XS Sailing

America’s Cup: A look inside Luna Rossa

XS Editor — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 02:14:17 +0000

A look behind the scenes at the Luna Rossa base in Cagliari, and interviews with several members of the Italian team, including Max Sirena and Peter Burling.

Globe40 Leg 6 Start

XS Editor — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 02:08:38 +0000

The entire fleet, comprising all 8 crews of the 2nd edition of the GLOBE40, set off today from Recife, Brazil, at 2:00 PM local time (5:00 PM UTC) for the 6th and final stage.

A high-flying 2026 program for Team Sodebo

XS Editor — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 19:45:09 +0000

After a historic start to the year with the Jules Verne Trophy record, Team Sodebo Voile is opening a new chapter in its 2026 season. Indeed, the Vendée-based company will be competing in the multihull circuits.

German 18ft Skiff Record Breaker

XS Editor — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:04:32 +0000

Last Sunday’s 15-18 knot North East wind was perfect racing conditions for 18ft skiff racing on Sydney Harbour and ideal for an historic day when Black Knight became the first skiff from Germany to win a race in the 88-year-old history of the event.

First Sail for the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild 32-metre Gitana 18

deleteme — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 02:37:22 +0000

Video of the First Sail for the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild 32-metre Gitana 18

Eight Bells: Guus Bierman

XS Editor — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:50:50 +0000

Guus Bierman, founder of Contender Sailcloth, passed away peacefully on March 2, 2026. He was 87 years of age.

Guus was a passionate sailor and yachtsman, for whom sailing always connected the dots in life. Equally important, he was an internationally minded pioneer, always alert to any opportunity and an excellent salesman and businessman. If you had the chance to meet him, you would immediately recognize that this man had “sailcloth in his stomach,” as Guus would say.

Guus was born on April 11, 1938, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and was introduced to sailing as a young boy. He began sailing his canoe-class dinghy at the age of nine or ten on the Nieuwe Meer near Amsterdam. It did not take long before he started crewing in the Dutch one design class Vrijheid.

After completing his education, Guus began his career as a salesman for Marbon Chemicals selling ABS plastics to the automotive industry. At the same time, he was actively sailing the Flying Dutchman, attending international regattas and aiming for the 1964 Olympic Games. However, he was rejected as he was considered a professional sailor, having found an opportunity in selling sails.

Thanks to his business savvy, this energetic, smart, and competitive sailor was recommended to build the European division of Howe & Bainbridge. Earlier, Guus had placed an advertisement stating: “Dutch man looking for any opportunity,” which ultimately helped seal the deal.

In 1972, Guus attended the Olympic Games in Munich as a reserve for the Dutch team in the Flying Dutchman class, as his crew tragically passed away in a car accident shortly before the Olympics. He later advanced to the international Star Class, with the Bacardi Cup always holding a special place in his heart. In 2024, Guus was awarded The President’s Award by the International Star Class Association.

Exactly 40 years ago, in 1986, Guus made the decision to become independent and founded Contender Sailcloth in the Netherlands. With his exceptional ability to manage relationships, he persuaded suppliers and producers to begin manufacturing for Contender Sailcloth. From that moment on, the company began writing its own chapter in sailing history.

Over the past 40 years, Contender Sailcloth expanded internationally, becoming a world leader in the manufacturing and supply of sailcloth. Among the many milestones achieved, a few stand out:

• 1988: During the Olympic Games in Seoul, Contender Sailcloth Polykote styles won 17 out of 18 medals in the Finn, Flying Dutchman, Soling, 470, and Europe classes.

• 1995: A breakthrough in the spinnaker cloth market came when the New Zealand team used the lightest urethane-coated Superkote to win the America’s Cup, bringing the Cup to New Zealand. Over four successful America’s Cup campaigns, Contender dominated the event with its Superkote range. As a result of these successes, Contender became the world’s leading manufacturer of nylon and polyester spinnaker fabrics.

• 1997: Contender Sailcloth USA was established in Fall River, Massachusetts, making Contender Sailcloth a truly global operation.

