Robin Clegg on microplastics and the VOR Robin Clegg on microplastics and the VORAn interview with Robin Clegg about microplastics and the Volvo Ocean Race's Sustainability ProgramI checked in with Robin Clegg, who handles sustainability communications for the Volvo Ocean Race, via email, to find out more about microplastics, the VOR's Sustainability Program, and the results that this forward-leaning program delivered.by David Schmidt Posted 15 Nov 00:00 HKT Legacy of an Olympic Legend Legacy of an Olympic LegendThe greatest sailing story in Olympics history?After Tokyo 2020, the Finn will have provided 68 years of Olympic competition. Originally designed in 1949, its contribution and influence over seven decades is both astonishing and significant.by Robert Deaves Posted 14 Nov 21:50 HKT FFV President outlines backers of Offshore event FFV President outlines backers of Offshore event"Australia, New Zealand, the United States, almost all of Asia" backed offshore keelboatIn an interview with a French sailing website, the President of Fédération Française de Voile, has revealed how a five-member team from FFVoile were able to have a Mixed Offshore event included in the 2024 Olympic Events in Marseille. by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com/nz Posted 14 Nov 20:53 HKT DAME Awards special mention for Scanstrut DAME Awards special mention for ScanstrutWe speak to Grant Fox about Scanstrut's new productsAt the METS 2018 marine trade fair we spoke to Grant Fox, Marketing Manager at Scanstrut, who were nominated at this year's show for a DAME award, and received a special mention in the design category for their wireless charging products. by Mark Jardine Posted 14 Nov 20:00 HKT Arkema capsizes on the Route du Rhum Arkema capsizes on the Route du RhumLalou Roucayrol is safe and well inside his boatFrench skipper Lalou Roucayrol has capsized on his Multi50 Arkema at around 0630hrs UTC/0730 CET this morning while racing in fourth place in the Route du Rhum-Destination Gaudeloupe approximately 1000 miles east of Guadeloupe.by Route du Rhum Posted 14 Nov 16:57 HKT Optimist Asian and Oceanian Championship day 2 Optimist Asian and Oceanian Championship day 2Light winds continue to challengeIt was a very early start today at the 2018 Optimist Asian and Oceanian Championships at the Ngwe Yacht Club & Resort in Myanmar as the Race Committee wanted to take advantage of any breeze in the morning.by Fiona Kidd Posted 14 Nov 14:34 HKT Get expert advice for your forecast location Get expert advice for your forecast locationPredictwind announces text based weather forecasts for your locationThe PredictWind meteorological and development team has been working hard to make a concise and easy to understand the interpretation of their world-leading forecast models.by Predictwind Posted 14 Nov 09:18 HKT Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe day 10 Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe day 10Alex Thomson continues to extend his lead in the trade windsNow less than 1000 miles from the finish in Pointe-à-Pitre, the British skipper seems well placed, even if Paul Meilhat, Vincent Riou and Yann Eliès will remain a threat until the end, while Boris Herrmann is also lying in wait.by Route du Rhum Posted 14 Nov 06:00 HKT New Zhik ECO Wetsuits achieve Special Mention New Zhik ECO Wetsuits achieve Special MentionDame Awards recognise Zhik's innovations for third year in a rowThe new Zhik ECO Wetsuit received a Special Mention today at the METS DAME awards, recognising Zhik's innovations in technical sailing apparel for the third year in a row. by Liz Rushall Posted 14 Nov 03:07 HKT Golden Globe Race day 135 Golden Globe Race day 135Mark Slats has closed the gap on the leader by 500 miles this weekJean-Luc Van Den Heede may have to earn his passage around Cape Horn. The embattled French leader nursing a damaged mast after the yacht was pitchpoled in a storm a week ago, has the prospect of having another Southern Ocean buster.by Barry