A Huge Summer - in Depth

Nathan Outteridge trapezing down-wind  ©

A-Cats and multihull development A-Cat Nationals media, ‘The A Class is great for really honing your skills for sailing on the bigger multihulls. Everything happens at double speed on the A Class compared to what happens on an bigger boat, so learning the do's and don'ts and what you can get away with and what you can't is absolutely applicable to boats like the extreme 40's, AC45's and bigger multihulls going forward into the America's Cup.... [more] Share this story

Jules Verne Trophy claimed by maxi trimaran Banque Populaire V Banque Populaire Voile, In the 2011 Jules Verne Trophy, the 14 sailors on-board Maxi trimaran Banque Populaire V just burst into the history of offshore racing by becoming the fastest men around the globe with crew, after 45 days 13 hours 42 minutes and 53 seconds of sailing*. Loïck Peyron and his crew improved the reference time of the Jules Verne Trophy held by Groupama 3 since March 2010... [more] Share this story

A-Cat Australians - High drama in last race John Cootes Furniture A-Cat Titles Media, The final day of the Championships was another postcard day on Lake Macquarie, NSW. Blue sky and a light 10-12 knot sea breeze greeted competitors for the last race in the 2012 Australian Championships with the minor placings to be decided in another race of 'champions'.... [more] Share this story

A-Cat Championships: Best fleet ever says The King John Cootes Furniture A-Cat Titles Media, Glenn Ashby, seven times A Class Catamaran World Champion, has won the 2012 John Cootes Furniture A Class Australian Championships.... [more] Share this story

18ft Skiffs - Cordukes Clubhouse Trophy video Bob Killick, Rag & Famish's all the way victory sets up crew Jack McCartney helm, Mark Kennedy main, and Big Pete Harris bow for their next challenge, the Australian Championship five race series starting next Sunday... [more] Share this story

Did you know it was an Australian GME PLB that raised Rambler alarm? Mathew Heap, The US-registered maxi, Rambler 100, with a crew of 21, had just passed the Fastnet Rock at around 6.30pm on August 15th when disaster struck. In relatively calm but foggy conditions, Rambler's keel snapped, causing it to capsize within 15 seconds, throwing the entire crew overboard. Did you Did you know that tragedy, was however prevented in the 2011 race by an Australian made GME PLB?... [more] Share this story

2011 Optimist Worlds: Singapore's Kimberly Lim is new World Champion Nathalie van Dort, The Delta Flag was raised at 10.41, meaning that racing would start at 11.41 for the final day of the World Optimist Championship being sailed at Napier, on the East Coast of New Zealand. It didn't take the 210 sailors long at all to get out onto the water. The wind was very mild, around 10 knots, but the sun came back out again.... [more] Share this story

A-Cats – John Cootes supports sailing 2012 John Cootes Furniture A-Cats Titles media, Competing at the 2012 John Cootes Furniture A Class Catamaran Championship fleet, sailed out of Wangi Amateur Sailing Club, was a snowy haired 71 year old sailor, John Cootes, a sportsman who made history... [more] Share this story

Flying Fifteen National Championship - Windy start Bernie Kaaks, Flying Fifteen National Championship - Today's invitation race started shortly after the arrival of Perth's famous 'Fremantle Doctor', a south westerly sea breeze that for most of the summer, keeps city temperatures bearable during the afternoons.... [more] Share this story

Eva Lorenz gets serious about upcoming Australian championships Ian Grant, Young Whitsunday Sailing Club Optimist dinghy skipper Eva Lorenz will take on a more serious attitude to her sailing when she contests the Australian championship on Brisbane's Waterloo Bay later this month. The talented Opti-sailor has been taught to understand that all of the long hours she has spent hanging from the hiking straps during extensive training sessions have been important... [more] Share this story

Australian Moth National Titles - Day 1 waves equal carnage Leigh Dunstan, The 2012 Australian Moth National Titles, held at Mornington Yacht Club, has attracted some exceptional sailors with the top four from last years world titles competing. Sailing a moth nationals on Victoria's Port Philip Bay was always going to be interesting, introducing waves into a class that has become synonymous with flat water locations. Day one was a baptism of fire for much of the fleet... [more] Share this story