Throughout his career, sailing remained Guus’ greatest passion, and he embraced every opportunity to compete in regattas. Among his fondest memories were competing on Lake Garda in the Asso 99 class with his international Contender Sailcloth team, winning the Centomiglia in 2019.

In late summer 2025, Guus was awarded honorary membership at Circolo Vela Torbole and donated his boat to the yacht club, providing aspiring sailors with the opportunity to develop their skills.

Although truly internationally minded, Guus also deeply loved his home yacht club, the Koninklijke Watersport Vereniging Loosdrecht (KWVL). He made multiple charitable donations to the club and supported local regattas. One of his favorite events at KWVL was the Easy Week, held annually in August, where he continued to compete through 2025.

Guus will be greatly missed by the entire Contender Sailcloth team, his wife Janny Bierman-Polman, his two children, Aksel, Marleen and her husband Alexander and his three grandchildren, Laurens, Floris and Hugo.

mod 70 banned!

deleteme — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:48:44 +0000

If someone or some committee wants to tell the world that Argo is not qualified, I would suggest their blanket rule is bullshit. – ed.

The 2026 Route du Rhum is changing the game for so-called vintage multihulls. A technical annex introduces access criteria that are causing friction, especially among MOD70 sailors. And behind the stated rationale—heritage, eco-design, safety—several grey areas are emerging.

Great article here.

America’s Cup: Spanish rockstars join French team

XS Editor — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:46:02 +0000

2024 Olympic Gold Medalists in the 49er class, and 2025 SailGP champions, Diego Botín and Florian Trittel (ESP), have suspended their 2028 Olympic program, and will sail with the French team K-Challenge for the 2027 America’s Cup in Naples.

Star Bacardi Cup – Scheidt and Sperry win the day but Cayard and Kleen close the door

deleteme — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:44:03 +0000

No let up in the tension on day 4 with Paul Cayard and Frithjof Kleen finally giving up a race win to Robert Scheidt and Austin Sperry (BRA).

USA win at SailGP Sydney

XS Editor — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:21:35 +0000

USA won the third event of the 2026 SailGP season held February 28-March 1 in Sydney, Australia. After qualifying third into the Final, the U.S. SailGP Team sailed to victory ahead of Great Britain in second and Spain in third. It marks the first victory since an ownership change installed a new crew December 2023.

In very light, variable winds on day two of qualifying, the Americans were the form team with consistent performances (3, 1, 6). As crews struggled in the disturbed air – with foiling conditions limited at the very bottom of the wind range – USA managed, for the most part, to stay out of the pack.

“We knew we had to keep the pedal down, stay in clean air, stay out of the pack,” noted helm Taylor Canfield. “Our starting has always been pretty good in the lighter conditions, and we got off the line well, kept our heads out of the boat and did a nice job.”

The victory signals a major step forward for the Americans, who have made notable improvements in recent events. “We’ve been putting in the effort,” said Canfield. “We said we were going to stick to our processes and that showed. We’re getting better all the time and to get a win is huge.”

Emirates GBR won the start of the Final race, initially controlling the early stages before Canfield’s crew seized the lead mid-race with a decisive move into the gate and never looked back – gaining a commanding lead on the final legs and keeping clear air to the finish.

The defending Rolex SailGP Champions have now moved into the top spot on the overall standings (28 points), while Australia sit second with 25 points. The U.S. SailGP Team have entered the podium group, now third overall with 20 points.

Sydney crew lists: https://sailgp.com/news/26/revealed-full-crew-lists-sailgp-sydney-australia

