Just over a year ago a little known Chinese yard, the Shanghai Fareast Boats Co. Ltd. made a big impression at the Dusseldorf boat show with a rocket red, all…
VIDEO: Recovering a man overboard under downwind sails
We show you the best way to stop a boat quickly under downwind sails and remain close to the casualty so you can ensure a speedy and safe recovery
Video: Why choose custom? We sail this bespoke French 60 footer to find out
Individuality is to be cherished. Without personal taste we’d all be living in similar-style houses, wearing the same clothes, driving the same cars and be attracted to the same people.…
VOR: Will Brazil be the end of Dongfeng Racing’s VOR campaign?
The rest of the fleet may be in, but Charles Caudrelier’s Volvo team is still racing, racing to get to Itajai, Brazil to step a new mast and get back…
Chinese sailor Guo Chuan plans to set a record through the North East Passage – in a giant trimaran
What’s the ideal yacht for attempting to set a record transiting the North East Passage? You might think a steel yacht, or aluminium perhaps, something that resists crushing by ice,…
Offshore sailor Henry Bomby shares his top iPad yacht apps for racing and cruising
Few new products have changed the way I navigate at sea so much as the tablet computer. In my case that means the iPad, although most of the sailing apps…
Abu Dhabi wins Leg 5 of Volvo Ocean Race. Skipper Ian Walker reveals some interesting reasons why
“I am absolutely stoked,” said Abu Dhabi skipper Ian Walker shortly after taking the trophy for the leg win from Auckland to Itajai, Brazil. “That leg was absolutely epic, absolutely…
British sailor Jimmy Cornell reveals his extraordinary new exploration yacht, Aventura IV
Cruising guru Jimmy Cornell has put his years of experience into a new boat for world cruising. Matthew Sheahan finds her an extraordinary and exciting go-anywhere cruiser
A Jordan Series Drogue can be a lifesaver, say solo sailors who have used one in anger
Drogues and sea anchors for use in storm conditions are a controversial subject among long-distance sailors. Skip Novak discusses this issue in Part 8 of his Storm Sailing Techniques series…
Luna Rossa pulls out of America’s Cup after dispute over the new class
Patrizio Bertelli’s Italian America’s Cup team Luna Rossa has withdrawn from the 35th America’s Cup. The team had raised concerns over the proposal of a new class of boat and threatened to withdraw…
New America’s Cup class revealed. Think 46 knots in 16 knots of wind and that’s just the start
In contrast to the usual razzamatazz of a busy press conference hosted in the next Cup location (I wish), the announcement of the new class for the next America’s Cup…
Risk of piracy reduces off Somalia, but increases in West Africa
While the problem of piracy seems to have lessened in the Indian ocean, it is spreading elsewhere. In the last year 23 pirate attacks have been reported, mainly off the…
Another race against time as Dongfeng Race Team battle to make the deadline in Itajai and stay in the race
As the rush to rebuild Team Vestas continues following their grounding in the Indian Ocean, the dismasting of Charles Caudrelier’s Donfeng Racing Team in the Southern Ocean last Monday, marks…
Italians and Kiwis back in discussions, America’s Cup teams vote for the new boat but what are the choices?
After the surprise news last week that two of the biggest teams in the Cup were considering turning their backs on the event if plans for a smaller boat went…
Racing isn’t everything. Teach children to have fun sailing and watch the numbers grow
For some reason, the teaching of sailing skills in many countries where sailing is an active pursuit has over the years changed from learning the ropes on a local body…
Volvo Ocean Race crew Team Dongfeng dismasted in the Southern Ocean, 160nm west of Cape Horn
The Franco-Chinese Volvo Ocean Race yacht Team Dongfeng was dismasted in the early hours of this morning in the Southern Ocean. All are safe on board, and Charles Caudrelier and…
The Maxi 1200 stays true to its quality Scandinavian heritage, with input from Olympian Pelle Petterson
Maxi has produced over 16,000 yachts but, as with many Scandinavian yards, the high cost of hand-made quality has led to tricky times over the past decade. The Polish company…
Round Britain for charity: donate to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and join two sailors on their sailing challenge
This summer and next Michael Goodwin, a retired Staffordshire University professor, is sailing his Bavaria 37 Blue Star round Britain with a friend. At the same time they hope to…
100 footer Nomad IV from Finot-Conq is world’s fastest cruiser
A Mistral is blowing 30 knots out of an empty sky. Once the mainsail of Nomad IV is hoisted to the second reef point and the J2 jib snaps out,…
Still fancy a ride in the Southern Ocean? Watch this video and you might think again!
Ian Walker and his crew provide first hand accounts of what it’s like here and now in the most remote part of this race, deep in the Southern Ocean. Great…