Pickthall, Golden Globe Race Posted 14 Nov 02:56 HKT Still flying after 71 years! Still flying after 71 years!Talking to Ovington Boats about Flying Fifteen versionsThe Flying Fifteen is described as 'the original sportsboat' although unlike today's modern sportsboats, it does not feature hydro foils, bowsprits, asymmetric kites or carbon rigs.by Jonny Fullerton Posted 14 Nov 00:31 HKT Interview with Steve Cockerill and Kate Sargent Interview with Steve Cockerill and Kate SargentRooster Sailing win DAME award for the Rooster ExofleeceWe talked to Steve Cockerill and Kate Sargent at the METS marine trade fair in Amsterdam, where Rooster Sailing have just won a DAME award in the clothing category for the Rooster Exofleece.by Mark Jardine Posted 13 Nov 23:00 HKT Phil Robertson to skipper China SailGP Phil Robertson to skipper China SailGPSailGP today unveiled the fifth team in its new global racing league – the China SailGP TeamSailGP today unveiled the fifth team in its new global racing league – the China SailGP Team – with a bold ambition to drive the growth of high-performance sailing in China. The China SailGP Team takes to the water in February 2019by SailGP Posted 13 Nov 15:55 HKT 18ft Skiff Spring Champs - Races 5 and 6 18ft Skiff Spring Champs - Races 5 and 6Spring Championship 2018 Race 5 and 6 - Chris Webb Memorial Trophy - 3 BuoysThere were two races sailed on Sunday in the Spring Championship for the Chris Webb Memorial Trophy. Sailing in 13-16kts ENE both races were dominated by end to end winners - Asko in Race 5 and Finport Finance in Race 6.by Sail-World.com/nz Posted 13 Nov 15:31 HKT Optimist Asian and Oceanian Championship day 1 Optimist Asian and Oceanian Championship day 1Rigged and ready to go at 9pm at Ngwe Saung Yacht ClubFollowing the excitement of the Opening Ceremony, all of the sailors were up early, running and exercising on the beach and were rigged and ready to go by 9:00 AM this morning.by Fiona Kidd Posted 13 Nov 09:37 HKT Wins and news from Doyle Sails Wins and news from Doyle SailsA recap of recent wins and news from Doyle Sails InternationalDoyle Sails have continued their winning way - check out the results from Bermuda, USA and Australia, plus an update from Alex Thomson who is leading by over 100nm in the IMOCA60 class. There's a look at a modern Classic just launched by Royal Huisman.by Doyle Sails Posted 13 Nov 04:25 HKT Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe day 9 Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe day 9François Gabart says he's happy with his second-placed finishAt the moment, François Gabart says he's happy with his finish at Pointe-à-Pitre and to have been able to battle to the end, even though Francis Joyon stole the victory by taking the lead at the finishing line, just seven minutes ahead of him.by Route du Rhum Posted 13 Nov 02:51 HKT Emirates Team NZ are first team in Cup Village Emirates Team NZ are first team in Cup VillageLong the Cinderella of America's Cup teams, Emirates Team NZ have now made it to the glass palaceAfter years of being cooped up in a grimy, gritty base, America's Cup victors Emirates Team New Zealand finally have a sparkling new home on Auckland's waterfront. Suzanne McFadden takes a look insideby Suzanne McFadden Posted 13 Nov 02:14 HKT Joyon sets course record in the Route du Rhum Joyon sets course record in the Route du RhumJoyon sets course record in the Route du Rhum–Destination GuadeloupeFrance's Francis Joyon (62), sailing aboard IDEC Sport, crossed the Route du Rhum–Destination Guadeloupe's finishing line seven minutes and eight seconds ahead of Francois Gabart (FRA; 35), to set a new course record.by David Schmidt Posted 13 Nov 01:00 HKT Optimist Asian/Oceanian Championship practice day Optimist Asian/Oceanian Championship practice dayTeams arrive in MyanmarYesterday marked the opening day of the 2018 Optimist Asian and Oceanian Championship, hosted by the Ngwe Saung Yacht Club and Resort with the support of the Myanmar Yachting Federation.by Fiona