SailGP information – Sydney details – How to watch

Sydney Results
1. United States, Taylor Canfield (USA), 6-3-10-3-3-1-6-(1)
2. Great Britain, Dylan Fletcher (GBR), 3-7-5-6-1-7-5-(2)
3. Spain, Diego Botin (ESP), 5-1-1-5-2-4-8-(3)
4. Italy, Phil Robertson (NZL), 4-4-3-10-4-8-2
5. Australia, Tom Slingsby (AUS), 1-8-6-1-6-6-10
6. Denmark, Nicolai Sehested (DEN), 2-10-11-7-7-3-1
7. Brazil, Martine Grael (BRA), 9-6-4-11-5-5-4
8. Germany, Erik Heil (GER), 8-9-9-2-9-2-7
9. Artemis, Nathan Outteridge (AUS), 7-5-2-4-8-9-11
10. Switzerland, Sébastien Schneiter (SUI), 10-2-7-9-10-11-9
11. Canada, Giles Scott (CAN/GBR), 11-11-8-8-11-10-3
12. New Zealand, Peter Burling (NZL), 12-12-12-12-12-12-12
12. France, Quentin Delapierre (FRA), 12-12-12-12-12-12-12
Note: France and New Zealand could not compete due to boat damage in Event 2.

Season 6 Results (after 3 of 13 events)
1. Great Britain, Dylan Fletcher (GBR), 1-2-2
2. Australia, Tom Slingsby (AUS), 2-1-5
3. United States, Taylor Canfield (USA), 5-7-1
4. France, Quentin Delapierre (FRA), 3-4-13*
5. Spain, Diego Botin (ESP), 12-3-3
6. Artemis, Nathan Outteridge (AUS), 4-5-9
7. Italy, Phil Robertson (NZL), 7-13-4
8. Denmark, Nicolai Sehested (DEN), 8-9-6
9. Germany, Erik Heil (GER), 9-6-8
10. Canada, Giles Scott (CAN/GBR), 6-10-11
11. Brazil, Martine Grael (BRA), 10-11-7
12. New Zealand, Peter Burling (NZL), 13-8-12
13. Switzerland, Sébastien Schneiter (SUI), 11-12-10
* Received compensation points for Sydney due to boat damage in Event 2.

Season 6 – 2026 Schedule:
• Jan 17-18 – Perth, Australia
• Feb 14-15 – Auckland, New Zealand
• Feb 28-March 1 – Sydney, Australia
• Apr 11-12 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• May 9-10 – Hamilton, Bermuda
• May 30-31 – New York, USA
• June 20-21 – Halifax, Canada
• July 25-26- Portsmouth, GBR
• August 22-23 – Sassnitz, Germany
• Sept 5-6 – Valencia, Spain
• Sept 19-20 – Geneva, Switzerland
• Nov 21-22 – Dubai, UAE
• Nov 28-29 – Abu Dhabi, UAE
Note: The 11th event was moved to Geneva from Saint-Tropez, France.

Season 6 format:
• Thirteen teams compete in identical F50 catamarans.
• Each event is two days.
• All teams compete in up to seven qualifying fleet races of approximately 15 minutes.
• The top three teams from qualifying advance to a final race for the event title.
• The season ends with the Grand Final event which includes the Championship Final Race for the top three teams in the season standing.
• All teams are privately owned except for New Zealand and Spain which are owned by the league.

Season 6 prize money:
A total of USD $12.8 million is up for grabs in 2026. The winner of each of the 13 events takes home $400,000, with $260,000 for second and $140,000 for third. The team with the most points at the end of the season wins $400,000, while the team that wins the Championship Final Race wins USD $2 million.

F50 Configuration:
All teams use same configuration based on weather forecast. There are four wingsail sizes (18m, 24m, 27.5m, and 29m), two T-foil daggerboards (high-speed and low-speed), and one set of rudders with high-speed and low-speed settings.

Established in 2018, SailGP seeks to be an annual, global sports league featuring fan-centric inshore racing among national teams in some of the iconic harbors around the globe.

Source: SailGP

Australia win at SailGP Auckland

XS Editor — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 01:54:46 +0000

The 2026 SailGP season has a record 13 teams, and after two events, collisions have kept all from finishing. The latest was February 14-15 in Auckland, New Zealand when a frightening incident between France and New Zealand crushed both boats with each team sending a crew to the hospital.

Winds in excess of 20 knots on Waitematā Harbour had all teams on edge, and it was on the first leg of the third race when New Zealand lost control, rounding up in front of France. The race was soon abandoned, as was further racing on day one. With strong winds expected on day two, the teams were divided into two heats to complete the qualifying stage.

