latest in its software updates for the Zeus2 series multi-functional displays (MFD) and Glass Helm systems. The new software focuses on racing startline technology that helps the navigator put the yacht in the right place at…
French yacht regatta to be sailed out of RQYS in October
The weekend of Oct 24/25 sees this year’s Spirit Marine French Yacht Challenge and Queensland Beneteau Cup, hosted by the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron. Now in its 9th year, the event is organised by the Qld Beneteau Owners Group and…
THE AMERICA’S CUP 1983 film now available for digital download and digital rental
SEA-TV Productions has just made THE AMERICA’S CUP 1983 film available online for digital download and digital rental. “Previously available only on DVD, THE AMERICA’S CUP 1983 will now be made instantly accessible worldwide at a very reasonable price,” says SEA-TV…
A look back in history – the Swan 36 Tarantella
It all began in 1966 with a Sparkman & Stephens-designed 36-footer commissioned by local builder Pekka Koskenkylä. Pekka had the intuition and the ability to convince Sparkman & Stephens – New York, one of the most acclaimed yacht designers at…
Countdown to Mini Transat and a look at boat design
The 2015 Mini Transat îles de Guadeloupe will be no different to previous editions in being a true laboratory for the latest developments in yacht design whose adoption will depend on how well they work and how practical they are….
New features for Australia and New Zealand Navionics chart customers
Navionics has announced new updates to Australia and New Zealand charts as well as recent innovations and expanded compatibility. SonarChart for Garmin GPS This version of the SonarChart HD bathymetry map, customized for use with several Garmin GPS chartplotters and…
Helia and TAG multihulls on display at Sydney International Boat Show
Multihull Solutions is bringing one of the world’s most popular sailing catamarans to the Sydney International Boat Show this weekend, as well as showcasing the highly acclaimed range of TAG Yachts. The company will exhibit the Fountaine Pajot Helia 44…
Bali 4.3 Catamaran on display at the Sydney International Boat Show
Dream Yacht Sales has announced they will have the new Catana Bali 4.3 Catamaran at the Sydney Boat Show from Thursday 30 July to Monday 3 August. The importers say this new Bali 4.3 catamaran represents 'a paradigm shift in…
See the Corsair Dash 750 at SIBS
For people who want a fun boat to sail, an easy boat to transport to the water and plenty of bang for their buck, the Corsair Dash 750 could be the answer. Corsair's Australian agent, Multihull Central, says the trimaran…
Corsair Pulse 600 – fast, fun and easy to tow behind the family car
When I caught sight of the fire-engine red Pulse 650 at Sanctuary Cove, my first reaction was “wow”. We all know red things go faster than other coloured ones, but the Pulse's sleek design screamed “sail me”. Fortunately, I got…
Seawind 1160 LITE – light weight but solid performance
According to importers Multihull Central, this new lightweight version of the Seawind 1160 has proven a hit, with 10 boats ordered and delivered or being built. With 20hp outboard motors, light furniture and new stylish design, plus added features such…
Multihull Central offers specialist advice at six locations around Australia
Multihulls are the fastest-growing category in the sailing industry at present, with increasing entries in regatta weeks and many more cruising cats heading along the coast or out into the Pacific. According to Multihull Central director Brent Vaughan, his company…
Infiniti Yachts and Farr Yacht Design partner to create new 53ft DSS racer
Infiniti Yachts and Dynamic Stability Systems (DSS) have entered into an agreement with Farr Yacht Design to design the new Infiniti 53 racing yacht. Design work and preparation of builder quote packages and pricing for the yacht is proceeding quickly…
Win a pair of Canon image-stabilised binoculars at the Sydney International Boat Show
Two visitors to the Yaffa Sailing stand at the Sydney International Boat Show will win a pair of Canon 8×25 image-stablised binoculars. To show you how effective these binoculars are, we've devised a simple competition. Just look through the glasses…
The Azuree 46 will make its debut at Sydney International Boat Show
All Boat Brokerage, the Australian agent for the Azuree brand of yachts, has announced that the new Azuree 46 will be on display at the Sydney International Boat Show between July 30 and August 3. All Boats director, Michael Bell,…
Discovery Yachts announce the launch of a new 48 footer
Discovery Yachts has launched a smaller version of their 55 footer, the new D48 which has a choice of two and three cabin layouts, with single or twin wheels and a large cockpit. The 48 will retain the practical raised…
High-tech FB35 Young Guns hits the water in Sydney
As the official builder for the 18ft Skiff Class, Brett Van Munster, of Van Munster Boats, is one of the world’s best exponents of high-technology hull construction of performance racing boats, but Brett and his team are also very experienced…
Jeanneau 54 to debut at Cannes Boat Show in September
Jeanneau yachts have been making an impact in Australia, forging a reputation as cruising boats that are well-built, comfortable and that sail well. They are often seen racing in cruising divisions at various race weeks, where they are often among…
Andrew McDougall unveils new Wasp at Foiling Week
Last year at the Foiling Week Andrew McDougall presented the development process that started back in 2010 to a keen audience and decided the TFW Forum would be the perfect place to let the WASZP hatch: “Foiling week just rocks,…
West System Six10 pre-thickened gap-filling epoxy
