The latest news from the world of yachting and sailing including yacht & dinghy reviews, cruising and destination information plus the latest boating gear as well as inshore and offshore racing updates and regatta schedules. All things Sailing, Sail Racing, Sailboats and more.
HOME BOAT-BUILDING Joining hull and deck of the Swift Solo meant long periods of head scratching, says Jordan Spencer. AT THE completion of stage five of construction of the Swift, I figured we were close to finishing, but the “devil…
Wild Oats XI's new rig reinvents old technology, by Bob Ross. CONTINUOUS carbon fibre rigging construction, the latest measure to reduce weight and windage aloft, was demonstrated effectively by both line honours winner Wild Oats XI and Tattersall's Cup overall…
Destination: NSW Middle Harbour is just about perfect for cruising, Mark Cherrington discovers, as he explores Sydney's pocket playground and enjoys a hot contender for the city's best chocolate brownie. Tucked in between Middle Head and Dobroyd Head is the…
Feature: Chartering in Europe Many a devout sailor has been lured away from the “true” path by Europe's famous canal system. Betty Dack shares her adventure and offers some advice on how to follow in her footsteps. Bob and I…
Beneteau in Airlie BeachThe exclusive French range of Beneteau yachts and sister companies is now represented in the Whitsundays.Mike (The dealership includes Beneteau sailboats, Lagoon Catamarans and Wauquiez yachts. As well as selling new boats, Vicsail Whitsunday offers warranty and…
Festival sets about restoring the fun Visitors to this year's Classic & Wooden Boat Festival in Sydney will see maintenance work taking place on HM Bark Endeavour that would win the approval of Captain Cook himself. The festival – which…
Practical: Electronics John and Janet Read give the verdict on forward-looking sonar after putting it through its paces on a cruise to SE Asia. Janet looked up from her book. “Looks like a rock coming up, John,” she said. I…
In this year's Northern regatta season, the brands of Bavaria Yachts and X-Yachts accounted for five series wins, one second and one third. With 28 podium finishes in the Cruising divisions from 17 races over 10 divisions, this is an…
PRACTICAL: RIG TUNING The basics of adjusting the rig are covered here in this extract from a new book by Charlie Wing. While there are unstayed rigs (rigs where the mast is strong enough to be supported only at the…
SKANDIA GEELONG REGATTA Skandia Geelong Week 2008 prides itself on encompassing a broad range of sailing craft, from the latest carbon hulled TP 52s to marine ply Bluebird 22s. This year was no exception. At the top end of the…
Practical: Moving on board So you're planning liveaboard cruising with kids? Rohsaan McInnes gives the low-down on a subject that many parents approach with trepidation. How do you live on a boat with young children? After some initial modifications, we…
High Seas Two women, alone, as in without men? Tracey Johnstone catches up with two women who have banded together to make their dream of sailing the world become a reality. Two confident single young English women, living their dream…
SAILING LIFESYLES A lifetime's involvement in sailing boats still wasn't enough excitement for some, as Helen Hopcroft found out. People dream of the perfect sea change: a new life of sipping cool drinks on a shady veranda in the tro…
CLASSIC RESTORATION: Nerida Sir James Hardy’s beautiful 1933 gaff cutter Nerida sank at her mooring last June after being struck by runaway yachts during two violent Sydney Harbour storms. David Salter outlines the restoration. WHERE DO you start’ Nerida was…
DESTINATIONS: HONG KONG Who better to ask about sailing in Hong Kong than 1997 Sydney – Hobart race winner, owner of the Reichel/Pugh 45 Beau Geste, and president of the Hong Kong Sailing Federation Karl Kwok, which is why I…
Brisbane-based company Lanotec produces a range of lanolin-based natural lubricants. Lanolin, derived from sheep’s wool, is a biolubricant and is more environmentally friendly than traditional petro-chemical based lubricants.The biolube is biodegradable and non-toxic. Lanotec is dedicated not only to the…
Veteran British sailor George Stead, who spends the northern hemisphere winters in New Zealand, has developed the BoatiesFryPan, which is rectangular-shaped to fit boat and other compact recreational stoves. Measuring 250x200x45mm and weighing 950gm, the pan is made of 4mm…
Fountaine Pajot has enhanced its Flagship Class of luxury sailing catamarans with the launch of the spectacular Galathea 65. Priced from AUD$3.3m, the Galathea 65 is the largest cruising vessel ever built by Fountaine Pajot and is constructed with isopthalic…
Crusing The Whitsundays Mediterranean-style flotilla fun in the sun is catching on in the Whitsundays as a marketing tool, reports Caroline Strainig. “Flotilla.” It's a word more synonymous with the Med than the Whitsundays, but that is set to change…
Cruising The Whitsundays Well here it is 2008 and the world continues to become a different place. We have a new federal government, Britain has a new Prime Minister and the good ol' US of A is looking for a…