In gusts of up to 24 knots, the winner-takes-all Podium Final featured SailGP’s only three Championship-winning teams as Australia faced Great Britain and Spain in an exhilarating sprint battle. After an early dogfight with Spain, the Aussies took the win, moving them to the top of the overall standings, tied with Emirates GBR but leading on countback.

“It’s been a year since our last event victory, so it’s been a long time between drinks,” said winning driver Tom Slingsby. “We’ve been sailing really well, and it’s nice to be rewarded for that. In those three-boat Finals anything can happen so to win the event points score and go into the Final feeling confident made a big difference.”

Looking forward, both New Zealand and France have been ruled out for the next event on February 28-March 1 in Sydney, Australia.

Team crew lists: https://sailgp.com/news/26/revealed-full-crew-lists-sailgp-auckland-new-zealand/

SailGP information – Auckland details – How to watch

Auckland Results*
1. Australia, Tom Slingsby (AUS), 1-4-1-2-(1)
2. Great Britain, Dylan Fletcher (GBR), 11-2-1-1-(2)
3. Spain, Diego Botin (ESP), 4-6-6-3-(3)
4. France, Quentin Delapierre (FRA), 2-3-retired
5. Artemis, Nathan Outteridge (AUS), 9-5-2-4
6. Germany, Erik Heil (GER), 5-13-3-2
7. United States, Taylor Canfield (USA), 8-12-3-1
8. Denmark, Nicolai Sehested (DEN), 6-7-5-6
9. New Zealand, Peter Burling (NZL), 3-1-retired
10. Canada, Giles Scott (CAN/GBR), 13-10-2-3
11. Switzerland, Sébastien Schneiter (SUI), 10-9-4-5
12. Brazil, Martine Grael (BRA), 7-11-5-5
13. Italy, Phil Robertson (NZL), 12-8-4-4
* Qualifying had two full fleet races on day one and two split fleet races on day two.
New Zealand handed 8 point penalty for collision with France during Fleet Race 3 (later abandoned).
Italy handed 4 point penalty for colliding with a racecourse mark during Fleet Race 1.

Season 6 Results (after 2 of 13 events)
1. Australia, Tom Slingsby (AUS), 2-1
2. Great Britain, Dylan Fletcher (GBR), 1-2
3. Spain, Diego Botin (ESP), 12-3
4. France, Quentin Delapierre (FRA), 3-4
5. Artemis, Nathan Outteridge (AUS), 4-5
6. Germany, Erik Heil (GER), 9-6
7. United States, Taylor Canfield (USA), 5-7
8. Denmark, Nicolai Sehested (DEN), 8-8
9. New Zealand, Peter Burling (NZL), 13-9
10. Canada, Giles Scott (CAN/GBR), 6-10
11. Switzerland, Sébastien Schneiter (SUI), 11-11
12. Brazil, Martine Grael (BRA), 10-12
13. Italy, Phil Robertson (NZL), 7-13

Established in 2018, SailGP seeks to be an annual, global sports league featuring fan-centric inshore racing among national teams in some of the iconic harbors around the globe.

Source: SailGP

at least it’s not cold

deleteme — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 01:53:21 +0000

While Antigua is renowned for its brisk trade winds and lively Atlantic swell, those taking part in today’s first IMA Maxi class races in the RORC Nelson’s Cup instead found themselves soaked and bewildered as a squall passed through reducing visibility to zero, the wind suddenly blowing 25+ knots accompanied by an intense tropical deluge. Photo by photoaction. More here.

Superfoiler: World’s Coolest Yachts

XS Editor — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 00:31:43 +0000

Yachting World has been asking top sailors and marine industry gurus to choose the coolest and most innovative yachts of our times, and professional sailor Luke Parkinson nominated the Superfoiler. Here’s the report:

“The Superfoiler was one of the coolest boats of all time,” says Parkinson, who’s sailed everything from F50s to offshore 100-footers. “It was a boat like no other. It always kept you on your toes. It was really hard to sail, but very rewarding when you got it right.”

