Puget Sound sailing, Etchells, J/70s, Cup news
by David Schmidt
Seeking Goldilocks conditions on Puget Sound, Etchells NAs, J/70 U.S. Nationals, AC38 news As the saying goes, 'you don't know unless you go'. While I've mostly heard this phrase applied to climbing, skiing, and mountaineering, four late-winter and springtime races on Puget Sound this year exemplified the fact that this line.
Posted on 20 May The appeal of offshore
by John Curnow, Sail-World.com AUS Editor
Is there still appeal? Have we made it too onerous? Why would someone take it up now? I had been pondering. Yes. Marquee events have no issue attracting entrants. Middle Sea, Transpac, Cape to Rio, Fastnet, and Hobart all spring to mind instantly, but what of the ‘lesser' races? Lots of boats in pens (slips) a lot of the time
Posted on 18 May Banger Racing, Back Racing and No Racing
by Mark Jardine
Racing on the cheap, a return to racing for young Aussies, and ILCA struggles We start with racing on the cheap at the Colander Cup, then focus on a return to racing for the Aussies at the Youth Worlds, moving on to a complete lack of racing at the ILCA Worlds, and then looking at how SailGP should be back out on the water.
Posted on 14 May Exposure Marine Fastnet Race Kit Video Review
by Mark Jardine
A set of 3 torches specifically designed for offshore racing crews It's a huge year for offshore sailing, and arguably the biggest event of the summer is the Rolex Fastnet Race. Within an hour of entries opening the Royal Ocean Racing Club had received a record 435 yacht registrations.
Posted on 14 May Touching base with Francesca Clapcich
by David Schmidt
Francesca Clapcich on her 2028-2029 Vendee Globe campaign In late March, Italian-American sailor Francesca “Frankie” Clapcich announced that her Team Francesca Clapcich Powered by 11th Hour Racing will campaign for the 2028-2029 edition of the Vendee Globe race.
Posted on 13 May How Seldén Carbon Masts are made
by Mark Jardine
I took a look around the Seldén Mast factory with Richard Thoroughgood to find out more I took a look around the Seldén Mast factory with Richard Thoroughgood from Seldén to find out a bit more about how the carbon tow reels become the masts that we use when out sailing.
Posted on 12 May SAY it with intent! SAY it in carbon…
by John Curnow, Global Editor, Powerboat.World
You know, you might also have to SAY it in epoxy. You know, you might also have to SAY it in epoxy. Get all that, and you are certainly someone who needs to know about SAY Carbon Yachts. It's all about efficiency, acceleration, pace, and the amount of horsepower required to get there.
Posted on 8 May Night sailing, Transat Paprec, Congressional Cup
by David Schmidt
Night sailing, encountering light airs in the Transat Paprec, Congressional Cup We bundled up as the last of the rays sunlight dipped below the Olympic Mountains and night quietly fell on Puget Sound. We'd been racing for about twelve hours in the Seattle Yacht Club's Protection Island Race (April 26), and we were getting tired.
Posted on 6 May For the love of slightly larger, even faster boats
by John Curnow, Sail-World.com AUS Editor
Bring it on. No chicken chutes allowed. Celestial, the newest Cape 31 in Oz is up and racing Thank you. You have let For the love of small, fast boats run before the breeze like a superlight planning hull under way too big a kite, with immense sheep in the paddock, and the Sailing Master grasping the flare gun in his pocket... No chicken chutes.
Posted on 4 May Touching base with Erden Eruç
by David Schmidt
Erden Eruç on his 2026 Golden Globe Race campaign Adventures come in all sizes, scales, speeds, and price tags. My longtime friend and sometimes shipmate Erden Eruç was the first person to complete a human-powered solo circumnavigation. He's now turning his attention to the 2026 Golden Globe Race.
Posted on 1 May The Allure of Timber
by Mark Jardine
The longevity, and sheer beauty, of boats made of wood In these days of exotic materials, high modulus carbon and ultra lightweight construction, it's possible to overlook the longevity, and sheer beauty, of boats made of wood.
Posted on 29 Apr A look inside the Spirit Yachts yard
by Mark Jardine
A close look at what makes their yachts unique Traditional skills in boatbuilding could be regarded as a lost art from a bygone era. In the world of fibreglass and carbon, the joinery and laminating techniques of wood ribs and cedar strips are a thing of the past.
