The IMOCA class continues to push forward The IMOCA class continues to push forward 2019 looks like being an exciting, action-packed year with six races The IMOCA class held its annual general meeting on Tuesday 11th December in Paris. This gathering enabled the class to present its appraisal of what was a very positive 2018 season coming to a climax with an outstanding edition of the Route du Rhum by IMOCA Globe Series Posted 13 Dec 09:28 GMT Clipper Race crew claims National Yachting Award Clipper Race crew claims National Yachting Award Simon DuBois has been announced as Québec Sailor of the Year Quebecan Clipper 2017-18 Race crew member Simon DuBois, who raced around the world on board the Visit Seattle team yacht, has been announced as Québec Sailor of the Year. by Clipper Round the World Posted 13 Dec 07:15 GMT SOLAS Big Boat Challenge wrap for 2018 SOLAS Big Boat Challenge wrap for 2018 Nic Douglass catches up on all the action What a day it was this year for the Grinders Coffee SOLAS Big Boat Challenge! by Nic Douglass Posted 13 Dec 06:37 GMT Training injury puts Am Cup champ out of classic Training injury puts Am Cup champ out of classic Twice America's Cup champion, Jimmy Spithill has incurred an elbow tendon injury Twice America's Cup champion, Jimmy Spithill has incurred an elbow tendon injury while preparing for Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race on Comanche 100 by Di Pearson/RSHYR Media Posted 13 Dec 02:09 GMT GGR Day 164: Storm threatens Istvan Kopar GGR Day 164: Storm threatens Istvan Kopar Storm threatens Istvan Kopar As French race leader Jean-Luc Van Den Heede works to protect his shrinking lead over 2nd placed Dutch rival Mark Slats, the focus is once more on a violent storm in the Southern Ocean that looks likely to overtake 4th placed American/Hungarian Istvan by Barry Pickthall, Golden Globe Race Posted 13 Dec 00:55 GMT Second America's Cup Challenge has AC75 in build Second America's Cup Challenge has AC75 in build Stars & Stripes Team USA will once again sail in Auckland The second US team now accepted as a Challenger for the America's Cup has been working on a challenge for over a year - predating Emirates Team New Zealand's win in Bermuda on June 26, 2017 by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com/nz Posted 12 Dec 21:00 GMT Stars & Stripes Team USA joins 36th America's Cup Stars & Stripes Team USA joins 36th America's Cup First all-American entry in over 15 years to compete for Auld Mug Long Beach Yacht Club announced today that its entry, Stars & Stripes Team USA, has formally been accepted by the Defender and Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron as the fifth Challenger of the 36th America's Cup. by Jordan Kelly Posted 12 Dec 19:00 GMT Last chance Sail Sale at P&B Last chance Sail Sale at P&B 15% off all sails and covers ends New Year's Eve! 15% off all sails and covers ends 31.12.18 so HURRY and get your orders in now to take advantage of this fantastic deal and avoid disappointment. by P&B Posted 12 Dec 12:00 GMT Countdown to the GJW Direct 45th Bloody Mary Countdown to the GJW Direct 45th Bloody Mary It's now just one month to go! It's now just one month to go as we countdown to the GJW Direct 45th Bloody Mary on Saturday 12th January, 2019. The fifth leg of the Selden SailJuice Winter Series. by Tony Bishop Posted 12 Dec 10:37 GMT RORC Transatlantic Race: Cracking beers in Grenada RORC Transatlantic Race: Cracking beers in Grenada Sirius, Black Sheep and Xtra Staerk have joined the role of honour Stephane Bry's Sirius completed the podium for the Class40 Division, finishing in an elapsed time of 16 days 08 hrs 33 mins and 26 secs. French Canadian Stephane Bry is no stranger to Grenada and he was delighted to return having finished the race. by Louay Habib / RORC Posted 12 Dec 10:30 GMT 18ft Skiffs 'Supercup' 2018 preview 18ft Skiffs 'Supercup' 2018 preview Some of 18ft Skiff's past greatest sailors will make a return to the 18s on Friday Some of 18ft Skiffs past greatest sailors will make a return to the 18s on Friday, December 14, when the Australian 18 Footers League will stage the inaugural 'Supercup' on Sydney Harbour. by Frank Quealey Posted 12 Dec 09:23 GMT Olympians flock to Sail Melbourne Olympians flock to Sail Melbourne Featuring the world's best Olympic, Para-sailing and Youth Sailors A selection of the world's best sailors has assembled at Melbourne's Royal Brighton Yacht Club this week to contest the 2018 edition of Sail Melbourne International (SMI) starting tomorrow, Thursday, 13 December 2018. by Michael Martin Posted 12 Dec 09:18 GMT Furling Systems: Options and Accessories Furling Systems: Options and Accessories Several other furling considerations need to be taken into account When purchasing a furling system, there are several other considerations that need to be taken into account to ensure you have a fully operational furling system. Some are basic/essentials and others are optional extras. by Phil Anniss Posted 12 Dec 09:00 GMT Beth Moreley