'Fine Lines' Top Ten part 5
by Dougal Henshall
To celebrate the centenary of master boatbuilder Jack Chippendale So far the Fine Lines Fotos have all features that amazing rich warmth of varnish, but there is so much more to an eye catching picture than just being able to see your own reflection in the finish.
Posted on 26 Apr 'Fine Lines' Top Ten part 4
by Dougal Henshall
To celebrate the centenary of master boatbuilder Jack Chippendale As well as being a successful raceboat, this lovely bit of kit has already caught the eye of Mark Jardine when it was awarded the coveted 'Boat of the Show' Trophy at the Dinghy Show a few years back.
Posted on 25 Apr 'Fine Lines' Top Ten part 3
by Dougal Henshall
To celebrate the centenary of master boatbuilder Jack Chippendale A glorious example of not just the boatbuilder's craft but the work that goes in to keeping a boat looking like this!
Posted on 24 Apr 'Fine Lines' Top Ten part 2
by Dougal Henshall
To celebrate the centenary of master boatbuilder Jack Chippendale Day 2 and another in the collection of boat pictures that celebrate everything that is gorgeous about our sport.
Posted on 23 Apr A lesson in staying cool, calm, and collected
by David Schmidt
Staying cool, calm, and collected on the 2024 Blakely Rock Benefit Race The table was set for a feast: a 12-14 knot northerly combed Puget Sound, accompanied by blue skies and sunshine. But an hour before of our start for the Blakely Rock Benefit Race, DC power stopped flowing from the boat's lithium-ion batteries.
Posted on 23 Apr 'Fine Lines' Top Ten part 1
by Dougal Henshall
To celebrate the centenary of master boatbuilder Jack Chippendale As well as all of the other key events happening this summer, 2024 also happens to be the centenary of master boatbuilder Jack Chippendale.
Posted on 22 Apr No result without resolve
by John Curnow, Sail-World.com AUS Editor
Normally, when you think of the triple it might be Line Honours, Corrected Time, and Race Record Normally, when you think of the triple it might be Line Honours, Corrected Time, and Race Record. So then, how about sail it, sponsor it, and truly support it? his was the notion that arrived as I pondered the recently completed Sail Port Stephens.
Posted on 21 Apr The price of heritage
by Dougal Henshall
A tale of a city, three towns but one theme, from dinghy historian Dougal Henshall The meeting in question took place down at the National Maritime Museum at Falmouth and saw the 1968 Flying Dutchman Gold Medal winning trio of Rodney Pattisson, Iain MacDonald-Smith and their boat Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious brought back together.
Posted on 19 Apr AC75 launching season
by Mark Jardine
Love 'em or hate 'em, the current America's Cup yachts represent the cutting-edge of foiling Love 'em or hate 'em, the current America's Cup yachts certainly represent the cutting-edge of foiling and are the fastest windward-leeward sailing machines on water.
Posted on 15 Apr Olympic qualifications and athlete selection
by David Schmidt
Country qualifications and athlete selection ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics In January, I wrote about 2024 being a year with an embarrassment of sailing riches. Last week's Trofea S.A.R. Princesa Sofia Regatta helped determine the American, Canadian, and Mexican sailors who represent their countries at this summer's Olympics.
Posted on 9 Apr All Hands on Deck at sailing clubs
by RNLI / GJW Direct
To fundraise for the RNLI in 200th anniversary year The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is marking 200 years of saving lives at sea in 2024, and the charity is inviting sailing clubs to celebrate with them.
Posted on 9 Apr Alive and Kicking - B2G
by John Curnow, Sail-World.com AUS Editor
They just ran the 76th edition of the 308nm Brisbane to Gladstone race Kind of weird. They just ran the 76th edition of the 308nm Brisbane to Gladstone race. It's been annual, except for a wee hiccup in the COVID period. This year, unless you knew it was on, or had friends racing in it, it sort of flew under the radar...