Posted on 28 Apr Transat Paprec, Classics, US Sailing, Cup news
by David Schmidt
Some parts of North America are experiencing a faster approach of spring's warm tidings than others While some parts of North America are experiencing a faster approach of spring's warm tidings than others, the offshore racing action is plenty hot in the Transat Paprec.
Posted on 22 Apr Make me smile even wider and brighter
by John Curnow, Sail-World.com AUS Editor
What's better than writing about a great programme to get people into yachting? Only one thing... What's better than writing about a great programme to get people into yachting? Well, how about actually speaking with a former participant who has then gone on to work in the industry. That's what!
Posted on 22 Apr Cup bust-ups; SailGP time-out
by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World NZ
A few situations that have been on the build for a while all came to a head within the same week. It has been a tumultuous few weeks on the NZ sailing scene and internationally. A few situations that have been on the build for a while all came to a head within the same week.
Posted on 15 Apr Pro Sailing Drama and Intrigue
by Mark Jardine
SailGP, the America's Cup, and the sailors themselves have all been in the mainstream news What a couple of weeks it has been in the world of professional sailing: SailGP, the America's Cup, and the sailors themselves have all been in the mainstream news for one reason or another.
Posted on 15 Apr Bill Crane and Karl Ziegler discuss the Storm 18
by David Schmidt
Checking in with Bill Crane and Karl Ziegler about the Storm 18 Sail-World checked in with Bill Crane and Karl Ziegler, of the Storm Marine Group, via email, to learn more about the new Storm 18 one design keelboat.
Posted on 10 Apr Mini Globe Race, Princesa Sofía Mallorca news
by David Schmidt
McIntyre Mini Globe Race news, Princesa Sofía report, Charleston Race Week As global financial markets melt faster than spring snowpack in the American West, I find myself daydreaming more and more of simply setting sail.
Posted on 8 Apr For the love of small, fast boats - the Cape 26
by John Curnow, Sail-World.com AUS Editor
Chickens, eggs, and boats. Until now, had never, ever put that lot together! The proverbial chicken, an egg, and boats. Not entirely sure I had ever pondered that until after my recent conversation with Davey James and Mark Mills. The genesis for the discussion was the reveal of the new Cape 26 OD....
Posted on 6 Apr Ambre Hasson discusses her Classe Mini season
by David Schmidt
Touching base with Franco American Classe Mini skipper Ambre Hasson Sail-World checked in with Ambre Hasson, the skipper of Mini 618, to get the latest on the Franco American's 2025 Mini Transat campaign.
Posted on 2 Apr The Proving Ground
by Mark Jardine
Why the Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca by FERGUS is such an important regatta The end of an Olympic quadrennial cycle often brings sailing campaigns to an end. Some partnerships in doublehanded classes split, with helm and crew going their separate ways, while others use the time to reflect on their future.
Posted on 1 Apr The most important job in sailing
by Mark Jardine
How Nick Scott is delivering radical change to competitive sailing pathways in the UK I am putting forward that falls to Nick Scott and his team. Namely to secure its competitive future by addressing challenges and delivering radical change while bringing people on that journey with him.
Posted on 31 Mar Revealing the Secrets of the 'Impossible' XR 41
by Mark Jardine
An out and out race yacht, but also a sporty cruiser, thanks to its modular interior The XR 41 from X-Yachts was quite a departure from what they'd been doing for the last 15 years: concentrating on high-end Performance Racing Cruisers. This is an out and out race yacht, but it's also a sporty cruiser, thanks to its modular interior.
Posted on 27 Mar San Francisco SailGP news, Vendee Globe, GL52s
by David Schmidt
A rotating cast of characters who have been reaching the podium's top step One of the coolest aspects of SailGP's fifth season of racing has been the rotating cast of characters who have been reaching the podium's top step. This past weekend, in San Francisco, it was the Spain SailGP Team's time to shine.
Posted on 25 Mar Going to publish the 'F' word – Again!
by John Curnow, Sail-World.com AUS Editor
Clearly, there are lots of young sailors out there looking to add a load of fun to their sailing Now we published the first one back in June last year. It did really well, thank you. Very much appreciated. Clearly, there are lots of young sailors out there looking to add a load of fun to their sailing, and are keen to get into the foiling world.
