Douglas Innes has been found guilty of failing to ensure the safety of the yacht Cheeki Rafiki, which capsized mid-Atlantic in 2014, with the deaths of four men. Innes, the…
Helen Fretter
Editor
Cheeki Rafiki jury retires to consider its verdict in manslaughter trial
The jury in the trial of Douglas Innes and Stormforce Coaching, operators of the yacht Cheeki Rafiki that capsized mid-Atlantic in 2014 leading to the loss of four crew members,…
Final evidence heard in Cheeki Rafiki manslaughter by gross negligence trial
The final witnesses appeared yesterday at Winchester Crown Court in the trial relating to the loss of four sailors from the yacht Cheeki Rafiki in May 2014. James Male, Andrew…
Blitzen – the 1938 Olin Stephens design that was the grand prix boat of the day
Olin Stephens was just 30 years old when Blitzen was launched in 1938, following in the wake of the prodigiously talented designer’s yachts such as Dorade (1929) and Stormy Weather…
VIDEO: Volvo Ocean Race makes radical route changes with new foiling 60-footers
Volvo Ocean Race organisers promised the most radical shake-up of the race since its inception in 1973, and the raft of changes announced today for the 2019 edition will bring…
Could a floating shipping container sink your yacht? How real is the danger?
It is the stuff of every sailor’s nightmare – the unseen object, lurking beneath a wave, which punctures your hull or smashes your rudder mid-ocean. Never have our oceans seemed…
Endurance athletes – the making of the modern America’s Cup sailor
The shape of the six men competing on each challenger has changed – literally. Two factors have altered the make-up of America’s Cup teams beyond all recognition: the move to…
VIDEO: How to win in the bareboat fleet at Antigua Sailing Week
Anyone who thinks that the bareboat fleet at a Caribbean regatta is an easy option is in for a rude surprise. Turn up for a bareboat race charter and chances…
VIDEO Onboard Sojana: racing a 115ft ketch with an all-star crew in Antigua
Sojana, the 115ft Farr-designed ketch belonging to businessman and philanthropist Sir Peter Harrison, is the largest yacht competing at Antigua Sailing Week 2017. The event, which celebrates its 50th anniversary…
Perini Navi superyacht Rosehearty takes on the North West Passage
“The owner has always had an interest in history, especially the North West Passage – one of his big heroes was Shackleton, and this had been discussed and planned for…
Rogue waves – real-life stories of the destructive power of the sea
Rogue waves have long divided sailors and scientists. Some question their existence, other schools of thought suggest that ‘freak’ waves are actually more common than first thought. But for those…
Fourth Volvo Ocean Race entry announced as Vestas return
Vestas, the Danish wind energy company, is returning to the Volvo Ocean Race for 2017/18 with a new team led by American duo Charlie Enright and Mark Towill. Partnering with…
How Thomas Coville set the solo round the world sailing record
‘A warrior,’ is how Samantha Davies, part of the intelligence team that guided Thomas Coville and his yacht Sodebo to victory, describes the solo skipper. Over a decade Coville returned…
The world’s biggest yachts – what’s behind the growth of the gigayacht
Dwarfing not only any other yacht that happened to be on the River Eider, but even the buildings along the foreshore, the monolithic Sailing Yacht A made quite an impression…
A look on board the extraordinary 86m Aquijo, the world’s largest ketch
The largest Bermudan rigged ketch ever launched, the 86m Aquijo was designed by Bill Tripp and launched last year. The build came about through a new collaboration between the two Dutch yards…
Widow of murdered yachtsman fears her husband’s killers may not face trial
Three years after the death of British yachtsman Roger Pratt in St Lucia following a savage attack aboard his yacht, the men accused of murdering him remain in custody. His…
Third team confirmed for Volvo Ocean Race as Mapfre return, plus a new Australia stopover
Mapfre has confirmed their participation in this year’s Volvo Ocean Race, returning after their fourth-placed finish in the last edition. The Spanish insurance company will again be backing a team in…
Francis Joyon and IDEC smash Jules Verne crewed round the world record with 26.8 knot average speed
Francis Joyon and his crew of Clément Surtel, Alex Pella, Bernard Stamm, Gwénolé Gahinet and Sébastien Audigane have set a new crewed round the world record of 40d 23h 30m…
Racing a giant classic – an eye-opening day aboard J Class Velsheda at St Tropez
It is hard to be a show-stopper in St Tropez, yet the two J Class yachts competing this year were undoubtedly the biggest crowd pleasers. I was lucky enough to…
Alex Thomson sets new 24-hour speed record as he goes all-out in bid to overtake Vendée Globe leader
Vendée Globe racer Alex Thomson has set a new 24-hour solo monohull sailing record, sailing an incredible 536.81 nautical miles in 24 hours. Watch Alex talking about the record here:…