Why is it so?
John Champion takes a tongue-in-cheek look at some of the perplexing things he has come across in his many years around boats of all descriptions. Boom height The scale of these things ranges, and there frequently seems to be no…
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.
Bavaria flies the flag with new corporate design
Bavaria flies the flag with new corporate design Bavaria Yachts has officially launched a new corporate design this week at the Interboot boat show in Friedrichshafen. Bavaria Yachts stands at the dawn of a new era in yacht design and…
Hinchinbrook Island's Zoe Bay
Steve Farmer and his family have visited Zoe Bay only three times, but they still count it as one of their favourite desintations. It's hard to start an article on Hinchinbrook Island's Zoe Bay without quoting Alan Lucas in Cruising…
Proof of the pudding
Roger Priest checks out the latest import from overseas – the South African-built Leopard 40 luxury catamaran. Here's the open-water proof. Ten thousand miles, two ocean crossings and this 12-month-old Leopard 40 is in pristine condition, boat-show ready. Literally the…
Servicing your diesel
Practical: Maintenance Servicing your own diesel engine is a good way to save money but also an essential skill for any cruiser who plans to cruise off the beaten path. Here Jon Neeves takes us through the process step by…
Rod Jones not resting on his laurels
Rod Jones, the 2009 Audi Australian IRC Ocean racing champion, has not rested on his laurels since winning the prestigious title during last month's t Audi Hamilton Island Race Week. The talented Sunshine Coast skipper who proudly races under the…
World's apart
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…
Classic yachts descend on Monaco
As Tuiga entered Port Hercule on Saturday the 19th escorted by a flotilla of colourful Rivas and heralded by a storm of steam-boat whistles and horns, there was no doubt in everyone's mind that this Monaco Classic Week would go…
Bay of Islands sailing regatta calls for entries
The Bay of Islands in New Zealand's Northland is a cruising paradise. Now the organisers of the Bay of Islands Sailing Regatta are trying to tempt Australian sailors with the promise of close racing, good organisation and great parties. To…
ACMA seeks views on use of VHF radio
ACMA seeks views on use of VHF radio by recreational boaters Responding to concerns about declining standards in the use of marine radio and compliance with the requirement to hold an operators' certificate of proficiency, the Australian Communications and Media…
Using radar effectively
PRACTICALITIES BY RYA (TIM BARTLETT) Using radar effectively could be the difference between staying safe in a foggy shipping channel or approaching a night anchorage without anxiety, so getting the basics of its operation right is important. Radar works just…
Perfect Port Stephens
Destination: Port Stephens John Tylor profiles one of NSW's most popular destinations – Port Stephens, also the gateway to the Myall Lakes. Port Stephens would have to rank high on anyone's list of favourite destinations and mine is no exception,…
Offshore Adventurer
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….
Emergency rigging cutter
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…
Fiji National Sailing Regatta looking for Australian entrants
If you want to miss the pre-Christmas madness in Australia, why not take an early holiday and enter the Fiji National Sailing Regatta from December 11 to 13. The regatta will be sailed in Optimist, Laser, Hobie 16 and RSYC…
NYYC wins inaugural amateur sailing event
No one knew quite what to expect, even though a year and a half of planning went into getting 19 teams from 14 nations to Newport, R.I., for the inaugural New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup. The event, which started…
Celebrations at the Audi MedCup end-of-season party
Hundreds of sailing crew, invited VIP guests and organising staff saluted the new 2009 Audi MedCup winners and celebrated the end of the season at a glittering gala prizegiving in the beautiful setting of the open air quadrangle in Cartagena's…
Speed & Smarts: Building boatspeed
SPEED & SMARTS Boatspeed 2008 IQ test Expanded answers to last month's quiz on boatspeed, by David Dellenbaugh. IN OUR April issue, we published a Boatspeed IQ Test with 56 questions about all aspects of what it takes to sail…
After the weigh-in
FIT FOR SAILING Strategies for optimal recovery after the one-design regatta crew weigh-in, by Andrew Verdon. IN the February issue we looked at strategies for making weight for a one-design regatta crew weigh-in without affecting your performance. This month I…
Arabesque: a Hood 23
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…
What's new: May 08
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…
Your chance to cruise in company to Papua New Guinea
An experienced cruising yachtsman from Cairns, Guy Chester, has announced plans for a Louisiades Rally later this year. The rally is being organised with the support of the Yorkeys Knob Boating Club and the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority….