Tic-tac-toe three in a row for Mike Williams at the OK Nationals Mark Roberts, Mike Williams, has won the 50th Australian National Championship in the International OK Dinghy class held in Adelaide. After a difficult day 3 of the championship, the OK fleet were met on the final day of the championship with a 17-22 kt north westerly (with the BOM forecast predicting thunderstorms and 30-35 kts later in the day).... [more] Share this story

McConaghy built Loki's jubilant Tattersall's Cup victory Blue Robinson, After 14 attempts, a delighted Stephen Ainsworth has staked claim on the historic Tattersall's Cup with his McConaghy built Reichel/Pugh 63' Loki, adding the Rolex Sydney Hobart handicap victory to a brimming trophy cabinet. 'We are elated, it is a fantastic feeling, a huge thrill to win this race,' said a jubilant Ainsworth.... [more] Share this story

King of the Derwent images by John Curnow John Curnow images, King of the Derwent images by John Curnow... [more] Share this story

Festival of Sails - Close of entries extended Festival of Sails, Festival of Sails 2012 entries deadline has been extended until 5:00pm on Sunday 15 January so you still have a chance to enter. All entrants will go into the draw for a chance to win two places on the Mariner Boating Holidays 2013 Aegean Yacht Rally, the annual rally through the Greek Dodecanese Islands and along the Mediterranean coast of Turkey.... [more] Share this story

Clipper Round the World Yacht Race - Qingdao under pressure Heather Ewing, Clipper Round the World Yacht Race - Qingdao cannot afford to let their foot off the gas as another team joins with Geraldton Western Australia to put pressure on the leaders. Derry-Londonderry is now neck and neck with the WA entry, marginally ahead and in second place now while Visit Finland is only a few miles behind the team they have been sailing in close quarters with for some time.... [more] Share this story

Gant Portsea Cup 2012 - Classic Couta Boats Teri Dodds, Geelong photographer Teri Dodds brings you some images from the GANT Portsea Cup, hosted by the Sorrento Sailing and Couta Boat Club, in Victoria.... [more] Share this story

Prince Philip Cup - Tasmanian Nick Rogers at his best Peter Campbell, Prince Philip Cup - Tasmanian yachtsman Nick Rogers, helming Karabos IX, today emphatically set his sights on breaking his own record for winning the most Prince Philip Cup Australasian championships for the International Dragon class. Rogers led all the way to win the opening race of scoring a comfortable win from British yachtsman Robert Campbell, skippering Indulgence... [more] Share this story

Australian Youth Championships - Tight battles on day 2 Craig Heydon, Australian Youth Championships - The on-water action has heated up on day two with tight battles throughout the fleets, a feature of Sunday's racing. As the temperature got up above 30 degrees and the breeze nudged 16 knots at times throughout the afternoon the six fleets were all able to complete three races on Brisbane's Moreton Bay, with race wins spread around in most classes.... [more] Share this story

International Yngling World Championship - Victory for Maarten Jamin Peter Campbell, International Yngling World Championship - Only three points today separated the first three boats at the end of a magnificent regatta to decide the 2012 World Championship for the International Yngling one-design keelboat class, with victory going to defending champion, Maarten Jamin, from The Netherlands.... [more] Share this story

Paul Larsen is back: 'I'll do 60kts for the sailing speed record.' Sail-World Cruising round-up, The year ended disappointingly for Australian sailor Paul Larsen, determined to break the 60kt barrier in a sailboat. Last month the team made a record attempt in southern Africa after beefing up the technology in their craft SailRocket 2. Walvis Bay in Namibia has ideal conditions, but it was not to be. However Paul is coming back fighting in 2012, determined that his goal will not elude him.... [more] Share this story

International OK Dinghy Australian Championship - Hughes dominates Mark Roberts, Having sailed the past two days in big southerly breezes of 20-25 kts and waves to match, day three of the championship showed little promise of producing any breeze whatsoever.... [more] Share this story