Posted on 23 Mar SailGP news, J/22 Midwinters, SP80 update
by David Schmidt
Rolex Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix, J/22 Midwinters, SP80's speed record attempt While 2025 hasn't been kind to the City of Angels, sailing fans turned out to celebrate the Rolex Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix event this past weekend, which saw 12 SailGP teams engaging in racecourse fisticuffs on the waters off the Port of Los Angeles.
Posted on 18 Mar Is it the science of silence?
by John Curnow, Global Editor, Powerboat.World
A sensibility and inner peace that only real Zen can deliver. Yes. This is Silent Yachts. Distinctly more than just moments in love? You'd have to think so. A serene theme for life. A futuristic take on it all. New Romantic collides with Renaissance. Abstract meets impressionism. A sensibility and inner peace that only real Zen can deliver.
Posted on 17 Mar No more excuses
by Mark Jardine
2025 is all about the club sailors, the weekend warriors, the open meeting stalwarts I was wondering if things were going to slow down in sailing after the huge events of 2024, namely the Olympics, America's Cup and Vendée Globe but, if anything, they've speeded up.
Posted on 17 Mar The oldest video footage of sailing in Ireland
by Magnus Smith
A look back into our video archive, from 1926 to 1980 As we prepare for St Patrick's Day tomorrow, let us direct our exploration of the video archive towards anything Irish. We have discovered several videos from Ireland, starting as early as the 1920s!
Posted on 16 Mar A windy Possession Point Race
by David Schmidt
Some thoughts on the 2025 Possession Point Race Mea Culpa: I didn't take any pictures on Saturday's Possession Point Race. That's because both of my hands were either busy either dealing with foredeck duties or holding on tight to the lifelines of Jonathan and Libby McKee's Riptide 44, Dark Star.
Posted on 11 Mar Two boats. Same Direction.
by John Curnow, Sail-World.com AUS Editor
You know the deal… It means there's a race on. You know the deal… It means there's a race on. So, the second South Pacific Superyacht Rendezvous is set for August 26 to 29, 2025. If it is even half as much fun and interesting as the first one, then it will bolster its burgeoning reputation.
Posted on 9 Mar The 600 Sweet Spot
by Mark Jardine
The world of offshore racing is booming around the world The world of offshore racing is booming around the world. Record entries, some of the world's fastest yachts and highest profile campaigns, and a plethora of Corinthian teams have the 'classics' on their bucket list.
Posted on 4 Mar Foggy sailing on Puget Sound
by David Schmidt
East Coast fog and West Coast whales The biennial Marblehead to Halifax Race, which celebrates its 40th edition this summer, is a 361 nautical mile race that's often characterized by light upwind sailing in fog. Last Saturday on Puget Sound felt like a return to these storied waters.
Posted on 4 Mar Inaugural Fast Women's Switch Training Camp
by Mark Jardine
Some of the best sailors in the world gathered in Thailand The first ever Fast Women's Switch Training Camp took place at the Royal Varuna Yacht Club in Thailand, attracting some of the best sailors in the world, fresh from competing in the Australia Sail Grand Prix.
Posted on 4 Mar Point of difference - Pacifica 44
by John Curnow, Global Editor, Powerboat.World
Take me away. Far, far away. OK. Here's the Pacifica 44, which is perfect for the job. 3000nm. Boom. There's your unique selling proposition, right there. Real range. Reliable passage making times/distances at 10 knots as your base marker and unbelievable autonomy means the Pacifica 44 harnesses the absolute best a sailing vessel can offer.
Posted on 27 Feb Mini Globe Race, Caribbean 600, Cole Brauer
by David Schmidt
McIntyre Mini Globe Race begins, Caribbean 600, Cole Brauer There's an old saw that goes something like this: Thou shall not sail offshore on a yacht with less waterline, as measured in feet, than thou has in years.
Posted on 25 Feb Battle for the Bar
by John Curnow, Sail-World.com AUS Editor
The unofficial name for the Capel Sound Invitational, from the stellar waters and the drinks By their own admission, this is the unofficial name for the Capel Sound Invitational. Yes, it pays reference to the location where they serve drinks, but it is also for the stretch of water it is named after.
Posted on 24 Feb Tongue Twister Triumphs
by Mark Jardine
Albacore wins Concours d'Elegance at the RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show The Concours d'Elegance for the boat of the show has been won by Matt Thompson's Albacore 'Uffa Fox Sake' after judges Mark Jardine, joined this year by the voice of SailGP, Stevie Morrison, spent an enjoyable morning perusing every boat on display.
