Heavy Air Racing
It is fascinating to watch a fleet of yachts sailing upwind in a heavy wind; so much can be learned from observing the different styles and techniques from a bird's eye perspective. It is amazing how much variation there is…
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.
Finn sailors gather in Sweden to celebrate 60 years of racing
For three days this coming weekend, Uppsala in Sweden will become the centreof the universe for Finn sailors. Sixty years ago in 1949 the first Finn waslaunched there by its designer Rickard Sarby in his attempt to win a designcompetition…
Building your own cruising yacht
Realising the dream of building your own cruising yacht is closer than you think. high quality self-build cruising yacht kits are now available in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Many people buoy their sometimes stressful or even uneventful…
BMW Oracle confirm they will challenge for the America's Cup in their trimaran
Golden Gate Yacht Club (BMW Oracle), the challengers for the America's Cup, have confirmed that their radical trimaran BOR 90 will be re-named USA and will be the boat they will use in the 33rd America's Cup challenge. Following another…
Tricky night at sea for Fastnet boats
After a tricky first night at sea, the mid-fleet in the Rolex Fastnet Race have experienced a rainy grey day at sea as they slog upwind westward along the English south coast. As expected the big boats have broken away…
ISAF Sailor of the Year nominations are now open
Nominations are now invited for the 2009 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards, the most prestigious award of recognition in the sport of sailing. The nominees and winners since the first presentation in 1994 form an exceptional roll…
Solitaire solo sailors head for Ireland
The third leg of the 40th Anniversary edition of La Solitaire du Figaro got under way as scheduled at 13h00 this afternoon, a complex 485 mile passage between St. Gilles Croix-de-Vie in France's Vendée region across to Dingle on the…
Melges moves production of the Melges 20 back to the USA
There are conflicting stories on the move by Melges to build the Melges 20 in the USA. According to a release from Melges: “The Audi Melges 20 looks ahead to moving production back to the U.S.A. and news has just…
Ashley Stoddart wins silver at Laser Radial Youth Worlds
Australian Sailing Development Squad sailor Ashley Stoddart has finished second in a highly competitive fleet at the 2009 Laser Radial Youth World Championship in Karatsu, Japan. The Brisbane sailor was also crowned Under 17 Girls World Champion and came home…
B&G and Olectric offer regatta support at Hammo
High-end racing electronics brand B&G has joined forces with one of Australia's leading electronic service providers, Olectric Systems, to once again provide regatta support at the 2009 Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 2009 (21-29 August). Technicians from Olectric Systems will…
Spinnaker start for Rolex Fastnet race
Morning dockside rumours of delays and divisions of boats having to kedge on the start line were roundly proven wrong as the Rolex Fastnet Race fleet, as well as spectators along the Cowes shoreline, enjoyed a magnificent, colourful spinnaker start….
La Solitaire du Figaro fleet gets ready for next leg to Ireland
After the headlong, straight-line rush across the Bay of Biscay that was the second leg of La Solitaire, the third is shaping up to be a more classic, technical test of the ‘Figariste', with abundant strategic options and the opportunity…
Slingsby 2nd at European Lasers
The Australian Sailing Team's Tom Slingsby has finished second at the 2009 Laser European Championship in Borstahusens, Sweden. Slingsby went into the final day of competition in fifth overall and needing a strong performance to move into a podium position…
Szabo and Peters (USA) win Star Worlds
Results after 6 races and one discard in the six race regatta. The regatta concluded on August 8, 2009. 1. Szabo/Peters (USA) – (54) 1, 3, 20, 3, 3 – 302. Pepper/ Monk (NZL) – (11) , 9, 1, 11,…
Alfa Romeo easily wins Copa del Rey Trophy
The latest yacht to carry the name ‘Alfa Romeo' has made a stunning debut in the Copa del Ray regatta (3-7 August 2009) in Spain with the New Zealand yacht dominating the event and winning the regatta with a comfortable…
Aussie girls in 2nd and 3rd at Laser Radial Worlds in Karatsu
Day 5 at the Youth Laser Radial World Championships was another windy day with breezes ranging from 15 to 20 knots which again suited the Australians Ashley Stoddard and Alex South who are both having great regattas and a battle…
Tired skippers near finish of Solitaire leg
The Figaro fleet is expected to arrive in St. Gilles Croix-de-Vie tonight, and the finish line won't come a moment too soon for the 52 skippers. This second leg has been one long drag race since the fleet escaped the…
Kiwis still lead Star Worlds
Results after 5 races and one discard in the six race regatta. Five races constitute a series. Final race scheduled for Friday, August 7, 2009. 1. Pepper/ Monk (NZL) – (11) , 9, 1, 11, 5 – 262. Szabo/Peters (USA)…
Jorge Zarif wins medal race and World title at Finn Juniors
The Pata Boats Finn Junior World Championship for the Jorg Bruder Silver Cupfinished with a Brazilian victory, Russian silver and Ukrainian bronze medalat Balatonfüred Yacht Club. A third race win to Jorge Zarif (BRA) gave himthe gold medal by a…
Finlease have the financial solutions
With any boat purchase, It is important to take into account your finance options. Boats come with many power choices and accessory options and there are many finance opportunities available. Choosing the right finance package will potentially make a pleasure…
