Where the West Wind blows
Destinations: East Coast Chris Dicker and wife Gilli enjoy some of the east coast's most popular stopovers when they head north in the classic Jock Muir sloop West Wind. The sun went down in a benevolent glow over the high…
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.
Shop up & ship out
Destinations: Panama An unexpected health crisis adds angst to the task of preparing K-Sera II for the long passage from Panama to the Marquesas Islands, writes Elaine Kleiss. Brilliant sunshine sparkled across the waters of La Playita, our first anchorage…
Budgeting your boating
Practical: Finances Budgeting effectively is even more essential in tough times, writes financial expert Bruce Vass. A Charles Dicken's character, Mr Micawber, said: “Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty…
Skipper's Checklist: Checking your wind generator
By Alan Lucas When the sun is hiding wind generators complement solar panels beautifully, presuming the wind continues to blow, of course. In adding them to our checklist the various types cannot be reviewed, but a common failing can certainly…
La Dolce Vita
Boat Review: Brenta B42 Italian daysailer is big on style as well as function, by Vanessa Dudley AFTER living abroad for years, returning to Australia to a new home on Sydney's waterfront has been made all the sweeter for the…
Rag & Famish wins first heat of 18ft skiffs
Following the return of the six skiffs which competed recently in the US, a fleet of 22 teams lined up in 20+ knot north easterly conditions to contest Race 1 of the Australian 18 Footers League Club Championship on Sydney…
Larsen holds nerve to win Melges 24 World Championship
The fifty-one international teams, who had travelled from across North America and Europe to compete in the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championships, finally got the welcome opportunity to race in double-digit breezes on the final day…
Spirit of Australia falls in a hole on Clipper leg three
It's one of the mantras of the Clipper Race that is drummed into crew and skippers from the outset: look after your boat and your boat will look after you. The teams that do best are those that look after…
Sanyo Maris on track to win another Gosford Lord Howe Island Race
At the fine old age of 51, the wooden yawl Sanyo Maris is on track for a second successive IRC win in the Hempel Paints 36th Gosford to Lord Howe Island Race. Skippered by Clean Up Australia founder and round-the-world…
NY Court asks for help to determine America's Cup disputes
At last, some common sense has been applied to the on-going spat between two of the world's richest men over the 33rd America's Cup Match. Justice Shirley Kornreich of the New York State Supreme Court has recognised that the Court…
Olympians to compete at Sail Sydney
Five Olympic sailors, including a Beijing gold medallist, are early entries for Yachting NSW's 2009 Sail Sydney (previously known as the Sydney International Regatta), which will again be held on Sydney Harbour from December 5-8 off the host venue, Woollahra…
Andrea Francolini image chosen for World Yacht Racing Forum
Australia's leading boating photographer, Andrea Francolini, has been chosen as one of twenty-six international photographers to exhibit at the World Yacht Racing Forum in Monaco in December. The exhibition will feature images from: Guillaume Plisson, Thierry Martinez, Daniel Forster, Onne…
Maritimo launches sail boats – for a good cause
Maritimo, Australia's premier luxury boat builder, has completed a new range of boats of a very different kind. Staff at the Coomera, Queensland, company have turned their skilled hands to building a fleet of 15 Sabot junior training dinghies for…
World Cruising Rally getting ready for a start
There are currently 38 yachts being 'geared up' to carry their crews on a world circumnavigation and cruising adventure of a lifetime in the World ARC 2010/11, organised and run by World Cruising Club (WCC). The East to West circumnavigation…
Clipper fleet splits in two as the boats head south
It's a far cry from the 'champagne' sailing conditions all the crews experienced on Leg 1. Most of them haven't seen this kind of tough, upwind sailing since their pre-race Clipper Training, although some had a taste of things to…
Larsen back in the lead at Melges 24 Worlds
When the fleet left for the racecourse on day four of the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship, collective hopes of any racing were pretty low. The promising early morning breeze out on the Chesapeake frustratingly evaporated…
Record Load Bound for Freeport and St. Thomas
On November 3, when the 556-foot Super Servant 4, one of Dockwise Yacht Transport's (DYT) fleet of four semi-submersible ships, leaves Newport, R.I., it will be packed stem to stern with a record load of 50 recreational cruising and racing…
Dunbier's new wheels
Dunbier Marine Products has released a new range of alloy wheels, available as an upgrade for all Dunbier boat trailers. Available in 13″, 14″ and 15″ sizes, the new wheels have a highly-polished finished, which will boost the appearance of…
Alinghi “waiting on Court” before a decision on AC venue
Societe Nautique de Genevre, the defender in the 33rd America's Cup Match, says they are going to wait for the New York Supreme Court to file the order (saying the Cup could not be held at SNG's preferred venue of Ras…
New 470 for Belcher and Page
The Minister for Sport, the Honourable Kate Ellis MP, christened the Australian Sailing Team's newest 470 at an informal ceremony at Middle Harbour Yacht Club today. The minister joined Beijing Olympic Games Gold medallist Malcolm Page, skipper Mathew Belcher and…
Clipper sailors suffer seasickness as the race resumes