Cruising The Whitsundays Want to wine and dine during your holiday, or simply plan your cruise around reprovisioning spots? This handy-at-a-glance guide compiled by John Champion will help you do just that. Peppers Palm Bay Long IslandSwing moorings either inside…
Cruising The Whitsundays What's making the news? Plenty, says John Champion, who details here the latest on-water and on-land developments. On the waterMuddy Bay Marina, officially known as The Port of Airlie, continues to be built. Numerous trucks and excavators…
The strong performances have continued for the Australian Sailing Team on day two of the Skandia Sail for Gold regatta in Weymouth, England, with three crews leading their fleets. On a day where wind gusts of upwards of 25 knots…
A long delay ashore was followed by more waiting on the water but in the end there was no racing today. The weather, or more specifically the imminent threat of lightning, finally took its toll today off Cartagena where the…
Fast, comfortable, downwind racing was the order of the day yesterday, said Spirit of Australia's skipper, Brendan Hall, this morning. “We hoisted the heavyweight spinnaker mid morning and ran with it all day.” As the fleet charges down the English…
Laying the anchor: Well done, it's the difference between a good night's sleep at an anchorage or a restless one filled with anxiety.Unlike the tinnie sailor who simply throws the anchor over the side and hopes for the best, the…
Australia's newest and smallest imported sailboat has just emerged triumphant from one of the toughest tests on the planet. A Canadian-built NorseBoat 17.5 travelled 1400 miles through the Arctic, crewed by a team of Royal Marines. “Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Oliver…
Destination: South Pacific David Isom discovers a timeless land unspoilt by its increasing popularity when he calls in at the archetypal island paradise that is the Kingdom of Tonga. If you really fancy cruising around Tonga, there are only two…
AROUND THE YARDS: SUPERYACHTS Yard work is thriving across the superyacht sector with an interesting mix of design styles, materials and construction techniques, reports Kevin Green. In the Australia-Pacific region alone, yards in New Zealand such as Alloy and Fitzroy…
CLASS PROFILE After 33 years the home-grown single-hander continues to provide keen competition for all ages, by Rob Hartnett REX FETTELL designed the popular Minnow junior sailing dinghy prior to finalising the Sabre design in 1974.Initially he considered simply stretching…
My Boat A shoal-draught that enables you to boldly go where most cruising yachts cannot go is just one of the pluses of the Norwalk Islands Sharpie, writes Petrea Heathwood. Ten years ago, after years envying the versatility of shoal-draught…
2008 BOATS The latest European yachts show an impressive increase in specifications, from starter boats to exciting cruisers, and many will be destined for our shores during the year, reports Kevin Green. Bavaria's new and improved 31 footer replaces the…
Bellingham Marine Australia (BMA) recently completed another project in theSouthport area. BMA was contracted by 'Abigroup' and the Gold Coast City Council, to design, construct and install a floating public access pontoon as part of the Gold Coast City Council's…
The Australian Sailing Team has had an impressive start to the Sail for Gold regatta in Weymouth, England, with three crews topping their classes after day one of racing. The 470 men's crew of Mathew Belcher and Malcolm Page, Laser…
Defending Region of Murcia Trophy holders Bribon (ESP) won the practice race for the TP52 Series today as the 10 boat fleet completed their final warm up for the showdown last regatta of the 2009 Audi MedCup Circuit season. Perhaps…
Following a truly magnificent send off from Hull and Humber yesterday, the ten teams competing in the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race are making excellent progress on the first leg of their 35-000 mile circumnavigation. The fleet benefited…
Destinations: Thailand Fronting both the Pacific and Indian Oceans, Thailand has over 1700 nautical miles of tropical coastline to entice both racing and cruising sailors, writes Fiona Harper. Whether your interest is sprinting around the buoys, or cruising among the…
PRACTICALITIES BY ANDREW BRAY Keeping up to date with what's available gives the sailor even more freedom and assurance on the water. We look at the situation now and ahead and at what options we have. Current safety comms in…
JUST CRUISING BY KEITH FLEMING Once you start your cruising life water takes on a new meaning so catching rain can be an important way to keep your tanks full. To design an efficient water catcher you need to look…
Hot Hobart Boats It's going to be tough at the top in a healthy Rolex Sydney-Hobart race fleet, writes Bob Ross. BOB OATLEY's ambition to take line honours in the Rolex Sydney-Hobart race for the third successive year with Wild…
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