The Superyacht Cup Palma has long proven one of the litmus test regattas in the modern generation of the J Class – a fleet popularly regarded as the finest in…
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J-Class yachts kick off Superyacht Cup Palma in style
Superyacht Cup Palma 2022 got off to a flying start Wednesday 29 June with a quartet of J Class yachts competing in some stunning conditions out on the Bay of…
Through the Panama Canal in a yacht
Romeo hops over the guardrail at sunset. Our young Panamanian advisor, here to guide us through the first three ascending locks of the Panama Canal, politely turns down a Coca…
Expert tips: How to win the start
Robert Scheidt always used to start out of the middle of the line. That was in the days when he was the stand-out talent in the Laser single-handed dinghy, winning…
Collision as new double-handed Globe40 race starts from Morocco
The inaugural Globe40 Race got underway on Sunday, June 26, with seven Class 40 teams starting from the Moroccan city of Tangier on a 30,000-mile circumnavigation. The new double-handed Globe40…
Citizen science on a yacht – how you can help effect change
The notion of conducting scientific research or citizen science on a yacht can sound intimidating. It conjures up images of experts in white coats, working in clinical laboratories. The idea…
SuMoth: The eco-friendly foiling design challenge for students
Lake Garda, Italy is about to welcome its annual meeting of speed-focussed sailors and designers at Foiling Week, which combines on the water racing with the chance to showcase and…
Extraordinary boats: Stormvogel, the original Maxi yacht
Last year’s Rolex Fastnet Race got off to a dramatic start, with over 30 knots of wind blasting through the fleet of 330 yachts lined up on the Solent. Not…
Solaris 40 review: appealing mix of style and performance
Helming your own yacht – or watching friends and family do so – ought to be one of the biggest pleasures of owning a boat. Along with promoting a clean,…
Penelope Down East – essays in singlehanded sailing
I was involved in a discussion the other day about the essence of seamanship. A number of folk were taking part and we had much of what you’d expect; tales…
Beneteau First 27 review: sportsboat given the Beneteau treatment
The original version of the Sam Manuard-designed Seascape 27 (now branded as the Beneteau First 27 SE) has long been one of my favourite small yachts. In 2014 I sailed…
Australia win SailGP Chicago, but Canadians surprise
‘A box office show’ is how Ben Ainslie described the US SailGP venue at Navy Pier Chicago, this weekend. It’s hard to imagine a better venue for Larry Ellison and…
Is fresh water or salt water faster to sail in? SailGP teams find out in Chicago
Do you sail faster in fresh water or salt water? It’s a question you’ve probably never had to ask yourself, but it’s one the SailGP teams in Chicago this weekend…
Vendée Arctique: whole fleet forced to stop, will not restart
The second edition of the Vendée Arctique has been brought to a stop by race organisers halfway through the course as a dangerous low pressure system has been deemed too…
Cuba by boat: discover an unspoilt paradise by boat
After a month cruising in Jamaica aboard Distant Drummer, our Liberty 458 cutter-rigged sloop, we were in Montego Bay and waiting for a fair wind to carry us north across…
Superyacht Cup Palma: stunning fleet assemble
While it may have been a slightly subdued 25th anniversary last year for the Superyacht Cup Palma, held during socially distanced times, organisers are confident the Mediterranean’s longest running superyacht…
Newport Bermuda Race 2022: Everything you need to know
Tomorrow, Friday 17th June 2022 will see the start of the 52nd Newport Bermuda Race. The biennial race will, this year, see over 190 yachts competing in the race which…
Speed sailing record: A global battle for dominance
Speed sailing records are a relatively new concept. Although the motor car is a newer invention than the sailboat (by many thousands of years!) it was not until 1972 that…
North Sails Performance Trimmers fast dry shorts review
North Sails Performance is a new venture into high end wet weather sailing gear by the world’s largest sailmaker and if these Trimmer Fast Dry Shorts are anything to go by,…
Musto LPX Primaloft Stretch Midlayer Jacket review
The Musto LPX Primaloft Stretch Midlayer Jacket has been my go-to jacket for the autumn and spring seasons both ashore and afloat and remains in excellent condition. The purpose of…