French sailor Charlie Dalin has secured a long-awaited and hard-earned victory in the 2024 Vendée Globe, the grueling solo, non-stop, around-the-world yacht race. Dalin, skipper of Macif Santé Prévoyance, crossed…
New SJ66: A classic concept with a contemporary profile
Stephen Jones and Jonty Sherwill, the two names behind the SJ66 concept, need little introduction and have collaborated on numerous projects across several decades, including the Starlight 35, 38 and…
Charlie Dalin set for record breaking Vendée Globe victory
The winner of the 2024-25 Vendée Globe will be crowned early tomorrow, Tuesday January 15, and it looks set to be Charlie Dalin on Macif Santé Prévoyance. Dalin, who has…
The design secrets of Charlie Dalin’s Vendée Globe leading IMOCA revealed
Charlie Dalin approached the 2024 Vendée Globe with a unique perspective. Dalin’s previous boat, Apivia (now Clarisse Cremer’s L’Occitane en Provence) was one of the benchmark IMOCAs of its generation.…
‘We had not really planned to go to Vanuatu, but had no other choice’
I’m looking up at an almost naked young man 60 feet in the air. He’s balancing on a platform built of sticks and branches, raised on a mountain top in…
Gifts for Swimmers – Smart Gift Ideas for Cold Water and Wild Swimming
Cold water swimmers are a diverse bunch, but there’s a huge swathe of people of all ages and backgrounds out there who are discovering the health benefits of going for…
Fantastic Gifts for Sailors – 21 Gift ideas for that sailor in your life
Sailors can be notoriously difficult to buy for and sailing as a hobby (much like golf and other niche pastimes) tends to involve kit that is either bafflingly complex or…
Vendée Globe: Guide to the Atlantic race home
The Vendée Globe is the world’s ultimate race course: one non-stop lap of the globe. The race started in Les Sables d’Olonne, France, on 10 November. There are three marks…
How to go cruising in the Baltic this winter
Sailing in the Baltic is increasingly popular, and for all the right reasons: beautiful cruising grounds, lovely weather, interesting history and hospitable countries. But the 90-day limit for non-Schengen passport…
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez: A maritime history book
The great French sailor, Eric Tabarly, an instrumental figure in the origins of what is now Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, is reputed to have said that strolling along the quays…
Cruising the coast of Taiwan: A culture rich in seafaring history
We were still five miles from port when we realised that clearing into Taiwan might not be as simple as we’d hoped. Our VHF radio crackled into life and a…
Two sailors killed in separate incidents during Rolex Sydney Hobart Race
Organisers of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, which started on 26 December, have confirmed that tragically two sailors have died overnight in separate incidents during the race. According to a…
Your complete guide to using radar on a yacht
Collision avoidance technology has changed dramatically over the last 20 years. Radar has become more affordable, more intuitive to use and easier to install. We can now track approaching vessels…
Bali 5.8 first look: New open-plan flybridge catamaran
With Bali’s step-up in size with the Bali 5.8 comes up a step-up in quality, says Bali. It recognises that its early yachts were more basic, wipe-clean designs for charter,…
The ultimate cruising adventure? Jimmy Cornell launches new High Latitude Challenge
Forty years since he founded the original ARC rally, Jimmy Cornell is launching a new cruise-in-company event for adventurous sailors, the High Latitude Challenge, which features the ‘bucket list’ expedition…
Lagoon 60 first look: A sizeable space for lounging in stunning locations
Big new cats from the volume production yards seem to on the money market-wise currently. Lagoon, Fountaine Pajot and Bali are all launching or have recently launched their largest models…
Boot Dusseldorf 2025 preview: the yachts you need to see
Boot Dusseldorf, the world’s largest yacht and watersports fair, is expected to attract over 200,000 visitors over nine days from 18 January. Exhibitors at Boot Dusseldorf 2025 will comprise all…
Hanse 590 first look: At the top limit for owner-operation
This is a massive new flagship for Hanse’s Greifswald yard, one which completes its new range of Berret Racoupeau designs. It is larger in all respects to the Hanse 575/588,…
Excess 13 first look: A light and airy catamaran for easy enjoyment
Receiving a limited edition Lego set is one of the most surprising (and best) ways I’ve seen to announce a new model (particularly for those with a Lego-obsessed child). Building…
Pip Hare dismasted in Vendée Globe: “I am so devastated”
Pip Hare, the only British based skipper in the Vendée Globe, has dismasted on Medallia while racing in the South Indian Ocean. On Sunday, December 15 at 21:45 UTC, approximately…