The first 24 hours back at sea can be pretty tough on a crew – they'velost their sea legs after some time on shore, they're out of the rhythmof life at sea, and the motion of the boat slamming through…
Mirsky stays at No 2 in ISAF World Match Racing rankings
Australian Torvar Mirsky remains in second place in the ISAF World Match Racing Rankings, while in the women's section Nicky Souter has leap-frogged teammate Katie Spithill following her win in the World Championships. The top three skippers in the Open…
Hamilton Island Yacht Club and Villas Update
Hamilton Island owner Bob Oatley and famed yachtsman Iain Murray AM have collaborated to create the magnificently designed Yacht Club and Villas, which were launched at the end of August during Audi Race Week 2009. The Yacht Club and Villas…
Zandona pushes Larson to second at Melges 24 Worlds
For the competitors arriving at the City Dock this morning on day three of the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship, the chances of racing taking place seemed unlikely, with Annapolis shrouded in low cloud and no…
Musto Lend support to Kiwi Sailors
Musto Australasia has sought to strengthen its ties across theTasman by inking a three-year sponsorship agreement with New Zealand's Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club (RPNYC). The deal, effective from October 1, sees the brand take over as naming rights sponsor…
Musto wins exclusive rights to CYCA clothing merchandise
Musto Australasia has been awarded the exclusive rights to provide clothing merchandise and staff uniforms to the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia. Additionally, Musto joins the family of CYCA Youth Sailing Academy sponsors through their sponsorship of an Elliot 6.0m…
Time for a little bit of fun
New Boat: NorseBoat 17.5 Caroline Strainig goes for a sail on a boat a little different from the norm – the classic-looking NorseBoat 17.5. Driving from the NSW Central Coast where I live to Pittwater just north of Sydney gave…
The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club
At the Club Visiting Pittwater north of Sydney? Caroline Strainig previews what you can expect if you call in at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club. If the word “royal” makes you think of “stuffy,” think again, at least in…
Hopping along in SA
Destinations: Kangaroo Island Bruce Vass enjoys one of South Australia's most popular cruising grounds – Kangaroo Island. Kangaroo Island is a popular cruising ground for South Australian yachties. The waters are pristine and sailing conditions can be ideal. When the…
RC 44 Gold Cup to conclude in Dubai
The last regatta of the RC 44 Championship Tour 2009 will take place next month in Dubai. The ten RC 44 teams involved in the Championship Tour will participate in the event and fight hard to maintain or better their…
America's Cup can't be held in Ras Al Khaimah
The New York Supreme Court has ruled that the 33rd America's Cup, scheduled in February 2010, must take place in a venue in the Southern Hemisphere as per the strict reading of the competition's governing document, the Deed of Gift, or…
Queenscliff Maritime Museum swap meet offers bargains
Queenscliff Maritime Museum is holding their third annual maritime swap meet and collectables market at Wharf Street, Queenscliff, Victoria on Sunday December 6. Gates open at 9am and entry is $4 for adults with children free. On sale will be…
Navico receives multiple NMEA honours
Navico's technological expertise was recognised during the 2009 National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) convention held in the US recently, with the BR24 Broadband Radar and Simrad AP24 and AP28 autopilots receiving awards. In a slightly different format than previous years,…
The New 41ft Seawind 1250 Launches
What a fitting scene to launch a new blue water cruiser, with a strong southerly blowing and the wild Tasman Sea in the background, as the 41ft Seawind 1250 splashed down into Wollongong Harbour. This brand new design encompasses 27 years…
Clipper fleet leaves Rio for Cape Town
From one mountain to another… the ten yachts competing in the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race have started the next leg of the epic 35,000-mile global challenge, leaving behind the iconic Rio backdrop of Sugar Loaf Mountain for…
Larsen increases lead at Melges 24 Worlds
Despite the decidedly damp and cold conditions which prevailed on day two of the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship, the quality of racing for the international fleet was nonetheless characteristically red hot. Overnight leader Chris Larson…
Geelong wins SB3 Worlds for January 2012
In a major coup Geelong has won the bid to host a prominent world sailing championship in January 2012. The SB3 World Council has announced Royal Geelong Yacht Club will play host to the fifth world championship for the class…
Shorthanded series alive and well
The Shorthanded Sailing Association of Australia (SSAA) is Australia's peak body for this type of sailing in Australia. Member's goals are diverse and include serious racing aspirations through to the development of skills to enable ease of shorthanded cruising. The…
Multihull Solutions to distribute Neel Trimarans
Multihull Solutions has been appointed exclusive Australasian distributor of the new NEEL Trimarans. The company has just unveiled the NEEL 50 trimaran, a new generation multihull . Designed to offer large volumes whilst maintaining offshore performance, the trimaran has a…
All Clipper boats ready for the re-start today
Despite being the last boat to arrive at the Iate Clube do Rio deJaniero, pulling alongside at just 0300 (0500 GMT) on Sunday morning,California will be ready to start Race 3 to Cape Town with the rest ofthe fleet tomorrow,…
