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.
Jessica Watson, the 16-year-old girl who has roused divergent opinions regarding her attempt to become the youngest ever solo around-the-world sailor, has damaged her yacht in a collision with a merchant ship off the Queensland coast. She was sailing her yacht 34ft…
New generation of EPIRBsMarine safety product specialist RFD has introduced a new-generation 406 MHz EPIRB onto the Australian market that features a world-first digital display screen and dual-GPS technology. The new GlobalFix iPro EPIRB is a breakthrough safety beacon that…
The radical new Moody 45 DS (deck saloon) was launched at the Sydney International Boat and received plenty of attention. Featuring bulwarks, a walk-in deck saloon and copious amount of cabin space the appeal of this new design will be…
My Boat – July 08 Seerauber: a pocket cruiser You don't have to have a big boat to have big dreams, says Tony Fountain, who had chosen a 7.26m pocket cruiser to fulfil his sailing ambitions. Pocket cruiser.” While that…
Australian catamaran builder Lightwave Yachts is the builder and campaign partner with All Yacht Spars for a new racing class, the Raider One Design. The Raider 302 design has already proved its credentials in offshore multihull racing and has now…
In one week's time Cartagena will host the climax to the 2009 Audi MedCup Circuit, and the conflict in the two different Series, the ten boats who will compete in the TP52 Series, and six for the GP42 Series, is…
Holding onto that “lov'in feeling” can be hard when you are cooped up together for long periods. Rosemary Jilderts interviews cruisers for their tips. Ron and Trish Steineck,Geraldton, WA.Scuttlebug, 11.6m Jensen Coral Sea Catamaran The Steineck family has spent four…
Sailmaker, Ian Short, shares sail trim and rig adjustment tips that will help you sail faster under a range of conditions. It’s a fallacy that only racers need to sail quickly. If you’ve ever been caught out in a gale…
Destination: Brisbane Water The small, land-locked destination of Brisbane Water has a lot to recommend it, despite a bar and bridge, says Alan Lucas, who has made it his land base when not out cruising in Soleares. Brisbane Water is…
New AIS500 transceiver and AIS ‘buddy tracking' feature Raymarine's addition to its AIS (Automatic Identification System) product range, a combined receiver and transmitter, is now available. The AIS500 allows users to both transmit to, and receive, AIS data to and…
The hull is by Farr Yacht Design, and the spacious interior is the work ofNauta Design. The new 35 features the lines and coachroof characteristic of the First 40. The Farr Yacht Design hull is optimized for IRC racing and…
The Oceanis 58 incorporates a more stretched coachroof, much lengthened side windows,fully built-in spray hood/bimini arch and optomised ergonomics. All lines come back to the helm positions for easier sailing and to keep the living areaclear. Plenty of stowage space…
Australia Day regatta Australia Day in Sydney went off with a bang and with glorious weather as many celebrated the occasion on the Harbour. Hundreds of Sydney sailors, their crews, friends and families celebrated as their forebears have done each…
Bavaria sale rumours Reports by the German press rumoured offers to buy Bavaria Yachts are untrue, according to Australian distributor Tony Kirby from North South Yachting. He is in Dusseldorf, Germany and has confirmed with the families who own Bavaria…
Headsails Reefing gear continues to develop so real gains can be had by checking out the latest systems. The greater efficiency of the new technology has allowed systems to be adopted by larger yachts, racing boats and, of course, cruisers….