The Superfoiler took elements of Sydney’s 18ft Skiff class and turbo-charged them on foils. An Australian roadshow-style circuit was launched in 2017 with fan zones, drone coverage, and live streaming, and attracted big names like Nathan Outteridge and Glenn Ashby, before the circuit was wound down in 2019.

“It was a three-person, fast foiling boat that you could reach pretty much 40 knots, and it had electronic rake control,” recalls Parkinson.

“You could have three people on trapezes. You had configurable tack and gybe functionality, and it was just really ahead of its time. The boat had a heavy weather main and an all-purpose main and two jibs as well – it was very versatile. It was just a boat to remember, a very special boat.”

Superfoiler stats rating
Top speed: 35+ knots
LOA: 7.97m/26ft 2in
Launched: 2017
Berths: 0
Price (New): €220,000
Adrenalin factor: 95%

For Yachting World’s list of cool boats, click here.

SailGP: No rule change after Fremantle prang

XS Editor — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 00:30:25 +0000

No rule changes have been made following a spectacular collision, 90 seconds into Race 1, where the Swiss Sail GP team sliced the Kiwis’ stern section off just behind the aft crossbeam, missing helmsman Peter Burling by just a metre.

American Magic acquires Danish team

XS Editor — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 00:12:54 +0000

ROCKWOOL Racing SailGP Team, one of 13 teams competing the SailGP global sports league, has been acquired by leading sports investor and American Magic Co-Founder, Doug DeVos. The transaction brings together leaders in global business and high-performance sport with a shared ambition to accelerate on-water performance and bolster the next generation of professional racing talent.

“American Magic are world-class operators, equipped to compete at the very highest levels of our sport,” said Sir Russell Coutts, SailGP CEO and co-founder. “Together with the shared commitment and mission of ROCKWOOL, this new team ownership has the foundations for sustained performance, innovation, and growth for many years to come.”

Led by DeVos, part of the family ownership group of the NBA’s Orlando Magic, the US $60 million transaction was supported on this acquisition by Miller Johnson and IKON Capital, the sports-focused investment and advisory platform, which also joins as a co-investor in the team.

“This is an exciting time for American Magic,” noted DeVos. “Partnering with SailGP and ROCKWOOL Racing brings together three organizations committed to high performance. SailGP has reshaped the sport through global competition, innovation, and fan engagement, and ROCKWOOL Racing is already a high-performing team with a strong foundation.

“Together, we see a clear opportunity to build a winning team, deliver results on and off the water, advance elite talent, and inspire the next generation of sailors, designers, and boat builders.”

American Magic will own and operate the team, with ROCKWOOL continuing as Title Partner until 2032. ROCKWOOL will remain central to the team’s identity and long-term vision, supporting performance, innovation, and global brand growth within the championship. The team will continue to represent Denmark and will feature a minimum of three Danish athletes when fully crewed, in line with SailGP nationality rules.

The team – led by Danish driver Nicolai Sehested – will transition into American Magic’s broader performance eco-system, with a focus on elite performance and talent development. Earlier this year, SailGP launched its first long-term training base at the state-of-the-art American Magic Performance and Innovation Center in Pensacola, Florida, as part of the wider agreement between the two organizations.

“This acquisition transforms a passion-driven project into a return-delivering, strategic investment in a fast-growing sport,” noted Mike Cazer, CEO of American Magic. “We look forward to building the team’s high-performance platform, helping it compete at the front of the fleet, and adding value to the league. Success, for us, means developing a winning team in ROCKWOOL Racing, strengthening SailGP, and delivering for our title sponsor – ROCKWOOL.”

The second event for Season 6 will take place at 4:00pm to 5:30pm local time on February 14-15 in Auckland, New Zealand (10:00pm to 11:30pm EST on February 13-14). For team crew lists: click here.

