Laser sailing is romantic!
What could be more romantic than this Laser tale? Frank Bucek lashed his Laser to the deck of his keel boat and set off from RGYC to Fiji in search of adventure, and as it turned out, romance and love….
All News
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.
18ft Skiffs: Jack Macartney – tech2
The current Australian 18ft Skiff champion Jack Macartney will be back with tech2 in the Australian 18 Footers League’s 2020-2021 Season fleet to defend his title and to wipe out the memory of a disappointing JJ Giltinan Championship sailed earlier this year…
NZ detains three German yachties in Bay of Islands for defying border ban
Asia Pacific Report by PMC Media. Three German yachtsmen – two men and a woman – have been detained after arriving in the Bay of Islands, in breach of New Zealand’s covid-19 border restrictions. Despite being denied permission to enter…
Postponement of 17th edition of PalmaVela to 2021
The 17th PalmaVela (originally scheduled 6th – 10th of May and later set to the penultimate week of October) has been finally postponed to 2021 as an exercise in responsibility, as it happened with the Copa del Rey MAPFRE last…
Maxi Edmond de Rothschild 40 days away from the start of stand-by
Lorient, wednesday, September 23, 2020 – This figure has been on everyone’s minds for many months now; 40 days (23 hours and 30 minutes), is the exact time to beat if the crew of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild is…
APEX 850 – the world's largest sloop
This is undoubtedly the most ambitious and inspiring concept yet to be developed in an exclusive relationship between Royal Huisman and the renowned superyacht designer Malcolm McKeon. Above her sleek and powerful 85 m / 279 ft hull, APEX features…
First woman to sail solo around Antarctica releases debut book
In partnership with Australian Geographic, world record-holding sailor Lisa Blair will release her first book ‘Facing Fear’ on 1 November, 2020. This must-read book recounts the inspiring and gripping true story of her solo voyage around Antarctica; a tale Lisa almost…
US issues renewed Mariner Warning on GPS interference
BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE 09-22-2020 02:26:13 The United States issued a renewed warning to mariners of multiple instances of significant GPS interference. According to the US Maritime Advisory, this interference is resulting in lost or inaccurate GPS signals affecting bridge navigation, GPS-based…
Spain bans yachts from stretch of sea after orcas damage boats
The Guardian. By Sam Jones. Small yachts have been ordered to steer clear of a stretch of water off the north-west coast of Spain after at least three boats were damaged by a gang of boisterous orcas. On Tuesday, Spain’s transport…
Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race entries open
The Derwent Sailing Squadron (DSS) planning for the 2020 Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race has been boosted with the announcement of TasPorts as the major sponsor for this year’s race. The support of the TasPorts state-based company will see the…
Handy new Drybags from Zhik
Joining Zhik’s range of technical luggage for sailing and watersports are two different dry bags. New Zhik 30L Dry BackPack Carry your wet kit home, knowing there’s no water going to drip out, or keep your dry kit dry when…
Timothée Petetin wins Mediterranean OK Dinghy Championship in Bandol
Timothée Petetin, from the Société Nautique de Bandol, has won the 2020 Mediterranean OK Dinghy Championship in Bandol, from Julien Dejugnat and Pascal Tetard. The event in Bandol was supposed to be the final event in the 2020 Euro League…
ORCV elects Grant Dunoon Commodore
The Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV) is pleased to announce that following the 2020 AGM, respected Victorian yachtsman Grant Dunoon, is the club’s new Commodore. A successful businessman and yachtsman, Dunoon has a vision and plans on giving the…
Yes, you can do it: cruising the Malacca Straits
For centuries the Malacca Straits have been one of the most important trading routes in the world. Over the centuries Indian, Arab, Portuguese, Chinese, British and Dutch vessels have all sailed in these waters. Todeay vessel types have changed, various…
51st La Solitaire du Figaro title for Le Cléac’h, Tom Dolan lifts Vivi Trophy
Armel Le Cléac’h (Banque Populaire) lifted the overall title for the 51st La Solitaire du Figaro at the end of race prizegiving in Saint Nazaire, France today. It is Le Cléach’s third time of winning after successes in 2003 and 2010….
