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.
SAILING LIFESYLES A lifetime's involvement in sailing boats still wasn't enough excitement for some, as Helen Hopcroft found out. People dream of the perfect sea change: a new life of sipping cool drinks on a shady veranda in the tro…
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…
DESTINATIONS: HONG KONG Who better to ask about sailing in Hong Kong than 1997 Sydney – Hobart race winner, owner of the Reichel/Pugh 45 Beau Geste, and president of the Hong Kong Sailing Federation Karl Kwok, which is why I…
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…
Crusing The Whitsundays Mediterranean-style flotilla fun in the sun is catching on in the Whitsundays as a marketing tool, reports Caroline Strainig. “Flotilla.” It's a word more synonymous with the Med than the Whitsundays, but that is set to change…
Cruising The Whitsundays Well here it is 2008 and the world continues to become a different place. We have a new federal government, Britain has a new Prime Minister and the good ol' US of A is looking for a…
Cruising The Whitsundays Want to wine and dine during your holiday, or simply plan your cruise around reprovisioning spots? This handy-at-a-glance guide compiled by John Champion will help you do just that. Peppers Palm Bay Long IslandSwing moorings either inside…
Cruising The Whitsundays What's making the news? Plenty, says John Champion, who details here the latest on-water and on-land developments. On the waterMuddy Bay Marina, officially known as The Port of Airlie, continues to be built. Numerous trucks and excavators…
The strong performances have continued for the Australian Sailing Team on day two of the Skandia Sail for Gold regatta in Weymouth, England, with three crews leading their fleets. On a day where wind gusts of upwards of 25 knots…
A long delay ashore was followed by more waiting on the water but in the end there was no racing today. The weather, or more specifically the imminent threat of lightning, finally took its toll today off Cartagena where the…
Fast, comfortable, downwind racing was the order of the day yesterday, said Spirit of Australia's skipper, Brendan Hall, this morning. “We hoisted the heavyweight spinnaker mid morning and ran with it all day.” As the fleet charges down the English…
Laying the anchor: Well done, it's the difference between a good night's sleep at an anchorage or a restless one filled with anxiety.Unlike the tinnie sailor who simply throws the anchor over the side and hopes for the best, the…
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…
Destination: South Pacific David Isom discovers a timeless land unspoilt by its increasing popularity when he calls in at the archetypal island paradise that is the Kingdom of Tonga. If you really fancy cruising around Tonga, there are only two…
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…
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…
The Australian Sailing Team has had an impressive start to the Sail for Gold regatta in Weymouth, England, with three crews topping their classes after day one of racing. The 470 men's crew of Mathew Belcher and Malcolm Page, Laser…
Defending Region of Murcia Trophy holders Bribon (ESP) won the practice race for the TP52 Series today as the 10 boat fleet completed their final warm up for the showdown last regatta of the 2009 Audi MedCup Circuit season. Perhaps…
Following a truly magnificent send off from Hull and Humber yesterday, the ten teams competing in the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race are making excellent progress on the first leg of their 35-000 mile circumnavigation. The fleet benefited…
Destinations: Thailand Fronting both the Pacific and Indian Oceans, Thailand has over 1700 nautical miles of tropical coastline to entice both racing and cruising sailors, writes Fiona Harper. Whether your interest is sprinting around the buoys, or cruising among the…
PRACTICALITIES BY ANDREW BRAY Keeping up to date with what's available gives the sailor even more freedom and assurance on the water. We look at the situation now and ahead and at what options we have. Current safety comms in…
JUST CRUISING BY KEITH FLEMING Once you start your cruising life water takes on a new meaning so catching rain can be an important way to keep your tanks full. To design an efficient water catcher you need to look…
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…
WA – THE CANALS GEOGRAPHE BAY RACE WEEK 2008 The sixth The Canals Geographe Bay Race Week 2008 is set to kick-off again, reports Brad Skeggs. Geographe Bay Race Week, starting February 22, 2008, is undeniably the premier regatta in…
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…
Malaysia's Monsoon Cup The world's first purpose-built venue captivates sailing stars and the crowds in Malaysia, by Bob Ross. REMEMBER the Hollywood movie Field of Dreams. An Iowa farmer played by Kevin Costner, in response to hallucinatory voices saying “If…
DESTINATIONS: ADELAIDE AND PORT LINCOLN Will 2008 really be the ‘last time’ for South Australian yachting legend Dick Fidock’ Richard. H. Fidock AO has sailed in and probably won nearly every keel boat title or event that South Australia has…
Practical: Seating Sick and tired of having an aching back? Bob Couper solves the problem of the lack of back support on many boats with this handy $46 do-it-yourself transportable backrest-cum seat. I find sitting in the cockpit of Spindrift…
High seas With his tongue firmly planted in his cheek, David Daniel muses on the problem of finding a reliable tradesman when necessity dictates. Have you played yet? It's the new national pastime and it's called “waiting for a tradesman!”…
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…
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