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…
Helen Fretter
Editor
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:…
Armel le Cléac’h, ‘The Jackal’: we profile the secretive leader of the Vendée Globe
In his home country, Armel Le Cléac’h’s triumph in the Vendée Globe is seen as the right result. If ever hard work and persistence paid off in sport, this win…
Cheeki Rafiki tragedy: charter company director pleads not guilty to six charges
Douglas Innes, the director of Stormforce Coaching, appeared in Winchester Crown Court today to plead not guilty to four counts of causing manslaughter by gross negligence in the case of…
Why don’t more women hold professional sail qualifications?
There has been a highly publicised drive to increase the female participation in competitive sailing in recent years, with schemes such as the Magenta Project and Team SCA in the…
200 days to go until the first America’s Cup match – what happens next?
The first match race between the challenger and defenders Oracle Team USA starts on 17 June, 2017, just 200 days away. Between now and then each team has to launch their…
Francis Joyon abandons attempt to break round the world record
French sailor Francis Joyon has abandoned his attempt to break the fully-crewed round the world record for the Jules Verne Trophy. He turned his 100ft trimaran IDEC Sport around after encountering adverse conditions in the…
Joyon launches Jules Verne assault, while Coville hunts singlehanded record
Francis Joyon, twice the fastest man to sail around the world singlehandedly, has set off on an attempt at the Jules Verne trophy, the fully crewed non-stop round the world…
Foilers on test as Rolex Middle Sea Race gets underway
The Rolex Middle Sea Race got underway this morning, with 107 yachts setting out from Valetta’s impressive harbour in a light easterly on their first reaching leg towards Capo Passero…
Volvo Ocean Race new crew rule set to force change for women sailors?
Among the raft of changes for the 2017-2018 Volvo Ocean Race currently being announced, one of the most controversial has been the change to the maximum crew numbers dependent on…
Gallery: Les Voiles de St Tropez 2016 wraps up Mediterranean season in stunning style
It’s hard to be a show-stopper at Les Voiles de St Tropez. The entire regatta seems designed to pit some of the world’s most eye-catching yachts against one another in…
Night sailing: top tips and expert advice to see you safely through until dawn
Sailing through the night brings its own rewards: a contemplative stillness, phosphorescent trails through a star-lit sea, the soul-warming sunrises. But it also raises challenges – if you cannot see…
ARC Europe: Crossing the Atlantic west to east is a very different experience
Mention to a cruiser that you are doing a transatlantic and they will probably picture the traditional tradewind route, Canaries to Caribbean, with the wind on your back and the…
Rio delivers stunning four race finale, and a perfect script for Brazilian star Grael
The women’s 470 final started proceedings in a brisk 17 knots – Britons Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark had only to finish to secure Gold, which they did with ease…
What’s it like to win Gold with your best friend? Mills and Clark to claim 470 prize today
Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark went to Rio with every expectation of a medal. The pairing took Silver at the 2012 Games in Weymouth. However, the women’s 470 class is…
Giles Scott gets his Gold: we take a look at his long road to Rio victory
The four-year Olympic cycle is arduous for every athlete, but for Giles Scott it has been an especially long road. When Scott finally stood on the podium tonight, Tuesday, 16…