Kiwis win four straight and TP52 series
Immaculate team work, consistently strong tactics and perfect reliability underpinned a comprehensive overall victory for Emirates Team New Zealand who lifted the 2009 Audi MedCup Circuit Trophy today in Cartagena, Murcia, Spain. The young crew from the Canary Islands ,…
Laser and 49er gold medals for Australia at Weymouth
The Australian Sailing Team has won Gold in a dominant display in the 49er and Laser classes at the Sail for Gold Regatta in Weymouth, England. The heavy winds which had been present on the water all week were nowhere…
Two Aussie crews take Gold at Weymouth with a day to spare
Australian crews have wrapped up victory in two classes with one day of racing remaining at the Sail for Gold regatta in Weymouth, England, with a third class still in the balance for the Australian Sailing Team. Current 49er World…
3,2,1 for Emirates Team New Zealand at Audi MedCup
Emirates Team New Zealand's 3,2,1 today leaves them poised to win in Cartagena, while Roma Mk 2 eased two points clear in the GP42 regatta and the Series standings. Three different boats won races on this penultimate day of the…
Peter Teakle donates 32ft yacht for youth training
The generous donation of a Sydney 32 state-of-the-art offshore racing yacht to Southport Yacht Club will result in the ‘Ocean Mentor' youth training program being established on the Gold Coast The highly successful program, which was developed by Queensland-based philanthropist…
Ten teams to challenge for TP52 World Championship
The Real Club Naútico of Palma will host the TP52 World Championship from 6 to 11 October. Ten teams from eight different countries will go up against each other to win the World title. ” Ten entries really is excellent…
Kiwis in control at Audi MedCup final series
While Emirates Team New Zealand have their hands on the Audi MedCup for the TP52 Series after two great wins today, the young crew on Islas Canarias Puerto Calero were equally at home in the strong winds and big waves…
Great day for Aussie sailors at Weymouth
The impressive results have continued for the Australian's at the Sail for Gold regatta in Weymouth, England, with race wins in the 49er, RS:X, Laser and Women's Match Racing classes on an entertaining day. In the 49er fleet current World…
Azzura Marine Launches Superfast Sailing Multihull Yacht
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…
Spirit of Australia pipped for third in thrilling Clipper leg finish
Line honours in the first race of Clipper 09-10 go to Team Finland as a drama-filled Race 1 draws to a conclusion. The Finnish skipper, Eero Lehtinen, and his team led for much of the last two days of a…
Tactics, strategies, big boats, small boats and clubs
“There's something in this magazine for everyone who races sailboats,” is how the new editor of Australian Sailing, Roger McMillan, describes his first issue of the magazine. At the big boat end there's a comparison of the trimaran and catamaran…
Cruising Helmsman September 2009
In the September issue of CH we share one couple's harrowing encounter with a cyclone, visit Cuba, and enjoy moonlight across the Southern Ocean. Practical articles include the do's and don'ts of drawing up a cruise plan, getting rid of…
Simrad to launch new NSE series towards the end of the year
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…
Sailing with the Smallwoods: Fun in the sun
Sharon and Julian Smallwood enjoy some fun in the sun when they call in at Airlie for the annual Fun Race and then head out for some whale-watching. Since my last post we've been getting to know the mainland suburb…
What's New: April 08
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…
Three days of trailer-sailer fun
cruise in company to Papua New Guinea An experienced cruising yachtsman from Cairns, Guy Chester, has announced plans for a Louisiades Rally later this year. The rally is being organised with the support of the Yorkeys Knob Boating Club and…
Speed & Smarts: Another limit on Starboard tackers
One more angle on Rule 16 governing changes of course by right-of-way boats, by David Dellenbaugh. TWO boats on opposite tacks (S and P) are approaching each other on a beat. As they get closer, P starts bearing off to…
Strong winds keep most of fleet ashore at Weymouth
Heavy winds have once again dictated play on day three of the Skandia Sail for Gold regatta in Weymouth, England, with just the 49er and RS:X fleets completing any races. Gusts above 35 knots kept the sailors on shore all…