Mark Foy Regatta - 52nd Interdominions final day + Video Tomo, In the Mark Foy Regatta, the final race started in a light to moderate S/E breeze with a forecast to increase significantly. The breeze did not rise as expected which left the conditions ripe for a low end two rig day. C-Tech held a one point lead overall over DeLongi Rabbitohs with a further three points back to CST. 15 boats from three countries, New Zealand, Australia and USA competed... [more] Share this story

Maritime NZ - Rena Disaster - 8 January: Ship breaks up in storm Maritime NZ, Maritime NZ, have advised that the container ship Rena, which has been the subject of a major salvage operation off the Tauranga coast has broken up on the most severe storm to hit the area since her grounding three months ago on the Astrolabe Reef. Read on for the latest updates and images. Updated with latest video... [more] Share this story

33rd Nacra Nationals final day - Close for the podium placings Nacra Australia, 33rd Nacra Nationals final day of racing saw some extremely close racing to decide the minor podium positions in the F18 and 5.8 fleets. While in the 16sq's the experience of Warren Guinea kept the challenge by Jared Potter at bay. As with the rest of the week, the weather also contributed to the capsize carton count.... [more] Share this story

Jules Verne Trophy: Video of Banque Populaire finish Banque Populaire, Video just posted of Banque Populaire V completing her round the world non stop speed record. Just before midnight on 7 January, the max trimaran Banque Populaire V (Loick Peyron) crossed the finish line off the French coast to trim 2 days and 18 hours off the previous mark... [more] Share this story

Australian B14 National Championships winner Onemoreforthebone Adrian Beswick, Australian B14 National Championships fifth and final days racing was forecast to get underway in a 15 to 20 knot sea breeze, to the front runners excitement it didn't disappoint. But before the final days entertainment a big thankyou must be said for all the sponsors that made this years B14 National Championships possible.... [more] Share this story

Entries still open for the Milang Goolwa Freshwater Classic Locky McLaren, Organisers of The Marina Hindmarsh Island Freshwater Classic are pleased to announce that entries are still open for this classic yacht race, the first Milang to Goolwa to be staged in five years due to low river levels. Boats can enter online right up until 5pm on Friday the 20th of January.... [more] Share this story

IFDS World Championships preview International Paralympic Committee, IFDS World Championships will get underway today with an Opening Ceremony and Welcome Party featuring nations and representatives from local boating clubs. The annual event is the biggest major competition in the sport ahead of the London 2012 Paralympic Games and will see more than 100 sailors, on some 75 boats, from 20 countries take part.... [more] Share this story

International Yngling World Championship - Tied at the top Peter Campbell, International Yngling World Championship - Defending World champion Maarten Jamin from the Netherlands and Australian champion Michael Nash are equal on points going into tomorrow's final two races. However, the Australia versus The Netherlands contest is not limited to these two skippers.... [more] Share this story

Australian Youth Championships - Tight racing on day one Craig Heydon, Australian Youth Championships - Tight racing throughout the fleets has highlighted day one at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron. Moderate winds allowed the 175 crews to complete three races in each of the six fleets on Brisbane's Moreton Bay. New Zealand's Andrew McKenzie got his regatta off to a perfect start with three wins from three races in the Laser Radial fleet.... [more] Share this story

International Fireball Worlds - Brits Gillard and Brearey victorious Johno Fullerton, International Fireball World Championship - Tom Gillard and Sam Brearey of Great Britain went into the final day with a four point lead over arch rivals, Robin Inns and Joel Coultas of Australia. But there was another element to the equation in the form of a second discard after race nine was completed.... [more] Share this story

Manly Mini Festival of Sailing - the spirit of the thing Chris Stockdale/Sail-World Cruising, There might be a race or two, but it's all about the spirit of the thing. Too long have the rock stars and their 100m yachts been hogging the airwaves. The Manly Mini Festival of Sailing will be held over two days on January 21st and 22nd 2012 at Manly Yacht Club, Sydney and there are no less than six, yes six, mini cars up for grabs (pictured with trophy).... [more] Share this story

Banque Populaire has set a new round the world record Sail-World, Banque Populaire V, the 40 metre maxi trimaran, has set a new round the world non-stop sailing record. At the finish point off Oessant, France, she will finish 1650nm ahead of the reference point for the previous record holder, Groupama (Franck Cammas).... [more] Share this story

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