Only six miles away but a million miles from worry
When I retired from work my wife and I thought we would be able to settle into the grey nomads’ life of chucking it all in and sailing off into the sunset. That was the plan, but then along came…
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.
Go go Iridium: are sat phones worth it?
For the first five years of cruising aboard Ceilydh our 40 foot catamaran, we used a combination of a single sideband, Pactor III modem and Sailmail to access weather and stay in touch while underway. The combination had its problems,…
Slammed by a two-storey wave – Lisa Blair's adventure in the Southern Ocean
February 2, 2017: Slammed by a Two-story Wave Afternoon All. Well the day started out eventfully and didn’t really stop. Lying in bed looking at the B&G Zeus Multi-Function Display I was trying to figure out if I needed to…
Chris Steele wins Warren Jones International Youth Regatta
The 15th Warren Jones International Youth Regatta came to a conclusion in perfect sailing conditions late on Friday afternoon as the sun was setting on Perth Waters in front of the City of Perth skyline. A warm summer day and…
Yamaha leads 18' Skiff NZL Championships after day one
Day 1 of the 2017 18’ Skiff New Zealand Championship, hosted by Royal Akarana Yacht Club provided the sailors perfect racing conditions on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour. Being Waitangi weekend, there were plenty of recreational boats enjoying the day, which also…
About Time wins game of patience in Port Hacking Race
Julian Farren-Price and his About Time crew persevered to win an agonizingly slow game of patience in Race 6 of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s (CYCA) Ocean Point Score (OPS), the Port Hacking Race today. On being told he…
Nandor Fa steps up routine checks in final days of Vendee Globe
Nandor Fa has been enduring some of the toughest conditions of his Vendée Globe just 1300 miles and some four days before the finish line. Riding the southern side of the low pressure system which has battered the French Atlantic…
Light breeze frustrates remaining Vendee Globe fleet
The Hungarian solo skipper Nandor Fa sails into the final weekend of his Vendée Globe with his mood lifted after what he admits have been some of the darkest days of his solo race around the world. To have got…
Legends Race to celebrate Volvo Ocean Race history in 2017-18
The Volvo Ocean Race will celebrate 45 years of history with a Legends Race on the final leg of the 2017-18 edition from Gothenburg to The Hague. Any yacht to have featured in the Whitbread Round the World Race or…
Record SB20 fleet expected for Crown Series on the Derwent
A fleet of more than 40 SB20 one-design sports boats, including several mainland crews, is expected to contest the Banjo’s Crown Series Bellerive Regatta later this month. SB20 State champion Scott Brain predicted the record fleet for the River Derwent…
I'm a different person says Vendee Globe finisher
After conquering the southern oceans for his first time, sailing a smart, assured race on his trusted, reliable IMOCA Bureau Vallée which he has had since 2011, the youngest skipper so far to finish this eighth edition of the Vendée…
Pod Tracker can be customised to protect your boat, tender or pet
Pod Tracker was created when inventor Sebastian Langton lost his pet cat Rango, who he called “possibly the coolest cat on the planet”. But the keen yachtsman, who once had a cruiser sink under him in the Atlantic Ocean, has now…
The last Eden: unique, remote, beautiful Port Davey
Abel Tasman may have sailed right past it in 1642, the chart he produced showed only a smooth coastline keeping beautiful, unique Port Davey hidden for another one hundred and sixty years. Until in 1798, along came Matthew Flinders with…
Inaugural winner of Australian Sailing Cruiser of the Year Award: Alan and Patricia Lucas
Every year sailors gather at a night where various awards are presented to racing sailors who have excelled in their chosen sport for that year. It was at the Australian Sailing Awards night in 2015 that Cruising Helmsman realised there…
Appliancesonline closes the gap on SMEG in 18 Footer Championship
It was a game of snakes and ladders for the minor podium places today in race four of the 18 Footers Australian Championship in a 9-12knot ESE. Lee Knapton’s Smeg led at the top mark the first time but David…
Deadly jellyfish warnings a concern for sailors in Moreton Bay
The migration of the deadly Irukandji jellyfish and related species has small boat sailors in Moreton Bay worried. Over the weekend, an article in the Brisbane Times reported the sighting of the Morbakka fenneri jellyfish off North Stradroke Island, causing the…
Grael and Kunze show their mettle on day four in Miami
For Brazil's Martine Soffiati Grael and Kahena Kunze, the fourth day of the 2017 World Cup Series Miami presented by Sunbrella started on a sour note, with a 14th in a 16-boat 49erFX fleet. “It was crazy,” said Kunze when…
Off the beach classes sign off the Festival of Sails 2017
The last day of a new Off The Beach series on Friday January 27 signalled the close of the Royal Geelong Yacht Club’s longstanding Festival of Sails for another year. A huge fleet of keelboats including classic boats, sports boats,…
Australian Sailing organisation congratulates recipients of Australia Day Honours 2017
The annual Australia Day Honours have recognised members of the sailing community for their contribution and achievements and Australian Sailing organisation congratulates them on their Awards. Rio 2016 Sailing Gold Medallist, Tom Burton has been recognised with a Medal of…
Stunning finale to Bay of Islands Sailing Week
An absolutely stunning day. That was the consensus of those on the water today for the final day of the 15th annual Bay of Islands Sailing Week regatta. Prior to racing this morning, regatta weather advisor Mike Quilter had predicted a…