Images from the Big Boat Challenge Beth Moreley Images from the Big Boat Challenge Photographer Beth Moreley delivered these wonderful images from the Big Boat Challenge Photographer Beth Morley was out on Sydney Harbour for the Grinders SOLAS Big Boat Challenge and turned in this gallery of the participants. by John Curnow Posted 12 Dec 08:46 GMT The Open Icicle series at Bough Beech beckons The Open Icicle series at Bough Beech beckons Vistors welcome to race at club near Sevenoaks Back in 1970 Bough Beech Sailing Club was founded as a venue where dinghy sailors from the South East coastal clubs could continue sailing through the winter months on a large newly opened reservoir near Sevenoaks. by Nick Marden Posted 12 Dec 08:05 GMT Il Duce and the big boats Il Duce and the big boats Not only did Winning Appliances get the overall win in yesterday's SOLAS Big Boat Challenge... Not only did Winning Appliances get the overall win in yesterday's SOLAS Big Boat Challenge on Sydney Harbour, Il Duce aka Andrea Francolini left us with a wonderful follow up to The Kite Douse from Monday. by John Curnow Posted 11 Dec 23:47 GMT Grinders SOLAS Big Boat Challenge Grinders SOLAS Big Boat Challenge Winning Appliances, on only their first outing, took out Overall Winner of the event. Winning Appliances, on only their first outing, took out Overall Winner of the event. by Bow Caddy Media Posted 11 Dec 22:49 GMT Poole Bay Winter Series overall Poole Bay Winter Series overall A breezy time was had by all Racing on the final day of the Poole Bay Winter Series was cancelled due to a forecast that promised gusts over 40 knots. In the event, the wind decreased throughout the morning to leave conditions similar to those on previous Sundays. by Parkstone YC Poole Bay Winter Series Posted 11 Dec 21:03 GMT AC36 news, Susie Goodall successfully rescued AC36 news, Susie Goodall successfully rescued Latest newsletter from David Schmidt of Sail-World International sailing news is giving Pacific Northwest sailors some mental reprieve until our next regatta-rain, wind and all-or until the snow gets deep enough for the powder skis. by David Schmidt Posted 11 Dec 20:00 GMT RYA Scotland Winter Championships at Largs RYA Scotland Winter Championships at Largs Attended by 77 sailors in Youth and Junior classes The RYA Scotland Winter Championships is a great festive race weekend to round off the season hosted by Largs Sailing Club on the 8th and 9th of December 2018. by Marc Turner, RYA Scotland Posted 11 Dec 18:37 GMT Gonet Monofoil enjoys spectacular first season Gonet Monofoil enjoys spectacular first season Swiss sailor, Eric Monnin's gamble has paid off The Gonet Monofoil, an innovative new foiling monohull, designed alongside Damien Weiss and Simon Bovay has enjoyed an impressive first season. And there is plenty of room for further development... by Monofoil Gonet Posted 11 Dec 18:26 GMT Shop the Holiday Sale! Shop the Holiday Sale! Save 10% on everything in the new Melges Apparel Shop Shop now for teammates, family, and friends with custom team gear and class specific apparel. Sitewide discount until December 31. Enter the code HOLIDAY18 at checkout. by Hannah Noll, Melges Performance Sailboats Posted 11 Dec 17:00 GMT EUROSAF launch brand new 420 European circuit EUROSAF launch brand new 420 European circuit Covering Italy, Portugal, Greece, France, Germany so far EUROSAF, the continental association for the sport of sailing in Europe, and the International 420 Class Association have set up the EUROSAF 420 Race Circuit, a circuit of regattas within Europe, to foster and promote two-person dinghy sailing in Europe. by 420 Class Posted 11 Dec 16:06 GMT Early Bird Entry Open for Sovereign's Cup Early Bird Entry Open for Sovereign's Cup Incorporates the 1720 Europeans and the Irish Dragon Nationals The Notice of Race for the 2019 Sovereign's Cup in Kinsale Yacht Club has been published and entries are now being taken online. by Michele Kennelly Posted 11 Dec 15:25 GMT Kuka3 lift the RORC Transatlantic Race Trophy Kuka3 lift the RORC Transatlantic Race Trophy Though yachts are still racing, none can beat the time set by Kuka3 Franco Niggeler's Swiss Cookson 50 Kuka3, skippered by Roberto Chuny Bermúdez de Castro has been announced as the overall winner of the 2018 RORC Transatlantic Race. by Louay Habib Posted 11 Dec 12:10 GMT Harken Product Focus: The Cam-Cleat Harken Product Focus: The Cam-Cleat Make sure you have the right cleat for the job! With such a huge range of hardware out there, the Harken Tech Team would like to help untangle the different options available. by Alice Markham, Harken UK Posted 11 Dec 12:00 GMT Santa's Sailing Dash at Lymington Town Santa's Sailing Dash at Lymington Town To raise funds for Oakhaven Hospice alongside the local fun run Sunday 9th December saw nearly 2000 Lymington residents dress as Santa and run, jog and walk the 3km course to raise funds for Oakhaven Hospice, a local hospice which provides specialist palliative care to patients in The New Forest