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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 The Kings of the Lowriding World
by Mark Jardine
And exciting projects at boot Düsseldorf Watching Youtube early on a frosty Sunday morning in Düsseldorf, ahead of a long day of meetings at the massive boot boat show, probably isn't the best preparation, but I'm slightly addicted to the 18ft Skiff racing.
Posted on 24 Jan A look at three offshore contests
by David Schmidt
The Arkea Ultim Challenge, the Global Solo Challenge, and the Ocean Globe Race 2023 Imagine that you're sailing aboard a vessel that can outrun the wind. Forget waiting for big-picture seasonal changes—instead, you can employ a bit of weather routing and gain greater control over your destiny. Welcome to the Arkea Ultim Challenge.
Posted on 16 Jan U can't touch this
by John Curnow, Editor, Sail World AUS
Reputedly, the very words that came out of MC Hammer's mouth that created the song Reputedly, these were the very words that came out of MC Hammer's mouth. They then went on to become the immortal tune.
Posted on 15 Jan Oldest videos from the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race
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 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, Australia, which has run every December since 1945.
Posted on 14 Jan Twenty Twenty-Four starts in style
by Mark Jardine
The first week of the year has begun in extraordinary fashion It was almost two years ago that I wrote 'Twenty Twenty-Four', looking forward to a bumper year of sailing. While in the wider world we continue to head down the dystopian path, the first week of the year has started in extraordinary fashion.
Posted on 8 Jan Looking ahead to a year full of sailing riches
by David Schmidt
From the Arkea Ultim Challenge to the Vendee Globe, 2024 promises to be a big year The sailing world is about to enjoy an embarrassment of riches. This is because 2024 is an Olympic year, an America's Cup year, and a Vendee Globe year. But first, get ready for the Arkea Ultim Challenge.
Posted on 2 Jan Oldest video footage of 12 Metre class yachts
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 12 Metre class of yacht.
Posted on 24 Dec 2023 Upcycling your Recycling part 3
by John Curnow, Editor, Sail World AUS
Brother from another mother Thank you. You have catapulted this thread's two other siblings into the outstanding category. Upcycling your Recycling, and then a little later on, Upcycling your Recycling – Sister from another Mister looked at a Volvo 70 mould, and a former TP52.
Posted on 22 Dec 2023 Solstice celebrations, offshore contests
by David Schmidt
David Schmidt rounds up the racing news There are a lot of great holiday traditions in the world, all of which deserve celebration and recognition. Even my own strange little nod to the annual “low tide”.
Posted on 19 Dec 2023 Seldén's new range of winches and winch handles
by Mark Jardine
Presented by Mats-Uno Fredrikson at METSTRADE We spoke to Seldén's Mats-Uno Fredrikson at METSTRADE 2023 about the new range of manual and electric self-tailing winches.
Posted on 19 Dec 2023 Building for the future - the FD Yachts story
by Mark Jardine
Dutch technology and craftsmanship with Swiss precision design and Chinese build quality FD Yachts combine Dutch technology and craftsmanship with Swiss precision design and Chinese build quality to create the FD Future - a contemporary design for both youth sailing and sailing club operations.
Posted on 18 Dec 2023 The VAR of sailing, and it actually works!
by Mark Jardine
Whichever way you look at VAR, it's controversial Anybody who follows football knows about VAR, or Video Assistant Referee. They don't just know about it, they obsess about it, they complain about it, and endlessly debate its rights and wrongs. Whichever way you look at VAR, it's controversial.
Posted on 12 Dec 2023 SailGP changes, AC racing, Ultim dreams
by David Schmidt
David Schmidt rounds up the racing news While the world is enjoying some fantastic offshore racing, there's also been great inshore action at SailGP and in America's Cup circles.
Posted on 5 Dec 2023 Of foiling boats and taverns
by John Curnow, Editor, Sail-World AUS
Televising the AC40 racing for the masses Was in a tavern. It was actually a bit more like one of those barn style places, where size mattered more than anything else. Bigger is better, right? Let alone fries with that… Did not necessarily want to be there too long, either.
Posted on 3 Dec 2023 RYA videos about disabled sailing
by Magnus Smith
Enjoying your time on the water regardless of a physical impairment These videos were produced by the RYA's Sailability team, and tell of how you can enjoy your time on the water regardless of a physical impairment.
Posted on 1 Dec 2023 Is there a need for speed?
by Mark Jardine
That famous line by Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in Top Gun It's that famous line by Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in Top Gun while walking towards his F-14 Tomcat with Goose, "I feel the need, the need for speed". Sailing seems to have been following the mantra.
Posted on 27 Nov 2023 New Allen products at METSTRADE 2023
by Mark Jardine
We spoke to Ben Harden about new 40mm High Load Blocks and AY Fittings We spoke to Ben Harden of Allen at METSTRADE 2023 to find out about the new products they have brought out.
Posted on 21 Nov 2023 It's not just about the racing
by John Curnow, Editor, Sail-World AUS
Had occasion to be invited to attend a luncheon Had occasion to be invited to attend a luncheon. It was with a crew that do not even race together anymore, and the boat has been sold many a year ago, as well.
Posted on 19 Nov 2023 The greatest event that almost never was
by Mark Jardine
Why the SSL Gold Cup could well be the most important event in the history of sailing It's been a very hard week for personal reasons, but I am very glad I made it to Gran Canaria to cover the SSL Gold Cup.
Posted on 15 Nov 2023 Cup Spy Nov 10: Three very different days
by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World NZ
Three teams experienced very different days as they trained in Barcelona, Jeddah and Auckland It was an early day of summer on the Hauraki Gulf, but a squally one in Jeddah. The Brits had a good session with their training boat T6 - until the electronic gremlins struck.
Posted on 11 Nov 2023