The World Sailing Show: Programme 10

The World Sailing Show: Programme 10 – Season 2018 © Event Media

The biggest and most powerful offshore sailing machines in the world prepare to rise up out of the water as they take to hydrofoils for the 40th anniversary of the singlehanded Route du Rhum transatlantic race. We step aboard Gitana 17 to find out how to fly a 32m trimaran, alone.

The bar has been raised inshore too as a new global racing circuit for 50knot foiling cats is unveiled.

We get behind the scenes with the top 52 Super Series team and take in the spectacular scenery at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Sardinia.

Plus, a double rescue drama in the Southern Ocean, competition that goes down to the wire in Japan and San Diego and plenty more.

• How to fly a 32m tri – Gitana 17 explained
• New global foiling circuit - Sail GP announced
• Southern Ocean rescue – Golden Globe drama
• 52 Super Series – The final showdown
• World Cup Series – First taste of Enoshima
• Extreme Sailing Series – Top dogs toppled in San Diego
• Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup

How to fly a 32m trimaran – Gitana 17 explained

It's hard enough to imagine how a single person can handle a 32m trimaran, a boat so big that there isn't a single sail that can be lifted alone. But understanding how the current offshore rock stars of the sport will handle these behemoths as they rise onto hydrofoils and sail at speeds in excess of 45knots, day and night requires more than a vivid imagination. So the World Sailing Show climbed aboard Sebastien Josse's Gitana 17 to find out how he will fly his Ultime class trimaran during the singlehanded Route du Rhum transatlantic race.

New global foiling circuit - Sail GP announced

When the foiling AC50 cats were abandoned for the next America's Cup, two of the most powerful figures in sailing refused to accept that this was the end of the road. Software tycoon Larry Ellison and five time Cup winner Russell Coutts have set up a brand new, global racing circuit with a fleet of reworked one design AC50s that they claim will hit 50 knots during racing.

SailGP was launched in London at Tower Bridge – we were there.

Southern Ocean rescue – Golden Globe drama

Three months into the Golden Globe Race, nine of the 18 starters had retired from the non-stop singlehanded race around the world. Fifty years after the first Golden Globe Race, the task was no easier.

In late September, two skippers were forced to abandon their boats in a rescue operation at the edge of what was possible, at the bottom of the world.

52 Super Series – Final showdown

As the 52 Super Series fleet prepared for its final showdown in Valencia, picking a favourite looked easy. Quantum Racing had taken three victories in four regattas. Keeping their noses clean at the fifth and final regatta would surely deliver the overall victory. Yet to achieve this wasn't as easy as it seemed.

We went behind the scenes to see how this year's dominant team planned for success.

World Cup Series – First taste of Enoshima

Two years out from the 2020 Tokyo Games, Enoshima, Japan hosted its first Olympic classes event for the opening event of the 2019 World Cup Series. Thirty five Olympic medallists and numerous world champions were among the 466 entrants. And after six days there were some familiar names on the podium.

Extreme Sailing Series – San Diego

The season's top togs were toppled at the penultimate event of 2018 as racing went down to the wire in San Diego.

Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup

The annual pilgrimage to Sardinia for the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is one that always delivers a spectacle.