Kidd Posted 12 Nov 22:58 HKT 12th China Cup International Regatta overall 12th China Cup International Regatta overallWanhang Longcheer has won back the Beneteau 40.7 trophyWanhang Longcheer has won back the Beneteau 40.7 trophy at the 12th China Cup. Steve McConaghy suffered a stressful few hours in the morning wondering if he was going to have to defend a slender two-point lead.by Andy Rice, SailingIntelligence.com Posted 12 Nov 20:00 HKT Joyon snatches record-setting victory Joyon snatches record-setting victoryIn thrilling finale to Route du Rhum-Destination GuadeloupeIn the closest finish since it was first staged in 1978, the French ocean racing veteran Francis Joyon won the 40th anniversary Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe solo transatlantic race from Saint Malo to Pointe-À-Pitre early this morning.by Route du Rhum Posted 12 Nov 14:56 HKT 2018 Melges 40 Grand Prix season concludes 2018 Melges 40 Grand Prix season concludesStig, Sikon and Inga on the podiumThe Lanzarote edition of the Melges 40 Grand Prix season has officially come to a close, as the tenth race has been run and the results are finalized for the 2018 ranking.by Melges 40 Class Posted 12 Nov 13:44 HKT Minutes separate winners in Route du Rhum finish Minutes separate winners in Route du Rhum finishTwo lead boats Francis Joyon and François Gabart finish just over 7 minutes apartAfter a hard sail in the opening stanza of the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe, the two lead boats Francis Joyon on IDEC Sport and François Gabart aboard Macif finished just over seven minutes apart after a thrilling finish at night in Guadeloupeby Sail-World.com/nz Posted 12 Nov 12:07 HKT Red Bull Foiling Generation World Final Red Bull Foiling Generation World FinalNew Zealand victorious in MiamiAfter a year of qualifying races held all over the world, Isaac McHardie and William McKenzie from New Zealand emerged as the victors of the Red Bull Foiling Generation World Final. They've put themselves on the map as future stars in the sport.by Dan Palumbo Posted 12 Nov 08:08 HKT Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe day 8 Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe day 8A foil and a rudder missing on the MACIF Trimaran"François never gives in," says Thomas Normand of the technical team. "The loss of the foil did not cause sufficient damage to force him to retire. Naturally, these hitches have had an impact on performance, but she is still fighting for a win."by Route du Rhum Posted 12 Nov 07:31 HKT Oldest tale of them all Oldest tale of them allIn order to finish first, first you have to finishIn order to finish first, first you have to finish. Certainly felt for the Golden Globe Race leader, Jean-Luc Van Den Heede this week. He has so much daylight between he and second place, Mark Slats, that they are often up to two weather systems apart.by John Curnow, Editor, Sail-World AUS Posted 12 Nov 05:00 HKT 12th Yisunsin Cup International Yacht Race overall 12th Yisunsin Cup International Yacht Race overallORC2 class racing abandoned due to light windsGood weather in Tonyeong, S. Korea as the sailors hit the sea for the final day of Yisunsin Cup International Yacht Race.by ICARUS Sports Posted 12 Nov 00:41 HKT 12th China Cup International Regatta day 4 12th China Cup International Regatta day 4It's the Battle of Oz in the BeneteausRay Roberts gets better every day and has now manoeuvred BoomEgg - JoyOurs Team to just two points off the lead in the hotly contested Beneteau 40.7 at the China Cup International Regatta in Shenzhen.by Andy Rice, SailingIntelligence.com Posted 11 Nov 21:52 HKT Melges 40 Grand Prix at Lanzarote overall Melges 40 Grand Prix at Lanzarote overallRombelli conquers at the helm of StigCongratulations are in full order for 2018 Melges 40 Lanzarote Grand Prix Champion Alessandro Rombelli at the helm of Stig. Racing alongside was tactician Francesco Bruni, with crew members.by Melges 40 Class Posted 11 Nov 13:36 HKT WA WASZP State