Posted on 7 Apr America's Cup and SailGP merge designs
by Mark Jardine & Bene Donovan
Cost-saving measure will ensure that teams only have to purchase one type of boat In negotiations reminiscent of the PGA and LIV golf, an agreement has been come to by the America's Cup and SailGP to merge the design of the yachts used on the two high-profile circuits.
Posted on 1 Apr Thirteen from Fourteen
by John Curnow, Editor, Sail World AUS
Not races in a sprint series - we're talking years! Not races in a sprint series. We're talking years! Yes. That's over a decade. Bruce McCracken's Beneteau First 45, Ikon, has just won Division One of the Range Series on Melbourne's Port Phillip to amass this most brilliant of achievements.
Posted on 27 Mar Sailing Chandlery's Founder Andrew Dowley
by Mark Jardine
Interview with Andrew as the business has gone from strength to strength The business has gone from strength to strength, but never moved away from its ethos of getting sailing gear to the customer as fast as possible.
Posted on 27 Mar SailGP, Ultims, and Global Solo Challenge
by David Schmidt
For a two-day regatta, a lot of action went down at last weekend's SailGP Christchurch event For a two-day regatta, a lot of action went down at last weekend's SailGP Christchurch event (March 22 and 23), which took place on the waters of New Zealand's Lyttelton Harbour.
Posted on 26 Mar Plymo – Weddings, Parties, Anything
by John Curnow, Editor, Sail World AUS
What a guy. Andrew John Plympton AM may have had many nicknames, but Plymo describes him best What a guy. Andrew John Plympton AM may have had many nicknames, like ‘Cheese', ‘The Admiral', ‘Dingo', and ‘Prez', but there can be no doubt that it is ‘Plymo' which best describes his disarming smile and entertaining wit.
Posted on 26 Mar Shaking off the rust
by Mark Jardine
Sunday was what I'd count as the start of my 'sailing season' While I had sailed a couple of times already this year, Sunday was what I'd count as the start of my 'sailing season'. It's been a pretty grim February in the UK so the days getting longer and a bit drier is welcome.
Posted on 18 Mar Remembering the early days of sailing races on TV
by Magnus Smith
Finding old episodes on Youtube, starting with the Ultra 30s Do you remember when certain classes managed to make the breakthrough into television coverage, and have a whole series filmed, not just appear briefly on a single show?
Posted on 17 Mar Winning at last!
by Dougal Henshall
How did the Firefly class come to be at the 1948 Olympics in the first place? We'll get into detail on Firefly 503, Jacaranda, later on but maybe an even bigger story is how the Firefly Class came to be at the Olympics in the first place. To put things into perspective we first have to go back even further to the early 1930s.
Posted on 15 Mar Cole Brauer's proud circumnavigation
by David Schmidt
Cole Brauer finishes the Global Solo Challenge at first light Years ago, a mentor told me that one of the biggest problems facing American sailing was a lack of heroes. Cole Brauer, the first American woman to sail alone and nonstop around the world via the three great capes, rewrites this script.
Posted on 12 Mar The Maiden. A Triple. Four Bullets
by John Curnow, Editor, Sail World AUS
I kind of like our Managing Editor's name for 18-footers: The Kings of the Lowriding World The JJ Giltinan Championship is often referred to as the unofficial World Championship of the mighty and majestic 18-Footers. I kind of like our Managing Editor's name for them – The Kings of the Lowriding World. Yes. That most definitely suits.
Posted on 11 Mar Taking a look at the Nacra 570
by Mark Jardine
We chat with Rogier Voetelink the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show The Nacra 570 is designed to bridge the gap between a holiday beach cat and a high performance catamaran, making exhilarating multihull sailing more accessible for those who don't want the hassle of a daggerboard cat.
Posted on 6 Mar Tom Davis on the North Sails' new cruising sails
by David Schmidt
A Q&A with Tom Davis about the North Sails' newest cruising cloth Sail-World checked in with Tom Davis, North Sails' commercial director, to learn more about RENEW, the company's newest and most sustainable panel laminate cruising sailcloth.