and Waterside area. by Lou Johnson Posted 11 Dec 10:40 GMT Bosun Bob's Frosty Series at RNIYC day 6 Bosun Bob's Frosty Series at RNIYC day 6 Twenty-one crews enjoy a warmish afternoon after Storm Etienne Following Storm Etienne, twenty-one crews arrived at Royal North for Day 6 of Bosun Bob's famous Frosty Series, and were glad to see that there were no pieces of RS400 lying on the ground. by Sam Pickering Posted 11 Dec 09:24 GMT Grinders Coffee SOLAS Big Boat Challenge Grinders Coffee SOLAS Big Boat Challenge Wild Oats XI reclaims Line Honours crown Despite smart crew work from last year's Line Honours winner Peter Harburg's Black Jack, it was only a matter of moments before the Oatley Family's Wild Oats XI exerted her authority to take Line Honours in the Grinders Coffee SOLAS Big Boat Challenge. by Di Pearson with DJ Munro Posted 11 Dec 08:52 GMT RS Aero Lymington Christmas Stadium Racing RS Aero Lymington Christmas Stadium Racing 24 sailors racing on the river at the top of the tide 24 RS Aero sailors entered the Christmas edition of the Lymington sprint racing on the river at the top of the tide. With strong winds whipping across the river the fleet divided into RS Aero 5s and RS Aero 7s. by RS Aero UK Class Association Posted 11 Dec 07:23 GMT A tsunami of Am Cup Challenges hits Auckland A tsunami of Am Cup Challenges hits Auckland The flurry of Late Notices of Challenge for the America's Cup, caught everyone by surprise As Emirates Team New Zealand's Chief Operating Officer Kevin Shoebridge told the Auckland Council's Governing Body on Thursday afternoon, they all came in on the last day [November 30], and three came in within the last five minutes of entry time. by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com/nz Posted 11 Dec 05:06 GMT Smith storms to gale force Datchet Flyer victory Smith storms to gale force Datchet Flyer victory Winning Selden SailJuice Winter Series Round 2 Reigning National Champion Richard Smith brought his RS600 safely into land despite the gale-force gusts on Datchet Water at the weekend... by Andy Rice Posted 10 Dec 21:43 GMT DMYC Frostbite Series day 6 DMYC Frostbite Series day 6 Fast and furious! Monitoring the forecast from the Thursday beforehand the weather prognosis for the Frostbites of Sunday 9th December wasn't good, with the base wind strength in the low twenties but gusts going above 30 knots. by Cormac Bradley Posted 10 Dec 15:30 GMT Pwllheli and Plymouth to host RYA Youth Nationals Pwllheli and Plymouth to host RYA Youth Nationals RYA Youth Nationals is the UK's premier youth racing event and a must for young sailors The 2020 event will be staged at the Welsh National Sailing Academy at Plas Heli, while in 2021 the spotlight will shine on Plymouth Youth Sailing Club and the Mount Batten Centre Charitable Trust. by British Sailing Team Media Posted 10 Dec 14:24 GMT Leigh & Lowton Revett Series day 5 Leigh & Lowton Revett Series day 5 The best conditions of the series as 42 boats hit the water The final weekend of the 2018 Revett Series saw the best conditions so far as 42 boats hit the water on bright but chilly day. by Paul Heath Posted 10 Dec 12:54 GMT Sunsail teams up with Andrew Simpson Foundation Sunsail teams up with Andrew Simpson Foundation To get more young sailors out on the Solent in 2019 Global yacht charter company, Sunsail has teamed up with sailing charity, the Andrew Simpson Foundation (ASF) to give more children from Portsmouth the chance to get out on the water in 2019. by Liberty Ash Posted 10 Dec 11:16 GMT RORC Transatlantic Race: Hydra happy in Grenada RORC Transatlantic Race: Hydra happy in Grenada Hydra was runner-up in the Class40 Division to Catherine Pourre's Eärendil Henrik Bergesen's Norwegian Class40 Hydra, skippered by Tristan Kinloch, finished the RORC Transatlantic Race at 22:02:23 UTC on Sunday, 09 December in an elapsed time of 15 days 10 hours two minutes 23 seconds. by Louay Habib / RORC Posted 10 Dec 11:07 GMT RS Aero Australian Championship RS Aero Australian Championship Fleet hail Port Stephens 'best sailing venue' Port Stephens hosted the RS Aero Australian Championship December 6 - 9, 2018, drawing a majority New South Wales and Victorian contingent keen to sample the waters before the strong European and USA fleets arrive for the class' world championship by Lisa Ratcliff Posted 10 Dec 11:05 GMT Bembridge Illusion Inter Club Team Racing Bembridge Illusion Inter Club Team Racing High wind racing for the event! Strong winds were forecast for the annual Illusion Team Racing Championships held at Bembridge over last weekend (8th & 9th December) and first thing on Saturday it looked very much as if they would have to be postponed. by Mike Samuelson Posted 10 Dec 10:15 GMT 420 class have fun on a windy weekend 420 class have fun on a windy weekend At the Datchet Flyer and Oxford coaching The 420 class had an exhilarating weekend on the 8th and 9th December with sailors revelling in the windy conditions which prevailed. by Jennie Clark Posted 10 Dec 09:42 GMT