All News
The latest news from the world of yachting and sailing including yacht & dinghy reviews, cruising and destination information plus the latest boating gear as well as inshore and offshore racing updates and regatta schedules. All things Sailing, Sail Racing, Sailboats and more.
IDEC SPORT in the Doldrums
Twenty-three days after setting sail from Hong-Kong on her attempt at the Tea Route record, the IDEC SPORT maxi trimaran is currently dealing with that tricky stretch of sailing involving crossing the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone, more commonly known as the…
SailGP inspiring Sydney’s next generation
SYDNEY – February 11, 2020 – As the world’s top sailors prepare for the first event of SailGP Season 2, 60 young people will get the chance to rub shoulders with world-class athletes in Sydney through SailGP Inspire. The global…
On the hunt for a wooden heart
The Completing our Customs Inward Report: small craft, to return to New Zealand upsets me. Why? Because in the hull composition section and there are many sections this is for NZ remember, we have to tick the box marked ‘other’….
Downwind – everything you need to know about bad air
David Dellenbaugh is one of the world's most accomplished sailors. He writes a regular newsletter containing invaluable tips and information that is vital to racing sailors. To subscribe to David's regular Speed & Smarts newsletter, go to www.SpeedandSmarts.com. Following is…
Sailing clubs with good ideas #1 – WELCOME!
Too many sailing clubs in Australia still have “Members Only” signs at their entrance, reinforcing the image of the sport as exclusive and inaccessible. So it was great to see this huge sign near the entrance to Sandringham Yacht Club…
Alexander and Stipanovic lead Laser Worlds after an up-and-down first day
There is an Australian on top of the ILCA Laser Standard World Championship leader board, but it is not one of the pre-event favourites. Finn Alexander, ranked just 36th in the world, finished the day with a first and second…
Condensed qualification series tightens the screws at Nacra/49er Worlds
Former German 49erFX teammates combined beautifully to lead on the first day of racing – much to their surprise. Tina Lutz’s regular crew Susann Beucke injured herself soon after the 2019 World Championship in Auckland and Lotta Wiemers agreed to…
Strong winds forecast for 49er, 49erFX and Nacra Worlds in Geelong
Half the contenders vying for an Olympic spot know they’ve made the cut and the other half are still aiming for selection, adding extra strain to the make-or-break 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championship, the last major class title…
A regatta in aid of homeless youth
The Property Industry Foundation, better known as PIF, raises money for homeless kids. Every night across Australia an estimated 44,000 kids are homeless. That means children living on the streets. Over the last 5 years PIF has raised over $6,500,000,…
Bill Gates orders £500m hydrogen-powered superyacht
Bill Gates has ordered the world’s first hydrogen-powered superyacht, worth an estimated £500m ($644m) and featuring an infinity pool, helipad, spa and gym. The billionaire co-founder of Microsoft has commissioned the Aqua ship – a 112-metre (370ft) luxury vessel completely powered by liquid…
Clipper fleet charging towards ocean sprint
The increased wind speed has seen the fleet charge towards the Dell Latitude Rugged Ocean Sprint. Across the board, the teams have reported increased boat speeds and the varied change in conditions has introduced the newer crew members to a…
Zhik's new P3 PFD is cut out for competitive sailing and watersports
Zhik’s new P3 PFD is a light, ‘race-cut’ buoyancy vest and is ISO 12402-5 certified. Designed with smooth lines and cut-away neck and shoulders Zhik says it allows you maximum freedom of movement. “Practical for dinghies, sports boats and watersports…
Deciphering true and apparent wind direction and wind angle
The wireless, solar-powered Wind Instrument RB set a new standard as the first masthead anemometer with a digital compass inside the wind direction arrow. Traditional masthead anemometers use a potentiometer to measure changes in voltage resistance as the arrow turns with the…
A good range of conditions forecast for first days of Laser Worlds
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA. FEB 10, 2020: Most champion sailors like a mixture of conditions at important regattas. If wind strengths vary from light through moderate to strong, then generally one of the best all-round sailors takes the title. The leading contenders…
No racing on first day of 49er, 49erFX and Nacra Worlds in Geelong
A day of waiting disappointingly ended without any racing at the 2020 world title for the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 classes in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. The Race Committee monitored conditions on Corio Bay from well before the morning session…
IDEC SPORT at the Equator and race for the record back on
Francis Joyon and the crew of IDEC SPORT crossed the Equator this morning (Sunday) at around 1000hrs UTC after some slow progress and a a lot of difficulties getting way from the South Atlantic. In light westerlies blowing at around…
America's Cup: Has Luna Rossa pushed boat design harder than Team New Zealand?
