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…
Yachting World
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Patrizio Bertelli’s Italian America’s Cup team Luna Rossa has withdrawn from the 35th America’s Cup.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…
Ocean damage – tales of chafe, jury rigs and a shark on the rudder in the ARC
Crossing the Atlantic is hard on your gear, as the reports of ocean damage during the annual Atlantic Rally for Cruisers always demonstrate. The 2014 ARC was easier on crews…
Why reducing costs is a risk to the next America’s Cup
First came the news that the Cup organisers were to change the boat that the next America’s Cup would be contested in from a 62ft foiling cat to something around…
What is a Chinese gybe and how do you avoid it? Watch our expert guide and tips
Chinese gybes on windy days are a good spectator sport, but with the right prompt response they can be averted. In this article, I explain how they happen and what…
Big change for America’s Cup as event switches to even smaller boats
The 35th America’s Cup will be contested in smaller boats than the AC62s that had been previously planned for according to a release from the America’s Cup organisers. The surprise…
New wave of Brit solo sailors launch assault on French solo Figaro circuit
Over the last five years there has been a concerted push by the British to break the French stronghold of solo sailing thanks to the Artemis Offshore Academy. Here the…
VOR: Dongfeng Race Team’s Southern Ocean wipe out
As the fleet gets stuck into the Southern Ocean and conditions start to ramp up, Dongfeng Race Team is the first to report a wipe out to leeward, a Chinese…
Exposure Marine X2 marine torch
Why would you need a marine torch that costs £200, particularly if it needs recharging rather than using batteries? Although I had been impressed with Exposure Marine’s innovative and extremely…
Spinlock Deckvest LITE
The Spinlock Deckvest LITE is one of the best lifejackets I have used, principally because it feels the least cumbersome. I am not going to argue that it’s the best…