The World Sailing Show - December 2017

The World Sailing Show: Programme 12 – Season 2017 © The World Sailing Show

The World Sailing Show gets aboard Phil Sharp and Pablo Santurde's Class 40 Imerys for a full-on, double handed 4,000 mile sleigh ride south to see how the pair took the coveted overall season title.

Also heading south, the Volvo Ocean Race fleet descended on Cape Town. With 7,000 miles under their belts, stomachs were starting to churn among the crew at the thought of the next 6,500 across the notorious Southern Ocean – they tell the World Sailing Show why.

What will make the new America's Cup boat be so quick? Cup guru Grant Simmer explains in an exclusive interview.

We take a look at two major new world records set at very different ends of the scale. We also find out how to compete in a world championships without getting your feet wet.

Plus, were back in China, this time for the Youth World Championships.

Features

Volvo Ocean Race Leg two and three – From one major leg to another
Leg 2 of the Volvo Ocean Race from Lisbon to Cape Town had been tough. For the new crew, this was their longest time at sea by far. For the skippers and navigators, the leg had been stressful as the tactics in the closing stages threatened to re-shuffle a tightly grouped pack.

Once into Cape Town, thoughts turned to the notorious Southern Ocean. Talk of strong winds, big seas and cold temperatures are the norm down here, but when the meteorologists started talking of a developing 'weather bomb', stomachs started to churn as the tension built in the fleet.

How the new America's Cup boat will work – Exclusive
When Emirates Team New Zealand unveiled plans for the next America's Cup boat the sailing world drew breath. Big, bold and unprecedented, there were more questions than answers about how the new foiling beast would work and why it would be so quick.

So the World Sailing Show sat down with Cup guru Grant Simmer to find out more.

Aboard Imerys – How the Class 40 season title was won
There were mixed emotions at the end of the Transat Jacques Vabre when Phil Sharp and Pablo Santurde crossed the finish line in Salvador de Bahia.

They had led for 12 of the 17 day race from France to Brazil, stretching a 40 mile lead at one point.

But the race had been a tough one. Flat out for 4,000 miles, boisterous conditions had forced them to the very edge of what they and their boat could handle.

Gear and communications failures threw additional obstacles in their path as the duo fought to keep their show on the road while keeping their foot to the floor.

The race and the season's overall title were at stake and the World Sailing Show was aboard.

eSailing World Championships
Last year over one million people took part in sailing events without getting their feet wet. Many were absolute beginners, racing against professionals and amateurs alike, along coastlines, across oceans and around the world.

As e-gaming grows in other sports, Virtual Regatta has pioneered online sailing for over a decade. And now there's a World Championships that's open to all.

Gabart smashes solo world record
Francois Gabart has smashed the record for the fastest solo circumnavigation aboard his 30m trimaran Macif. We take a first look at this outstanding achievement.

Youth Worlds Sanya, China
The numbers alone were impressive, 374 sailors from 60 nations racing across nine fleets in five entry Olympic class boats.

The Youth Worlds is now in its 47th year and once again drew in an impressive array of talent from around the world for some intense and closely fought racing.