ARC Channel Islands 2017 – open for registration
Following the successful first edition ARC Channel Islands last summer, World Cruising Club are pleased to announce that entries are now open for ARC Channel Islands 2017. The first edition of the rally, run in association with RYA Active Marina…
Dongfeng first boat to take delivery of refitted Volvo 65
There are 268 days until the Volvo Ocean Race fleet departs Alicante ahead of a 45,000 nautical mile marathon through the most challenging oceans on the planet, and Dongfeng Race Team are set to make the most of that preparation…
Death of celebrated yachting cartoonist Mike Peyton
Mike Peyton, dubbed “The World’s Greatest Yachting Cartoonist”, died yesterday (January 25) just five days after his 96th birthday. A modest, shy man, he eschewed the spotlight and seemed unaware of the esteem which in sailors all around the world…
Last day put wind into Festival of Sails Cruising and Classic deciders
Big winds tested all the cruising and classic divisions on the final day of the Festival of Sails 2017 presented by Rex Gorell Land Rover. Cool and fresh SW-SE breezes on Tuesday January 24 provided relief after Monday’s scorcher that…
Windy wind-up to Festival of Sails 2017
Sunshine and the most wind of the series, 20-25 knots at times, drained the last of the adrenalin from the 220 or so keelboat crews who have spent four days competing on Port Phillip and Corio Bay for a slice…
Full speed ahead to the finish for IDEC SPORT
Two hundred miles south of the Azores, IDEC SPORT is starting the final stretch of her round the world voyage in favourable winds, which they have managed to pick up, getting the timing just right ahead of a front associated…
One classic, one modern – Reichel Pugh releases two new superyacht designs
The Reichel/Pugh studio continually develops concepts which are the latest accumulation of thinking and research, however these only serve as a blank canvas from which an owner can begin to realize and develop his vision. The 200’ Classic is an…
New partnerships prove productive on opening day of World Cup Miami
The 49er class has never been a bastion of consistency. The overpowered skiff is challenging to sail, and because it accelerates so quickly in the smallest increase in wind speed, lead changes are frequent. When you toss in a shifty…
Heating up at the Festival of Sails 2017
Geelong baked on day three of the Festival of Sails and the winds ground to nought then finally to a pumping 20 knots out of the sou’west for the late finish of the Rating Series’ medium distance race in outer…
Lisa Blair blog – sailing south and it's getting cold
Well I still can't believe I am here sailing south… This is three years in the making with so many hurdles and set backs to overcome. There was also so much to get done in Albany that I never really…
Estate Master King of the Castle at Farr 40s again
Five wins from six starts easily captured the Farr 40 Newcastle One Design trophy for Martin Hill and his Estate Master team from Sydney, and puts them in a strong position heading into class’ NSW and Australian titles in February…
Glamour Super Sunday at Festival of Sails 2017
Super Sunday at the Festival of Sails capped off with a twilight sail off the Geelong foreshore, the perfect end to a blissful day’s racing at Australia’s oldest sailing regatta and Victoria’s oldest sporting trophy, dating back to 1844. A…
De’Longhi takes faultless win in race two of 18 Footers Australian Championship
Race two of the 18 Footers Australian Championship got away today in a 9 knot east-nor-easter. The fleet was eager to get started with a number of boats over the line early. Simon Nearn, Grant Rollerson and Niall Kinch on…
Foiling Moth takes line honours and establishes new record at Mount Gay Round Barbados Race
Bridgetown, Barbados (21 January, 2017): Andy Budgen sailing his Mach 2 foiling International Moth Nano Project completed the 60nm Mount Gay Round Barbados Race at a record pace of 4 hours, 23 minutes, 18 seconds, to established the Absolute Foiling…
Lisa Blair departing on her Antarctic circumnavigation attempt
Sydney-based sailor Lisa Blair will depart on her record breaking attempt to circumnavigate Antarctica on Sunday 22 January 2017. Delayed by an electrical issue last weekend which saw Lisa conduct repairs and replacements as well as numerous sea trials throughout the…
History repeats as Melbourne to Geelong Passage Race kicks off 2017 Festival of Sails
Line honours in the 174th Melbourne to Geelong Passage Race, the curtain opener to the Festival of Sails, was a repeat of the 2016 finish with Geoff Boettcher’s TP52 Secret Mens Business (SA) the first monohull and Bare Essentials (VIC)…
Newcastle throws up day one challenges for Farr 40s
The skipper of Estate Master Martin Hill and his tactician David Chapman used their big swell experience in a different class to their advantage on the opening day of the Farr 40 Newcastle One Design Trophy. Seas on day two…
Vendee Globe continues as leaders celebrate in Les Sables
As the dust settles on an historic Vendée Globe victory for French sailor Armel Le Cléac'h, the majority of the remaining skippers are now on the final 'leg' to the finish line. With Le Cléac'h's Banque Populaire and second-placed Alex…
Star studded field at WMRT Swan River Match Cup
The first WMRT event of 2017 presents a starting grid where several teams easily could claim a spot at the top of any World Championship level event. Olympic gold medallists, podium finishers at the WMRT Finals 2016, World Champions and…
Thomson claims second in historic Vendée Globe race
British yachtsman Alex Thomson today took the runner-up spot in the Vendée Globe to become the solo round-the-world race's second-fastest sailor ever. Thomson, 42, set out to become the first Brit ever to win the Vendée Globe but following an…
