Adventure sailing, new gizmos, sailors needed to track climate change

by Nancy Knudsen, Editor on 24 May 2013

TRIMARAN IDEC / FRANCIS JOYON - STANDBY IN NEW YORK CITY PHOTO: VINCENT CURUTCHET / DARK FRAME / DPPI / IDEC V. Curutchet / DPPI / IDEC http://www.trimaran-idec.com/

The adventure sailors are making news again. French sailor Francis Joyon, probably the world's fastest and best known solo speed sailor, is making news in New York even before he begins his latest challenge, to beat the Trans-Atlantic record in his giant trimaran, IDEC. Then there's British solo sailor Jeanne Socrates, who after more than 200 continuous days at sea has passed her last big milestone on her quest to be the oldest female to circumnavigate solo, non-stop and unassisted. Just a few thousand miles to go in warm waters riddled with obstacles and the record will be hers!

It's hard for the modern non-tech-savvy sailor to keep up with all the new aids available. But at Sail-World Cruising we're trying! This week there is a really interesting invention, the yacht track library. This shows you the previous tracks of other yachts, so that, if the chart is 'wrong', the yacht track across the middle of an island or a reef will alert you to the issue – brilliant, see example below.

PIC 2 © SW

Featured this week is Digital Media Locker with Blue Tooth. It is a great way to keep your iPhone or iPad secure while you use the myriad Apps available for sailing.

If you are concerned, like many sailors, about the effects of overpopulation and climate change on our oceans, now there is a vital way you can help, by tracking the water purity in your region. The call is out to all leisure sailors – read the details and volunteer, please!

Many other interesting articles as well, a featured book for those near Vancouver, the really delightful 'Memoirs of a Cruising Dog', a great guide to how to install your own inverter, a wonderful sailing tale about a voyage to one of the most remote islands in the world, Maug in the Marianas, opportunities to sail with a tall ship for east coast Canadians and news of the 10th Tahiti Pearl Regatta.

Maug as seen from a satellite © SW

It's warming up for those in northerly climates, so in the US the Coast Guard is offering eight vital safety tips to check before starting spring sailing.

Read on, enjoy, and

Sweet spring sailing!
If you want to link to this article then please use this URL: www.sail-world.com/109785

Related Articles

Erden Eruç on his 2026 GGR campaign
A Q&A with Erden Eruç on his 2026 Golden Globe Race campaign Everyone's path to sailing is a unique journey, however few involve as much solo time at sea as that of my longtime friend Erden Eruç. He plans to race alone around the world in this year's Golden Globe Race, which starts in September in France.
Posted today at 4:00 pm Perfect Perth for SailGP Season Opener
Spectacular racing, damage, collisions and injuries The Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix saw the kind of conditions that SailGP sailors and the fans relish. Small rigs, high speeds, a tight racecourse, and some spectacular racing.
Posted on 18 Jan Inside Contest Yachts
How the luxury performance bluewater yachts are built Discover the craftsmanship, heritage, and innovation behind Contest Yachts in this exclusive behind-the-scenes tour.
Posted on 14 Jan Pete Hill receives the CCA's highest honor
UK sailor Pete Hill receives the CCA's 2025 Blue Water Medal While we love racing at Sail-World, we also have a soft-spot for cruising, ideally of the adventure-minded variety. Because of this, we always eagerly await word from the Cruising Club of America regarding the recipient of their annual Blue Water Medal.
Posted on 13 Jan Mike Rutledge on the 2026 LOCR
Mike Rutledge discusses the 2026 Lauderdale Olympic Classes Regatta The Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and the Brisbane 2032 Olympics might still be years over the horizon for most sailing fans, but for Olympic hopefuls, these are important times to be honing one's craft.
Posted on 13 Jan From one extreme to the other
Let's go inshore, and how, with the 16-foot skiffs. Great action, and superb sailing. We'd been in supermaxi, mini maxi, double hander and serious weather mode for what seemed like some time. Then, as is the case at this time of year, there are a plethora of Australian Championships that get run, especially for OTB classes.
Posted on 11 Jan The complete package
A thriving clubhouse leads to higher racing attendance, and visa versa I'm a great believer in starting things on the right foot. Be that in the morning, going for a run (even though it was damn chilly this morning) to set yourself up for the day, or preparing ahead for a meeting so that you've got the figures to hand.
Posted on 5 Jan Sydney Hobart – A very ordinary Hobart
Now don't get me wrong. That's a not a description of the on-water action. Far from it, actually Now don't get me wrong. That's a not a description of the on-water action from the 80th rendition of the Boxing Day Classic. Far from it, actually. Rather, it is a reflection upon that the elements that an ‘ordinary' Hobart invariably involves
Posted on 31 Dec 2025 Celebrating the Great Race from half a world away
The Rolex Sydney Hobart delivers a tough test While early winter isn't exactly a great time for sailing in the Pacific Northwest, this year I reeled my family into the Great Race's Boxing Day drama.
Posted on 30 Dec 2025 A new measurement system
What if you could create something that measured for real? Where we wouldn't need acronyms... What if you could create something that measured for real? You wouldn't need acronyms like IMS, IRC, ORCi, UMS, AMS, MOCRA, ORR, OMR, or PHRF. No hull factors deployed. No age allowances required. No weighing involved. No recut of sails.
Posted on 29 Dec 2025