Competitors flock to Kettering for Pipe Opener's 52nd year
The Ronald Young Builders 52nd Pipe Opener celebrated a successful three day race with the help of Kettering Yacht Club. The race, which has been immensely popular with the Hobart fleet, saw an average of 40 boats competing throughout the…
Australia and New Zealand refuse cyclone refuge for yachts
From the Ocean Cruising Club After last ditch effort letters to both Prime Ministers, yesterday the Ocean Cruising Club received formal rejections by both Australia and New Zealand to allow yachts currently in the Pacific to come to these countries…
Cargo ship rescues eight people after boat sinks off Gladstone
A Police spokesperson has praised the skipper of a catamaran that sank near North West Island off Gladstone, in central Queensland, saying it could have been a “completely different story” for the group of eight, including four children, had they…
Yacht Racing Forum postponed to 2021 in Portsmouth
Portsmouth, September 17, 2020 – MaxComm Communication, organiser of the Yacht Racing Forum, and Host City Portsmouth (UK), announce the postponement of the event to November 2021 due to COVID-19. “We have worked tirelessly to create a high quality event”,…
Daring rescues by COSCO boxship and Coast Guard due to Hurricane Sally
BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE 09-16-2020 02:34:36 As tropical storm Sally passed by Florida and began to gain strength into a powerful hurricane it placed several sailors in distress, prompting rescues. COSCO Shipping Lines' container ship COSCO Malaysia was sailing from Port Tampa Bay, Florida…
The 2020 Vendée Globe is on course to be an exceptional edition
The official press conference for the ninth edition of the Vendée Globe was held on Thursday, September 17 at the Palais Brongniart in Paris. The event mustered as many sailors, partners, organisers and journalists as was safely possible. It is…
US Coast Guard releases new plan to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing worldwide
HONOLULU — The Coast Guard released a new strategy to enhance global safety, security and stewardship of the maritime domain by combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, Thursday. IUU is a collection of dishonest fishing practices threatening the sustainability…
Inside Queensland's on-water border patrol response
Maritime Safety Queensland It's no secret that Maritime Safety Queensland has developed a number of new initiatives in response to COVID-19, from ensuring the welfare of our international seafarers to supporting remote community access for essential maritime services. But for…
Queensland's War on Wrecks Taskforce back in the fray
Queensland's War on Wrecks Taskforce is back on the road, consulting Queenslanders about the best ways to implement the recommendations from its interim report released in July 2019. The taskforce, consisting of parliamentary, local government and maritime industry representatives, conducted an…
Duthil takes Stage 3 Win in La Solitaire, Le Cléac’h retains overall lead
Hugely experienced on La Solitaire du Figaro but a relative novice in the Beneteau Figaro 3 that he had only sailed four times before the start on the Baie de Saint Brieuc ten days ago, Fred Duthil (Technique Voilse/Cabinet Bourhis…
Bermuda Gold Cup to host 2020 Open Match Racing Worlds
HAMILTON, Bermuda (Sept. 16, 2020) — Two weeks after announcing that the Bermuda Gold Cup will be contested Oct. 26-30, the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and World Match Racing Tour together announce today that the celebratory 70th event will also…
Brad Butterworth joins Challenger of Record
New Zealander Brad Butterworth (OBE) – four times America’s Cup winner, America’s Cup Hall of Fame inductee and multiple World Champion – one of the most respected yachting figures worldwide, has now joined Challenger of Record 36 – the organizer…
New content series gives SailGP fans unprecedented behind-the-scenes access
LONDON – September 16, 2020 – In a new content series launched today by SailGP, audiences around the globe will get unprecedented access to the sport’s pinnacle league as it gears up toward its second season, launching April 2021 in…
Two Australian sailors rescued unharmed by Maltese authorities
From AMSA: Last night we detected a distress beacon registered to an Australian yacht in the Mediterranean Sea about 160km east of Malta. We made contact with the vessel which reported being caught in severe weather and in need of…
Walking the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race course – extra downwind and a new last roll of the dice
Moving to Cherbourg for the finish of the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s premier event, the Rolex Fastnet Race next year will see navigators and crews facing a few significant new challenges. Firstly the new course is 90 miles (or…
Yann Eliès leads La Solitaire on the final long straight to stage 3 finish
Approaching the Chaussée de Sein mark late this Tuesday afternoon, with some 125 nautical miles still to sail to the finish line off Saint Nazaire, three times La Solitaire du Figaro winner Yann Eliès (Quéguiner Materiaux-Leucémie Espoir) was holding a…
The Azimut Challenge taught us a lot
The tenth Azimut Challenge finished yesterday with victory going to L’Occitane en Provence (Armel Tripon) in the runs, Charal (Jérémie Beyou) in the 48-hour race and PRB (Kevin Escoffier) winning the race around the island of Groix. Three complementary events…
Serene leader Goodchild well-placed to deal with a night of calms
Having led the 33 strong La Solitaire du Figaro fleet since the early hours of this morning Britain’s Sam Goodchild (Leyton) has had to see his hard earned margin evaporate in a fast failing breeze off the Baie de Morlaix…
Candidates named for 2020 election of World Sailing President and Vice-Presidents
World Sailing’s Election Committee overseeing the 2020 Election of World Sailing’s Officers is pleased to announce the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Candidates standing for election this October. The election of the President and seven Vice-Presidents will be conducted via an electronic…
RNLI aids two yachts after collision causes dismasting
The Island Echo Bembridge RNLI’s All Weather Lifeboat launched to assist two yachts which had collided close to Horse Tail Channel buoy at lunchtime (Thursday). The Tamar-class ‘Alfred Albert Williams’ was launched at 12:15 at the request of Solent Coastguard…
Killer whales attacking yachts off the coast of Spain and Portugal
The Insider. By Sophia Ankel. Killer whales are ramming and harassing sailboats traveling along the Spanish and Portuguese coasts in a series of attacks that have left scientists baffled. Sailors traveling along the Strait of Gibraltar to Galicia have sent…
Aarhus selected to host fourth SailGP event of Season 2
AARHUS, Denmark – September 12, 2020 – SailGP today announced the selection of the Danish city of Aarhus to host the fourth event in the global championship’s second season. ROCKWOOL will serve as Title Partner for SailGP’s Scandinavian debut as…
Slow Sunday – gains and losses are temporary in Stage 3 of La Solitaire du Figaro
Racing in very light and variable easterly winds, progress this Sunday afternoon has been as slow for the 33 solo skippers racing on Stage 3 of La Solitaire du Figaro from Dunkirk to Saint Nazaire at the entrance to the…
Arcus and Gentoo prevail in British IRC championships
Mid-September it may be, but conditions for the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s 2020 IRC championships felt more like June this weekend, with shorts and T-shirts conditions and allowing a full schedule of racing to be laid on by PRO Stuart…
Pipe-opener to launch southern Tasmanian sailing season
The success of this years Combined Clubs Winter Series demonstrated the enthusiasm of our Hobart sailors to return to sailing in these unprecedented times. The 2020 Ronald Young & Co Builders Pipe Opener is the traditional lead-up to the official…