Audi Hamilton Island fleet heading towards 200 boats
Will the fleet for this month's Audi Hamilton Island Race Week top the magical 200? It's a distinct possibility as the closing time for entries looms. The number of entries for the week of sensational sailing and exceptional social activities…
Another good day at Laser Radials for Ashley Stoddart
It was a mixed day out on Castle Bay for the Australian women's team in the World Youth Laser Radial Championships with Ashley Stoddard finishing 4th and 1st in race 3 and 4, maintaining her 1st place over all. Unfortunately, her elevation to…
Kiwis on top at Star Worlds
Official Results of the 2009 Star World Championship following completion of four races. Two races were held today, August 5, 2006. Upon the completion of 5 races, teams will be able to discard their worst score. 1.Pepper/Monk (NZL) – 11,…
Three Norwegians set out to circumnavigate the North Pole
Three Norwegians, Trond Aasvoll, Hans Fredrik Haukland and Finn Andreassen, have started their attempt to circumnavigate the North Pole in a 36 foot sailing yacht built in 1977. Global warming can, scarily enough, contribute to their success to sail the North East…
Jorge Zarif leads Finn World Juniors into medal race
Although two starts were attempted, only one race was completed on thepenultimate day of the Pata Boats Finn World Juniors at Balatonfüred inHungary. Sailing very well, Jorge Zarif (BRA) won the race and goes into themedal race with a useful…
Australians start well at Laser Radial Worlds
Eleven Australian competitors commenced competition in the Mens and Youths Laser Radial World Championships in Castle Bay, Karatsu, with two men, three female youth and seven male youth. Australia`s Ashley Stoddard dominated the opening day of the female youths regatta with a commanding 1st…
Solitaire fleet shuffles on way to St Gilles Croix de Vie
Since yesterday's light airs start at Coruna, the returning north-westerly breeze has comprehensively shuffled the pack, as the 52 boat fleet heads back across the Bay of Biscay on its way to the second leg finish at St. Gilles Croix…
America's Cup venue announced and sure to cause a return to court
The America's Cup Defender, Alinghi, and its yacht club, the Société Nautique de Genève today issued a press release announcing Ras al-Khaimah, in the United Arab Emirates, as the venue for the 33rd America's Cup Match in February 2010. The…
Entries open online for King's Cup in Phuket
Entries for the 2009 Phuket King's Cup Regatta are now being accepted online at http://www.kingscup.com/BoatRegister.cfm. The 23rd Phuket King's Cup Regatta will take place from 28 November – 5 December 2009, off Kata Beach, Phuket, Thailand, and already entries are…
Slingsby holds down third at European Lasers
The Australian Sailing Team's Tom Slingsby is currently in third place at the 2009 Laser European Championship in Sweden after the regatta's opening six races. The two-time World Champion fought back from a tough opening race where he finished 24th…
Kiwi on top of match race rankings
Adam Minoprio (NZL) has finally broken the French stranglehold at the top of the ISAF World Match Race Rankings. By displacing Mathieu Richard (FRA) at the top of the Open Rankings, Minoprio is the first non-French skipper to occupy the…
ORCV Winter Series pictures from Steb Fisher
Here are some photos taken by professional photographer Steb Fisher in good windy conditions during Race 3 and 4 of the ORCV Winter Series. Please note that the pics are copyright and can't be used on other sites without Steb's permission….
No racing at Finn Junior Worlds
The water was nearly boiling in the tense moments at the starts on thesecond day of the Pata Boats Finn Junior World Championship on Lake Balatonin Hungary. Although a start was attempted three times, the young Finnsailors could not complete…
Egor Larionov takes lead in Finn World Juniors
Two more races were sailed on Tuesday, day three of the Pata Boats FinnJunior World Championship on Lake Balaton, Hungary. Race wins went to EgorLarionov (RUS), and Andriy Gusenko (UKR). Larionov took the overall leadwhile overnight leader Jorge Zarif (BRA)…
Slow start for La Solitaire du Figaro
There was just enough breeze to allow the 52 competitors a gentle morning sail out to the start area this morning, but after that it was ‘deja-vu' for skippers and race committee alike as the light south-westerly faded and the…
Slingsby lying third in European Lasers
The Australian Sailing Team's two-time Laser World Champion Tom Slingsby has made a strong start to the 2009 European Championship and currently sits in third place after two days of racing. The opening day in Borstahusen, Sweden, greeted sailors with…
Alfa Romeo makes it four from four
New Zealand Mini Maxi Alfa Romeo and her Australian-based Kiwi skipper, Neville Crichton, have maintained their perfect score on the second day (4 August 2009) of the Copa del Ray Regatta in Spain, adding another two race wins to her…
Catching the 'magic carpet'
DEVELOPMENT OF NEW SOFTWARE TOOLS TO HELP OFFSHORE RACERS FIND THE MOST FAVOURABLE OCEAN CURRENTS, BY PENNY HAIRE. ANY COMPETITOR in the Rolex Sydney to Hobart race will be aware of the East Australian Current. It is the largest ocean…
Loading: Just Cruising by Keith Fleming
Adding weight onboard can make quite a difference to stability, performance and even comfort. There are two points to be considered. The loading of fixed items like furniture and tanks, and the loading of everything else that you take on…
Good company in the Louisiades
Destination: PNG Guy Chester, who helped organise the event, was among those who set sail in the first-ever official Louisiades Rally. In 2002 I was sitting on the beach at Nanuya Lailai of Blue Lagoon fame in Fiji. I had…