Posted on 5 Mar A show like no other
by Mark Jardine
I've written a lot about the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show in the past and will in the future I've written a lot about the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show in the past and am sure I will write more on it in the future. Last year I wrote 'It may not be the biggest...'. The reason I keep coming back to it is that it's truly a show like no other.
Posted on 4 Mar Book review: Uffa
by Magnus Smith
Yachting's eccentric genius I wasn't expecting to be particularly interested in a biography just because it covered the designer of famous dinghies. But one of the delights of reviewing books is the unexpected gem that grips you. This is one such book!
Posted on 3 Mar The oldest video footage of Enterprise dinghies
by Magnus Smith
A look back into our video archive We delve into the past, and round-up all videos which show sailing at in the Enterprise class of dinghy.
Posted on 3 Mar The slightly unusual at the RYA Dinghy Show 2024
by Magnus Smith
Y&Y's roving photographer enjoys a chuckle Back in Farnborough again, the Dinghy Show presented the usual huge range of sailing craft. It's always great seeing the latest hulls, new rope systems, crinkliest sails, and innovative products. But I always have an eye for the slightly unusual...
Posted on 1 Mar Taking a closer look at the Switch
by Mark Jardine
We spoke to Simon Hiscocks to find out more about the one design foiler There are many dinghies throughout the years which have taken their inspiration from the International Moth and become one design. The Europe and the British Moth are two, and now there's the Switch.
Posted on 28 Feb Celebrating offshore accomplishments
by David Schmidt
Global Solo Challenge and the Arkéa Ultim Challenge endgames Back in January, I wrote about 2024 having an embarrassment of riches, and the first of these dividends have arrived, courtesy of the Global Solo Challenge and the Arkéa Ultim Challenge.
Posted on 27 Feb Back with a vengeance
by John Curnow, Editor, Sail World AUS
Categorically been on the Mixed two-handed offshore bandwagon from the beginning Categorically been on this bandwagon from the beginning. Flag bearing, card-carrying, full-blown trumpeter. Mixed two-handed offshore. You might argue it had a wee false start, but it just was a bridge too far at the time
Posted on 26 Feb We chat with Tom Morris on the Allen stand
by Mark Jardine
At the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show Tom Morris of the Youtube channel Mozzy Sails talks to us at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show 2024 about developing fittings with Allen for his RS800, his favourite block, the America's Cup and more!
Posted on 26 Feb Celebrating 25 years of Rooster!
by Mark Jardine
We speak with founder Steve Cockerill at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show Mark Jardine speaks with Steve Cockerill, founder of Rooster, on the 25th Anniversary of the innovative sailing clothing and chandlery company.
Posted on 25 Feb 1948 Olympic Firefly wins Concours d'Elegance
by Mark Jardine
At the RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show For the judging of the Concours d'Elegance, Mark Jardine, Editor of YachtsandYachting.com, was joined this year by the British Sailing Team 49er crew Fynn Sterritt, who has been selected for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Posted on 24 Feb Oldest video footage of 18ft Skiffs
by Magnus Smith
A look back into our video archive, from 1939 to 1987 With the JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championships starting next week, it's a great time to look back into our video archive, from 1939 to 1987, to see some of the oldest footage of skiff sailing in Australia. There are some gems!
Posted on 23 Feb It's a wrap!
by Mark Jardine
In sailing we have a lot of plain white hulls In sailing we have a lot of plain white hulls. Let's face it, when everything looks the same, it does make things a bit dull. The end of February is a dreary time, so it's time to talk about boats which brighten things up.
Posted on 19 Feb You try doing it one-handed!
by Magnus Smith
Lynn Steward has carried on dinghy racing, despite physical challenges Lynn Steward races the only Challenger trimaran at Wigan St Helen's SC, and frequently jokes with the able-bodied competitors in the PY fleet crossing the finish line ahead of her: "You try doing it one-handed!"
Posted on 18 Feb Small Packages
by John Curnow, Editor, Sail World AUS
You know? It is all about really good things You know? It is all about really good things. In sailing, two of the best attributes have always been fun and participation. Some would argue that these may have slipped off of late, but perhaps, it is more about finding a suitable offering.