West System's Six10 is a pre-thickened, gap-filling epoxy that the manufacturer says has a smooth, non-sagging consistency that trowels easily, so it is ideal for filling voids and making fillets. West System says Six10 adhesive provides similar characteristics to 105…
Performance Cruising Yachts to debut five new yachts at Sydney Boat Show
Performance Cruising Yachts is bringing an armada of new models to the Sydney International Boat Show from leading French brand Dufour and Slovenia's Elan. All up there will be five yachts on display at the Performance Cruising Yachts stand in…
Swan 54 announced for Nautor's blue water cruising Swan Line range
Nautor’s Swan launched an addition to its SwanLine range: the Swan 54. A pure bluewater cruiser designed by naval architect German Frers, who has been working alongside Nautor's Swan for more than two decades. With the first of four Swan…
Nautitech 40 to star for Ensign at Sydney boat show
The arrival of new boats into Australia continues as Ensign announces the Nautitech Open 40 will be on display at the Sydney International Boat Show. The Nautitech Open 40 name relates to the Voisard-Lombard vision of a disproportionate amount of…
Fountaine Pajot launches new catamaran aimed at the popular 40ft market
A brand new sailing catamaran just launched by Fountaine Pajot is set to shake up the world’s popular 40’ market according to distributors Multihull Solutions. Replacing the successful Lipari 41 and Mahe 36, the design of the new Fountaine Pajot…
Elan E5: Two worlds collided
I first saw the Elan E5 at Las Palmas Marina while waiting for the start of the 2014 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers. The boat like many new cruiser racers has a wide transom incorporating a soft chine and had been…
Dynamic Stability Systems unveils a fully foiling keelboat
Dynamic Stability System (DSS) is pleased to unveil the Quant23, which after its first preliminary sea trials in Cowes last week has proved itself to be one of its first – if not THE first – fully foiling keel boat….
Dufour Yachts agency moves to Performance Cruising Yachts
Movements in the boat agency market has been on the move recently as signs of a good-selling summer begin to emerge. The latest announcement has seen Performance Cruising Yachts appointed the exclusive agency and importer for Dufour Yachts as of…
Vicsail Sydney announces upgrades and packages for Oceanis range in month of June
The Beneteau Oceanis has been a popular yacht range since its introduction just a few years ago. Now Vicsail Sydney is offering deal packages for its Oceanis range: the 35, 38 and 41 for the month of June Beneteau say…
Hope for the pearling lugger Grafton lying on the mud flats at Port Douglas
While in Port Douglas for the Mickey Ink Port Douglas Race Week, I spotted this hulk lying on the mudflats opposite the Reef Marina. Talking with locals, I discovered it is a Torres Strait pearling lugger named Grafton which is…
The latest model from the Hanse Five series the 455 has arrived in Sydney
The Hanse 455 is the latest model from the Hanse Five series, a 45 foot performance yacht with contemporary design and flexible layout options, has arrived in Sydney. A few years ago the average size of cruising yacht new buyers…
Brenta 80 to be displayed at the Cannes Boat Show
After four decades in the yachting industry, boatbuilder Michael Schmidt continues to design and build yachts to delight boat owners. His new build the Brenta 80DC, a vespa green, 80-foot sail superyacht is being built at his new boatyard, Michael…
Neel 65, the largest production build trimaran, will debut at Cannes
The Neel Trimaran's workshop, based in La Rochelle France, will present its first Neel 65, flagship of its range. The first unit of the series will be launched on May 28 this year in La Rochelle. The Neel 65 inherits…
Interesting sales idea for Rave V – tell your mates and get one free
Riding on the back of the thirst to foil generated by the 34th America's Cup, a US company has come up with an innovative way to sell their new foiler – offering the first five buyers a chance to get…
Old and new sit side by side at Noakes North Sydney
Visit Noakes Boatyard on the water at Berrys Bay and you will find two boats 101 years apart in age and design. In its main building Peter Langman is quietly working on a new build that adds to the burgeoning…
Giving an 8 Metre some backbone and lightening her load
Following a speedy mini-refit at Fairlie Yachts in the UK last year, the beautiful Mylne designed 8m yacht Helen is currently back at the yard undergoing the replacement of her backbone. The aim of the work is to reduce all…
Stunning new copper cladding for 84ft Fife Classic Kenta
Kentra, the 1923, 84ft Fife Classic has emerged from the Fairlie Yachts shed at Hamble in the UK this month, looking truly stunning with her shiny new re-coppered hull. The traditional re-coppering process was carried out by the skilled shipwrights…
New racing multihulls
Over the past 10 years, the market for cruising multihulls has been growing steadily. With more room, more comfort and more speed than a similar-sized monohull, the only real drawback has been the lack of marina berths and the costs…
Norths to roll out new generation sails at Etchells Australasians
North Sails Australia will show case their newly designed TKR mainsail at this year’s Marinepool Etchells Australasian Winter Championship which is being conducted by Mooloolaba Yacht Club from June 4 to 7. It’s taken two years of research and…
Pack of Wallys headed for Gaastra PalmaVela
Palma de Mallorca, 23rd April 2015: Since its creation in 1994, the Wally design has managed to situate itself at the very top of an extremely demanding sector, whose owners strive for a difficult balance between the greatest standards of…