SailGP information – Auckland details – How to watch

Season 6 – 2026 Schedule:
• Jan 17-18 – Perth, Australia
• Feb 14-15 – Auckland, New Zealand
• Feb 28-March 1 – Sydney, Australia
• Apr 11-12 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• May 9-10 – Hamilton, Bermuda
• May 30-31 – New York, USA
• June 20-21 – Halifax, Canada
• July 25-26- Portsmouth, GBR
• August 22-23 – Sassnitz, Germany
• Sept 5-6 – Valencia, Spain
• Nov 21-22 – Dubai, UAE
• Nov 28-29 – Abu Dhabi, UAE
Note: The 11th event was moved to Geneva from Saint-Tropez, France.

Established in 2018, SailGP seeks to be an annual, global sports league featuring fan-centric inshore racing among national teams in some of the iconic harbors around the globe.

Source: SailGP

Jules Verne Trophy – Sodebo 3 heads for record breaking circumnavigation

deleteme — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 21:18:53 +0000

Sodebo 3 of Skipper Thomas Coville and his crew are on pace to break the circumnavigation record set by Francis Joyon on IDEC Sport in 2017 of 40 days 23 h 30 m 30 sec.

RORC Transatlantic Race – Baltic 111 Raven takes Monohull Line Honours

deleteme — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 02:30:23 +0000

Baltic 111 Raven, skippered by Damien Durchon, has taken Monohull Line Honours in the 2026 RORC Transatlantic Race

Jules Verne: Hot race against the clock

XS Editor — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 02:28:34 +0000

Ever since Francis Joyon and crew on the 103-foot trimaran IDEC Sport were awarded the Jules Verne Trophy in 2017, there have been many failed attempts to better their record time around the world.

Some efforts were abandoned early when wind conditions proved insufficient, while others conceded to damage. If a team is in the final ascent of the Pacific Ocean to the finish off western France, they are in a hot race against the clock.

That’s the case for Thomas Coville and his crew on the 105-foot Sodebo Ultim 3 which got underway on December 15. They crossed the equator on January 19 with a 300+ nm lead over Joyon, and will need to complete the final 3000+nm before 20:31 on January 25 to win.

Also on the course is Alexia Barrier and her crew of The Famous Project CIC on the record holder IDEC Sport. While ahead of Coville, their start on November 29 has them over 2000 nm behind record pace. Their goal is to finish and establish a reference time for an all-female team.

The rules for the Jules Verne Trophy are simple – it is for the fastest time around the world by any type of yacht with no restrictions on the size of the crew, starting and finishing from the exact line between the Le Créac’h Lighthouse off the tip of Brittany and the Lizard Point in Cornwall. It was first won in 1993, with all nine winners as either catamarans or trimarans. The current challenge is to beat the record time of 40 days 23 hours 30 minutes and 30 seconds set in 2017 by Francis Joyon and crew on the 31.5m IDEC Sport.

Record Facts
• Start and finish: a line between Créac’h lighthouse (Isle of Ushant) and Lizard Point (England)
• Course: non-stop around-the-world tour racing without outside assistance via the three Capes (Good Hope, Leeuwin and Horn)
• Minimum distance: 21,600 nautical miles (40,000 kilometres)
• Ratification: World Sailing Speed Record Council, www.sailspeedrecords.com
• Time to beat: 40 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes and 30 seconds
• Average speed: 21.96 knots
• Date of current record: January 2017
• Holder: IDEC SPORT, Francis Joyon and a 5-man crew

Split Time References – Full Crew:
Ushant-Equator: 4d 20h 07 ‘(Spindrift 2 in 2019)
Equator-Cape Aiguilles: 6d 08h 55 ‘(Banque Populaire V in 2012)
Cape Aiguilles-Cape Leeuwin: 4d 09h 32 ‘(IDEC Sport in 2017)
Cape Leuuwin-Cape Horn: 9d 08h 46 ‘(IDEC Sport in 2017)
Cape Horn-Equator: 7d 04h 27 ‘(Banque Populaire V in 2012)
Equator-Ushant: 5d 19h 21 ‘(IDEC Sport in 2017)