Posted on 23 Feb A look at the Mini Globe Race 2025
by David Schmidt
Mini Globe Race 2025, warm-water racing, Vendee Globe finishers Amidst all the recent focus on the Vendee Globe race and SailGP's Season 5 racing, it's important to remember that there's also great offshore racing unfurling on the opposite end of sailing's waterline spectrum.
Posted on 18 Feb SailGP, Rolex Awards, Vendee Globe
by David Schmidt
SailGP, Rolex Awards, Vendee Globe finishers The weather at 48.5719° N, 122.4787° W (Bellingham, Washington) has been unseasonably cold, but the racing was hot on the waters of Sydney Harbor, where the third event of SailGP's Season 5 calendar unfurled last weekend.
Posted on 11 Feb The engine room
by John Curnow, Sail-World.com AUS Editor
Without them we are lost. This is about the things aloft both ahead and behind the stick. Without them we are lost. This is not about the tiny little room under the companionway stairs. Rather, it is about the things aloft both ahead and behind the stick.Yes. The rags. Only, they are anything but for wiping up spills. They are supreme tech.
Posted on 9 Feb SailGP: Controversial Call? Late Umpire Decision?
by Mark Jardine
Arguably the most contentious moment of the KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix The KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix provided us with thrilling racing, but arguably the most contentious moment was when the Australian SailGP Team were awarded a penalty in the pre-start when they were luffed by the Canadian NorthStar SailGP Team.
Posted on 9 Feb Slingsby's SailGP Starting Masterclass
by Mark Jardine
KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix Analysis Day 1 Video Analysis The reaching starts in SailGP make for entertaining viewing and, with just 400 metres until the first mark bear away, they are often critical to a race result.
Posted on 8 Feb J/40 Boat Tour at boot Düsseldorf
by Mark Jardine
Mark Jardine looks at the yacht with Frédéric Bouvier from J/Composites Mark Jardine, Managing Editor of Sail-World.com and YachtsandYachting.com took a tour around the J/40 during boot Düsseldorf 2025 with Frédéric Bouvier from J/Composites.
Posted on 7 Feb The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
by Mark Jardine
If ever I needed a reminder of how varied the sport of sailing is, the past fortnight provided it If ever I needed a reminder of how varied the sport of sailing is, the past fortnight has provided it. We've seen the whole spectrum of goings on, from the superb in the Vendée Globe, to the baffling with the British America's Cup team.
Posted on 4 Feb Warm-water racing, Vendee Globe update
by David Schmidt
Warm-water racing, plus news from the Vendee Globe and Cup worlds While February doesn't enjoy the greatest reputation as a fine sailing month for most parts of North America (ahem), the same isn't true for the Caribbean or the Sunshine State.
Posted on 4 Feb PBMY - 30 years to become an overnight success
by John Curnow, Global Editor, Powerboat.World
Palm Beach Motor Yachts turns 30 in 2025 Palm Beach Motor Yachts turns 30 in 2025. Commencing operations in Palm Beach, Australia with the Palm Beach 38, it wasn't long before more space was required. They then moved to Mona Vale, just a bit further down Sydney's Northern Beaches peninsula...
Posted on 28 Jan Cup-quake, Vendee Globe news, Florida racing
by David Schmidt
America's Cup news, Vendee Globe finishers, warm-water racing While the dates and details of the next America's Cup have yet to be finalized, the AC world was jolted last week by the news that Sir Ben Ainslie will not return as principal, CEO, and skipper of the British-flagged INEOS Britannia team.
Posted on 28 Jan Freight Train Running
by John Curnow, Sail-World.com AUS Editor
Checking in with Cole Brauer and ZaZa Tucker in the Southern Ocean Back at the beginning of November 2024 in 'When diminutive is massive' we warned fellow mariners in the Atlantic and Southern Oceans, then the Tasman Sea that First Light may resemble more of a freight train on her delivery to Australia than a Class 40.
Posted on 27 Jan Small boats at boot Düsseldorf!
by Mark Jardine
Mark Jardine took a look around Hall 15 to see what he could find... Hall 15 at boot Düsseldorf has some really interesting small boats, so Mark Jardine took a look around to see what he could find...
Posted on 24 Jan