Championship in Perth day 2 WA WASZP State Championship in Perth day 2Young Tom Devine is proving incredibly hard to beatIt was a sensational day 2 for the WA WASZP State Championships with Perth turning on another stunning afternoon for this exciting one design class. The championship has been split wide open with a lot of the sailors racing the boats for the first time.by Marc Ablett Posted 11 Nov 06:03 HKT Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe day 7 Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe day 7Alex Thomson is still leading the fleet of IMOCAsOn the sixth day of racing in the Route du Rhum, British skipper Alex Thomson is still leading the fleet of IMOCAs. In the trade winds, he is being chased by three skippers, Paul Meilhat, Vincent Riou and Yann Eliès.by Route du Rhum Posted 11 Nov 03:49 HKT 12th Yisunsin Cup International Yacht Race day 2 12th Yisunsin Cup International Yacht Race day 2Lack of wind forces abandonmentThe second day of the Yisunsin Cup started with great expectations. Clear blue skies found the teams at the dock ready to hit the water for today's in-shore races. Wind speeds were set at 4-5 knots and the boats had some close battles.by ICARUS Sports Posted 11 Nov 01:01 HKT WA Moth State Championship day 2 WA Moth State Championship day 2Max Puttman makes the best of the conditionsDay 2 proved a super critical day in terms of the overall leaderboard at the WA Moth State Championships. Session 1 of the day turned into a marginal race where most of the fleet were in low-riding mode for majority of the race.by Marc Ablett Posted 10 Nov 23:29 HKT WA WASZP State Championship in Perth day 1 WA WASZP State Championship in Perth day 1Freshwater Bay providing stunning conditionsPerth turned on some absolutely stunning summer conditions for day 1 of the WA WASZP State Championship, with a late seabreeze kicking in at 12-15knots. Racing was held in Freshwater Bay providing some serious Friday night entertainment.by Marc Ablett Posted 10 Nov 22:28 HKT RC44 Championship Tour finale starts next week RC44 Championship Tour finale starts next weekFleet will once again take to the waters of Cascais for final showdownHaving defended their World Championship trophy last month, becoming the first team ever to claim a hat trick of RC44 World titles, Vladimir Prosikhin and tactician Dean Barker of Team Nika currently lead the fleet.by RC44 Class Association Posted 10 Nov 22:17 HKT 12th China Cup International Regatta day 3 12th China Cup International Regatta day 3Cheung Kong team wins round the island raceCheung Kong Sailing Club Team moved to the top of the Beneteau 40.7 leaderboard after a solid performance on day three of the China Cup International Regatta in Shenzhen. Jono Rankine steered his crew across the finish line of the 19-mile race.by Andy Rice, SailingIntelligence.com Posted 10 Nov 21:15 HKT Return of Athos and the Flying Machines Return of Athos and the Flying MachinesSet for the 2019 RORC Caribbean 600The 2019 RORC Caribbean 600 is set to be a spectacular edition of the fantastic 600 nautical mile race around 11 Caribbean islands. Of the early entries, the largest yacht competing will be the 203ft schooner Athosby Louay Habib Posted 10 Nov 20:36 HKT North Sails Weekly Debrief North Sails Weekly Debrief36th America's Cup, A-Cat Preview, 3Di For All, Solo Skipper Trusts NorthNorth Sails is once again leading the way in the America's Cup as three of four teams have confirmed North Sails as their supplier of choice.by North Sails Posted 10 Nov 20:00 HKT Laura Baldwin's view on the scuttling of the Finn Laura Baldwin's view on the scuttling of the FinnWTF* should never be a question after a decision is made for any change at the Olympic GamesWTF* should never be a question after a decision is made for any change at the Olympic Games. Changes should be made long enough in advance not to immediately impact people's lives in such a devastating way. There should be no shock surprises. by Laura Baldwin Posted 10 Nov 14:28 HKT