Here are the nine that have held the trophy:
2017 – Francis Joyon / IDEC SPORT (31.5m) – 40:23:30:30
2012 – Loïck Peyron / Banque Populaire V (40m) – 45:13:42:53
2010 – Franck Cammas / Groupama 3 (31.5m) – 48:07:44:52
2005 – Bruno Peyron / Orange II (36.8m) – 50:16:20:04
2004 – Olivier De Kersauson / Geronimo (33.8m) – 63:13:59:46
2002 – Bruno Peyron / Orange (32.8m) – 64:08:37:24
1997 – Olivier De Kersauson / Sport-Elec (27.3m) – 71:14:22:08
1994 – Peter Blake, Robin Knox-Johnston / Enza New Zealand (28m) – 74:22:17:22
1993 – Bruno Peyron / Commodore Explorer (28m) – 79:06:15:56

Jules Verne Trophy – Sodebo 3 maintain record pace past Kerguelen

deleteme — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 01:14:27 +0000

The Ultim Trimaran Sodebo 3, of Skipper Thomas Coville and his team, have slowed, but maintain record pace on their Jules Verne Trophy world circuit…

oh joy

deleteme — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 01:12:40 +0000

The Race Committee of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race has received a protest from Min River against the current clubhouse leader, BNC – my::NET / LEON, citing a breach to Australian Sailing Racing Rule of Sailing 55.3(a).

Racing Rule 55.3 is as follows:

55.3 Sheeting Sails
No sail shall be sheeted over or through any device that exerts outward pressure on a sheet or clew of a sail at a point from which, with the boat upright, a vertical line would fall outside the hull or deck, except:

(a) a headsail clew may be connected (as defined in The Equipment Rules of Sailing) to a whisker pole, provided that a spinnaker is not set. A copy of the protest can be found here.

The International Jury will hear the protest at 0900 hours AEDT on Wednesday 31 December 2025 at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania in Hobart.

You’d have to think that Min River has photographic evidence. If their protest is upheld, and if the penalty imposed by the International Jury is an hour or more, then Min River becomes the winner.

Five teams commit to 38th America’s Cup

XS Editor — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 01:29:00 +0000

(December 22, 2025) – Five founding teams of the America’s Cup Partnership (ACP) have been revealed, with this newly established entity for the competition seeking to provide long-term stability and growth of the America’s Cup.

The five founding teams are:
• Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL)
• Athena Racing (GBR)
• Luna Rossa (ITA)
• Tudor Team Alinghi (SUI)
• K-Challenge (FRA)

This follows the Protocol agreement between Emirates Team New Zealand as Defender and Athena Racing as Challenger of Record announced in August 2025, which set the terms for the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup in Naples and paved the way for the America’s Cup Partnership.

“This is about preserving what makes the America’s Cup extraordinary while building a sustainable model that benefits everyone who shares our passion for this great competition,” said Grant Dalton, CEO of Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand. “We are securing the position of the America’s Cup at the pinnacle of innovation and professional sport for decades to come.”

Sir Ben Ainslie, Team Principal of Athena Racing adds, “The ACP will ensure the America’s Cup remains the ultimate proving ground for the world’s best sailors and technological advancements. It allows us to continue pushing the boundaries of naval architecture and sailing technology, maintaining the Cup’s tradition as a catalyst for innovation, while providing the stability needed to grow our audience.”

Key features of the new Partnership include:

BIENNIAL CYCLE
A commitment to a regular, fixed racing calendar of an America’s Cup every two years — creating a set moment that fans can look forward to, growing the race’s global audience and fanbase, and allowing teams, sponsors and broadcasters to plan ahead and invest long term.

INDEPENDENT MANAGEMENT
An independent, best-in-class management team focused solely on delivering sporting excellence and commercial opportunity for the America’s Cup, whilst ensuring consistent operations from one event to the next.

ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY
Shared revenues and new cost control measures creating higher levels of competition and a more level playing field, while also ensuring the America’s Cup remains at the forefront of sailing innovation.

FUTURE FOCUSED
A continued commitment to the Women’s and Youth America’s Cup, creating accessible and diverse pathways into the sport — including at least one female onboard the AC75 race boat at the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup.