Posted on 13 Feb Traffic at the Horn, ocean heartache, Rolex Awards
by David Schmidt
David Schmidt's latest North American racing newsletter A few weeks ago, I spilled a considerable amount of e-ink in this newsletter describing the embarrassment of riches that 2024 is presenting to the sailing world, and this has been on full display on the waters surrounding Cape Horn this past week.
Posted on 13 Feb Ben McGrane's Tips for Winter Handicap Racing
by Mark Jardine
Keep going in the winter for some of the best racing of the year! Ben McGrane is a serial competitor at winter handicap events. They offer hardy UK sailors the opportunity to continue to compete through the winter months, and with the introduction of the Sailjuice series, the events have continued to thrive.
Posted on 13 Feb A+T 500 series Wind Sensors
by Mark Jardine
For the highest accuracy and faster response A+T Instruments may be a name that needs introducing to you in the world of performance marine instrumentation. They are a group of highly qualified engineers who are taking a no-compromise approach to constructing the best sensors and instruments.
Posted on 9 Feb In Rarefied Company
by Mark Jardine
Winning the ILCA 7 Worlds is one of the pinnacle achievements in sailing Winning the ILCA 7 Worlds is one of the pinnacle achievements in sailing. Winning it more than once puts you in rarefied company.
Posted on 6 Feb Book review: Knowledge 2.0
by Magnus Smith
Staying Afloat in the Information Age - by Mark Chisnell This non-fiction book takes a handful of sailing stories and experiences, and draws out from them what it means to know something in this era of modelling, uncertainty, 'alternative' facts and fake news. It leans on science, psychology and narrative.
Posted on 6 Feb Marine Insurance: One size doesn't fit all!
by Mark Jardine
Stoneways Marine Insurance supporting the infrastructure of the sailing world A huge part of the work at Stoneways Marine Insurance is supporting the infrastructure of the sailing world, the marine businesses that create, maintain, store and provide for the yachts and pleasure craft which we enjoy on the water.
Posted on 5 Feb Flo1 singlehanded foiler video
by Mark Jardine
One of the dinghies that caught my eye at boot Dusseldorf 2024 One of the dinghies that caught my eye at boot Dusseldorf 2024 was the Flo1 by Aeronamics, the brainchild of founder Jurian Rademaker.
Posted on 2 Feb Ultims, Global Solo Challenge, ILCA 7s
by David Schmidt
The Arkea Ultim Challenge, Global Solo Challenge Cape Horn roundings, ILCA 7 Worlds This year's El Nino cycle has led to big melt-offs at Pacific Northwest ski hills. Normally, this is cause for the blues, but I've found myself so engrossed with the various unfurling offshore events that that my lack of powder turns hasn't seemed so bad.
Posted on 30 Jan Contesting the Contenders
by John Curnow, Editor, Sail World AUS
The Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club recently held the 2024 Contender Australian Championship The Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club in picturesque Paynesville recently held the 2024 Contender Australian Championship.
Posted on 28 Jan Oldest video footage of National 12 dinghies
by Magnus Smith
A look back into our video archive We delve into the past, and round-up all the videos which show sailing in the National 12 class of dinghy. It turns out we only have the 1950s covered though.
Posted on 28 Jan Adapting your boat and your racing techniques
by Magnus Smith
Interview with Alex Hovden about his Challenger sailing We spoke to Alex Hovden, who sails a Challenger trimaran, about how he feels this is the right class for him, and what modifications he has made to the boat, and to his technique, to be more competitive and get more enjoyment from sailing.
Posted on 27 Jan The wisest Wise Man
by Dougal Henshall
Cliff Norbury's influence still extends across much of our sport today Cliff Norbury was a man whose influence still extends across much of our sport today and with the sad news of his passing, the time is right to look at the life and sailing career of a man who really does deserve the title of the 'Wisest Wise Man'.
Posted on 26 Jan