JUST CRUISING BY KEITH FLEMING. Every cruiser has one and many catamaran owners have three of them. The outboard motor is an essential item for any cruising boat and making the right choice of size and brand can be one…
YA/RYA UPDATE A long engagement rather than a quick marriage between the two associations, seems to be the case, reports Jim Murrant. Almost a year has elapsed since the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) signed what could be called a truce…
PARTYING AT GEELOG Skandia Geelong Race Week is Australia’s oldest and largest keelboat regatta and is renowned for both its on and off water action. With a record 448 yachts entered in the event this year, there was no shortage…
Self-suffciency I suppose you could equate cruising with the original hunter and gatherer, where you have to rely on your wits and be self-sufficient in food. As cruisers, we live on water so our natural element is the water rather…
CLUB SAILOR After a succession of cruising boats, David McLean's latest boat, a nimble X-37, has given him the chance to mix it up with the club racer fraternity. For almost 30 years, I have continued a wondrous voyage of…
DELIVERY TRIP With the aim of increasing his sailing experience, 25-year-old James Gruzman joined a Seawind 1000 delivery trip, and got more than he bargained for, including investigating why Bundaberg rum has a Polar Bear logo. How did it all…
JUST CRUISING BY KEITH FLEMING. Preventing sudden gear failure can be avoided if you identify the problem areas early. OFTEN the first indication of trouble with a boat is catastrophic, like the mast suddenly falling down. Now why the heck…
In a bid to restore links with the beautiful Molluca archipelago, a flotilla of Darwin cruisers set off for the region, reports voyager Cathy Gillett. Our voyage began in July 2006, when 18 boats sailed the 295nm to the Taninbar…
The voyage across the Indian Ocean to the beautiful island of Sri Lanka was well worth the effort, reports cruiser Lynelle Parker. Some of the happiest times on board our yacht Chappie are the first days of a new passage;…
SUPERYACHT Rozelle Bay's long-awaited new boatyard is on its way, reports Bob Ross A NEW maintenance, refit and repair yard for pleasure craft up to superyacht size and even larger commercial vessels at Rozelle Bay on Sydney Harbour should be…
Heading up the far north Queensland coast is about as good as it gets, reports Keith Fleming from the deck of the cruiser Sealark 2. Coral Sea cruise The magical islands and coastal wilderness of north Queensland are a big…
Crossing oceans, exploring remote islands and being self-sufficient are just some of the interesting aspects of living the cruising life, reports Lynelle Parker. If we were to start our cruising days over, I think we'd have a much better idea…
Marina West haven for South Australia's largest boats March 2, 2009 The Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia (CYCSA) opens its long awaited new facility, Marina West at North Haven, on March 28. The marina boasts the biggest berths in…
Aussie IRC Offshore Cruiser/Racer Winning IRC designs come in all shapes and sizes. Optimizing a design to the IRC rule simply means getting the balance of essential parameters to reflect the proposed type of racing, wind conditions, competition and owner's…
If you thought an autopilot was only good for steering a boat, think again. There are many and varied things you can do with their components when their marine career is over. Presented with a brief to create an ‘industrial’…
BOAT REVIEW: CATALINA 309 Following on from the legendary Catalina 30, the US company had a hard act to follow, reports Caroline Strainig. When the time came for mega US production-boat builder Catalina to launch another smallish boat just over…
DECKSHOES The humble deck shoe is not alone. It has been joined by a host of styles and performance enhancements to suit every kind of sailing, reports Kevin Green. BurkeUnder the Australian Burke label, there is a range of deck…
Last week, a Dutch court ordered a 13-year-old girl be put into the care of the social system while consideration was given to her attempt to be the youngest person to sail around the world. She reacted by saying that…
Want to win part of the official Audi MedCup Circuit uniform? Visit the official website, guess what the order of finish will be for the top three in the TP52 Series and GP42 Series and win the official not for…
Australian Star sailors Paul Mckenzie and Philip Toth will not compete at the final International Sailing Federation (“ISAF”) Grade 1, Sail for Gold event in Weymouth, Great Britain. The pair is currently 13th in the SWC, but will remain on…
The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania today announced ‘The Showdown' – an exciting new regatta that promises to be Tasmania's biggest and best annual sailing annual event, targeted at all classes from the smallest dinghy to the largest yacht sailed…
Tahiti Pearl Regatta Even minus wind, sailing in Tahiti provides a tropical feast for the senses. Photo essay by Andrea Francolini. A REGATTA without wind? Yes, this year. But that proves to be a minor detail when you are in paradise….
Two new Dufour models will make their Victorian debut at the 2009 Melbourne International Boat & Lifestyle Show later this month – the Grand Large 425 and 525. According to Antill Marine (the exclusive importer and distributor of Dufour) director…
On a fine Friday in Sydney Harbour, 16 Bavaria Yachts jockeyed for position at the start of the annual Bavaria Yachts Sydney Harbour Regatta. The day dawned sunny and with light, cool easterly breezes, a relief following the three preceding…
In October, 2007, Australian sailor Stephen Ainsworth and his crew of fifteen were air-lifted via helicopter off the blustery coast of Sicily after Ainsworth's 60-foot yacht, Loki, lost its rudder during a gale-wracked edition of the 630-mile Middle Sea Race….
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