Additional Quotes:
Max Sirena, CEO Luna Rossa:
“The birth of the America’s Cup Partnership marks a historic moment for the oldest competition in international sport. Luna Rossa has chosen to join a project aimed at ensuring stability, sustainability, and continuity for the America’s Cup, while respecting its values and its capacity for innovation. A responsible choice toward the sport, our fans, and future generations of Italian sailors.”

Ernesto Bertarelli, owner of Tudor Team Alinghi:
“This partnership is the embodiment of a collective commitment to further elevating sailing on the global sporting stage, whilst remaining true to the America’s Cup’s traditions, values, and competitive spirit. By working together to create a more transparent and collaborative structure, we’re ensuring that this iconic competition will thrive for generations to come. We are proud to be part of its foundation, while renewing and strengthening our long-term partnership with Tudor.”

Stephan Kandler, co-CEO of K-Challenge:
“France is an historic country for sailing and in the America’s Cup. K-Challenge has been involved since 2001 in various French Challenges; it therefore became a mission to be involved in the America’s Cup’s future as one of the founding members of the new Partnership, alongside legendary teams like Emirates Team New Zealand, Athena Racing, Luna Rossa and Tudor Team Alinghi. It will reinforce the exposure and image of the America’s Cup. It is a fantastic opportunity for the event and the teams to grow it at the same level as other leading sport properties.”

The five founding teams will together present further details of the Partnership on January 21, 2026 in Naples, Italy with dates of the America’s Cup Match revealed.

The entry period for the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup remains open until January 31st 2026, for potential new additional teams to join ACP and the competition in Naples in 2027.

Details: https://www.americascup.com/

Defender New Zealand and Challenger of Record from Great Britain confirmed the Protocol for the 38th America’s Cup on August 12, 2025. The close of the initial entry period was October 31, 2025, with late entries considered up to January 31, 2026. If no USA team participates in the 38th America’s Cup, it will be the first time in the event’s 175-year history.

After the 2024 event, Barcelona, Spain declined hosting another edition, with the venue moved to Naples, Italy. Racing will be in the spring and summer of 2027.

Source: ACM

is that swell?

deleteme — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 01:27:10 +0000

Dunno, it looks odd and forced…

The Swell 32, a 10-meter sailboat designed for group sailing and training, will enter production in early 2026 in Auray.
Conceived as an accessible and robust educational tool, this boat embodies the cooperative vision of Flow Atelier Maritime. More here.

a new kind of drifting

deleteme — Sun, 21 Dec 2025 23:24:44 +0000

We know the team at Cape Horn Engineering, but they’re just too smart for us.

We are delighted to assist Drift Energy with its exciting and innovative renewable energy project. High-performance solid wing sailing vessels cruise around the world’s trade winds, harvesting green energy from underwater turbines. (Sustainability award winner 2025).

The design and development of DRIFT’s first energy harvesting ship uses the latest Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) technology from Cape Horn Engineering to ensure the vessel extracts the maximum possible energy from the power of the wind. Using these highly accurate models, we can predict vessel performance and make informed design decisions to enable optimal clean energy.

The Wind Power Generation Ship Programme integrates rigid sail wings for wind propulsion with underwater turbines, mounted to the hull of a 60m catamaran to harvest power. The vessel will be routed with AI to stay in the best wind conditions and use the electricity it produces to run an onboard electrolyser that generates and stores green hydrogen at sea.

To date, we’ve run over 500 CFD simulations, starting with the ship’s hydrodynamics and analysing the bare hull across key operating conditions to assess hull resistance. We also assessed the underwater turbine cases to compare geometries and turbine characteristics. For the ship’s aerodynamics, we analysed and assessed two rig options, testing single and multi-wing configurations in various operating conditions and control angles.

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race – Long range forecast for light and variable winds

deleteme — Sun, 21 Dec 2025 23:03:28 +0000

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race – Long range forecast for light and variable winds. Race start is 1 pm on Boxing Day . . .