British America's Cup skipper Sir Ben Ainslie has hinted the Italians might have outdone Team New Zealand when it comes to design creativity with the radical new boats. Ainslie, who heads INEOS Team UK, knows plenty about Team New Zealand…
Burling and Tuke chasing another 49er world title
If they hadn't already won a few, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke might have felt a bit short changed with their latest stint as 49er world champions. The pair won their fifth 49er world title in Auckland in December and…
Clipper Race: Groundhog Day
As the current leaderboard positions remain unchanged, it has some of the teams feeling like it is Groundhog Day, with the Asian teams of Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam, Visit Sanya, China and Qingdao continuing to lead the charge towards…
Maloney and Meech out of 49erFX world championships
Alex Maloney and Molly Meech have withdrawn from the upcoming 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 world championships in Melbourne after Maloney fractured her foot in training two days ago. The Olympic silver medallists were among the contenders to add to…
IDEC Sport into the South Atlantic
Each day comes with its particular difficulty, and after 20 days of sailing and having clocked up more than 11,000 miles during her attempt at the Tea Route record, the IDEC SPORT maxi trimaran is continuing her erratic climb up…
Great Britain SailGP Team line-up confirmed
Great Britain SailGP Team, presented by INEOS, has revealed its full team line-up ahead of the SailGP Season 2 opener in Sydney on 28-29 February. The new-look crew has a wealth of talent and experience on-board and is already a…
Yacht towed to safety after engine failure
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The Coast Guard Cutter Willow (WLB-202) crew rescued a total of four people in two search and rescue cases while underway in the Caribbean Basin. In the first search and rescue case, the cutter Willow…
Goiot escape hatches recall campaign for multihull builders
The leading multihull builders, LAGOON, FOUNTAINE PAJOT, CATANA-BALI, NAUTITECH have fitted their boats with escape hatches made by GOIOT SYSTEMS and located on the inner edges of the hulls. GOIOT SYSTEMS has notified the boatbuilders of a recall campaign concerning…
SailGP sells minority stake to Endeavor
LONDON – February 6, 2020 – On the verge of embarking on its second season of operation, SailGP has sold a minority stake to global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor. Endeavor’s investment position in SailGP values the global sports…
This weekend for the Wooden Boat Festival of Geelong
The countdown is truly on with only days to go until the 2020 Wooden Boat Festival of Geelong, hosted by the Royal Geelong Yacht Club, and presented by Wooden Boatshop and Yanmar. The family festival will run over the Labour…
35th Pineapple Cup-Montego Bay Race Returns January 2021
JANUARY 29, 2020 – Montego Bay, Jamaica – The Montego Bay Yacht Club and Manuka Sports Event Management announced today that the 35th edition of the Pineapple Cup – Montego Bay Race, will start on January 23 and 24, 2021 from Miami. The 2021 edition…
Francis Joyon heading west
Francis has come to a decision. Between an option on the short route close to the coast of Africa, which would be slow, or a very long detour extending his route, he has decided to go west around the Doldrums…
Coast Guard rescues mariner from boat grounded at Hilo Bay
from www.staradvertiser.com The U.S. Coast Guard is assessing today the environmental impacts of a motorized sailboat, operated by an older man who said he crossed the Pacific, and crashed Monday along a rocky shoreline in Hilo Bay. Hawaii County Fire…
An introduction to short-handed sailing
With the growth in popularity of short-handed sailing and a schedule of exciting offshore events, a platform to provide specific information has been developed by the French super brand JPK and sail design specialist North Sails. JPK and North Sails…
Yacht Racing Forum 2020 destined for Portsmouth Harbour
The Yacht Racing Forum will take place for the first time in the United Kingdom, on 23 – 24 November 2020. The event will be based around Portsmouth Harbour, with the main conference taking place in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard's Action…
Yoann Richomme announced as skipper for Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team
The Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team has today announced that Yoann Richomme will skipper the team’s ‘Racing for the Planet’ boat in the 2021 edition of The Ocean Race, the world’s longest and toughest sporting event. Lasting for over nine months…
Danish capital to host Copenhagen SailGP in September
COPENHAGEN – February 3, 2020 – SailGP today announced the ROCKWOOL Copenhagen SailGP will take place in the Danish capital on September 11-12, marking the fifth event in the global championship’s second season. ROCKWOOL will be the Title Partner for…
Eclectic range of events planned for 2020 as 5.5 Metre Class continues to evolve
Coming off the back of an extremely successful and fruitful world championship in Australia at the start of the year, the International 5.5 Class has planned a fantastic range of events through 2020 including several traditional haunts, as well as…
IDEC Sport tackling St. Helena
The Indian Ocean is behind them and now they face St. Helena. Francis Joyon and his crew of four were clearly pleased and relieved to return to the Atlantic yesterday morning. Christophe Houdet, Bertrand Delesne, Antoine Blouet and Corentin Joyon…
Moonen Yachts is naming rights sponsor for Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race 2021
The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) in Sydney and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) in Auckland take great pleasure in announcing Moonen Yachts as the naming rights sponsor of the inaugural Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race 2021. …
First act of MC38 2020 season goes to Lightspeed
The MC38s are back at it and the new season began with fireworks, Lightspeed struck hard by Lazy Dog in a port/starboard incident in fresh conditions on Saturday February 1 and unable to finish the day, but ultimately returning to…
Coast Guard reminds mariners of hazardous bar conditions in Pacific Northwest
SEATTLE – The Coast Guard advises all mariners of the dangers related to crossing hazardous bars in the Pacific Northwest. Recent incidents have highlighted the challenges of attempting to cross waterway bars in heavy weather and at night. The marine…
The Amalfi that only sailors see
The Amalfi coast of Italy between Naples and Salerno hosts Australian visitors by the hundreds of thousands and for good reason; the people, the food, the wine, the history, the scenery and Mt. Vesuvius volcano to name a few. But…
