Close to the Spinlock stand at Boot Düsseldorf earlier this year were three white plastic dogs, canine mannequins sporting three sizes of the Spinlock ‘Fido’, the company’s dog flotation vest.…
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Why the Vendée Globe fleet is right to reject a full foiling rule
That tens of thousands of Vendée Globe fans were prepared to get up in the early hours of the morning and camp out on a sea wall in the middle…
How the 37th America’s Cup technology revealed superhuman skill levels from the sailors
What the eye couldn’t see was a big topic of conversation in Barcelona during the America’s Cup. With crews huddled down below the sheerline inside their individual cockpits, the only…
Why we’ll probably see the AC75 in the next America’s Cup (and why that’s a good thing)
Given that this was the second America’s Cup cycle for the AC75 design rule it seemed fair to assume ahead of the event that the racing would be closer than…
‘I don’t want to watch sailing with a calculator’ – Matthew Sheahan on Olympic Sailing for Spectators
How was your summer season? If you went to a major event like Olympic sailing, did you wonder where everyone else was? Cowes Week seemed to stir up plenty of…
‘The America’s Cup has always been pushing boundaries’ – Matt Sheahan
For a great pub quiz question, when was the first America’s Cup race? The answer to sailing fans is obvious: 1851 in the famous race around the Isle of Wight.…
America’s Cup latest: ‘No consensus yet on quickest team’
The America’s Cup is as much a confidence game as it is one of design, technology and boat handling. Whether you’re a Challenger or Defender, asserting your authority wherever you…
‘When they saw Ben Ainslie walk into the room it was like they’d been electrocuted’
Never underestimate the influence of sailing heroes. “When they saw Ben Ainslie walk into the room it was like they’d been electrocuted,” said Greig City Academy director of sixth form…
‘What I learned from the America’s Cup event in Jeddah’ – Matt Sheahan
Another AC40 streaked past the sea wall at 40 knots and I felt rather foolish. I’ve been following the development of these one design flying machines and reporting on their…
The Ocean Race: is racing under autopilot ‘cheating’?
That’s not racing. It’s cheating. If you’re going to use the autopilot to sail around the world you might as well simply control the boat by remote control from home.”…
The Ocean Race 2023 preview: What’s in store for the new race
It’s been a long wait for the next fully crewed lap of the planet since the last one finished in 2018, but finally The Ocean Race will start from Alicante…
ClubSwan 80 review: full-on 80ft racer
As we slipped our lines from the dock in Porto Cervo I was trying to conceal my disappointment. After being present at the original launch of the design for the…
What the 37th America’s Cup Protocol means
The publication of the 37th America’s Cup Protocol has delivered an eagerly awaited blueprint for the next edition of the America’s Cup. From the next generation of AC75s that will…
The Ocean Race: What’s it like on a fully crewed IMOCA 60?
How much faster could an IMOCA 60 go if it were really pressed? Not in bursts, not for brief peak speeds, but at a sustained average pace over days or…
Solent sea breeze: Understanding typical Solent summer winds
Clear skies at dawn and a hint of wispy cumulus rising above the mainland shore are early signs of a Solent sea breeze day. But where many other venues will…
Westerly Ocean 37 review: from the archive
Matthew Sheahan investigates a new mid-range cruiser, the Westerly Ocean 37, to find out what you get for your money There’s one thing that needs clearing up from the start.…
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37 review: from the archive
Jeanneau are on a roll at the moment. Over the past few years they’ve avoided the bright lights and excitement of fancy racing machines and radical cruising designs in favour…
Beneteau First 34.7 review: from the archive
Beneteau are clearly very proud of the new Beneteau First 34.7 have issued several bold statements about the complexity of the new boat in their ever expanding stable. How could…
X-35 review: from the archive
When it comes to serious numbers in one design yachts, the X-99 rates as one of the most successful designs of modern times, with 600 built since 1985. But after…
Beneteau First 47.7 review: from the archive
The Beneteau First 47.7 looks set to follow in the footstep of the latest yachts that have come before. Cost has clearly been a big factor but there are other…