“I think one of the coolest boats was the AC72,” says Davies who nominates the wingsail catamarans sailed in the 34th America’s Cup in San Francisco. “Building one of those…
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Head-to-head Jules Verne attempts: two Ultim trimarans set off to try and break 40 days around the world
The two crews are both attempting to break the non-stop, around the world record – the ‘no limits’ Jules Verne Trophy – which currently stands at 40 days, 23 hours,…
Pip Hare’s guide to racing in the Southern Ocean as the Vendée Globe fleet continue south
The Vendée Globe is the world’s ultimate race course: one non-stop lap of the globe. The course starts in Les Sables d’Olonne, France, on 10 November. There are three marks…
Great Seamanship: Ancestor – A Carriacou Sloop’s Voyage to Vancouver
Not many years ago I was privileged to become involved with the vernacular sloops of the Windward Islands while on the Caribbean island of Carriacou in the Grenadines. These cargo-carrying…
Skip Novak’s sailing adventure to survey endangered albatross: ‘We threaded through a wall of crystalline icebergs’
The mood on the Vinson of Antarctica was a wee bit on edge. Justino was staring into the radar in the pilothouse and Dion was all eyes on deck in…
Jean-Luc Van Den Heede: first recipient of the Cape Horners’ Lifetime Achievement Award
French offshore sailor Jean-Luc Van Den Heede, who has rounded Cape Horn 12 times, has been presented with the International Association of Cape Horners' Lifetime Achievement Award
IMOCAs hit warp speed: 24hr solo sailing record falls repeatedly to hit incredible 579.86 miles
The Vendée Globe leaders are locked into near-perfect conditions, riding the leading edge of a low pressure system in the South Atlantic on a direct fast train towards Cape Town.…
Solaris 74RS first look: Alluring style with some substance below decks
I was taken with the layout and interior design of the Solaris 74RS, with its stylish, performance-cruising raised coachroof design. The first three examples have owner cabins forward with galley…
Extraordinary boats: The Cayman 28 ‘a gentleman’s skiff’
Zipping through the herd of mainly production family cruisers enjoying the sunshine on a picture postcard Sound of Mull at Scotland’s ever popular West Highland Week, the Cayman 28 Rooster…
550 miles solo in one day: solo sailing record falls again in Vendée Globe
Yoann Richomme, on the IMOCA Paprec Arkéa, has broken the record for the longest distance sailed solo in 24 hours on a monohull. Richomme has smashed the 550-mile barrier, covering…
Garcia Exploration 60 review: We crossed the Atlantic to test this adventure cruiser
The frenetic activity of the Caribbean season had already slowed by the end of April in Anse du Marin, where Albius IV waited on the pontoon. The commanding new Garcia…
How to use deck chutes for improved spinnaker handling
Paul Larsen was converted to the appeal of deck chutes on a particular day aboard Sir Peter Harrison’s 35m maxi yacht Sojana. “You’d be racing into the leeward mark with…
Contest 63CS first look: New superyacht quality 63 footer
What a beauty! This Judel Vrolijk shape is now familiar to the range from the Dutch family-run yard. This first hull is tricked up with an optional deeper 3.4m keel…
Rapido 53XS First Look: A trimaran with proper living spaces for comfortable sailing
Designed by multihull supremos Morelli & Melvin, the Rapido 53XS is a turbo tri with proper living spaces and three double cabins for comfortable long periods or passages aboard. Indeed…
YYachts Y8 Calabash review: Sailing this semi-custom, designer cruiser
This new generation YYachts Y8 is the Griefswald yard’s third version of this 80ft size. The original, which helped launch the brand in 2015, was a Lorenzo Argento and David…
New solo sailing world record: Vendée skipper covers incredible 546 miles in 24 hours
Nicolas Lunven, skipper of the IMOCA Holcim-PRB has set a new 24-hour record for a single-handed monohull (pending official certification by the World Sailing Speed Record Council). Lunven has covered…
How to recover a crew overboard with a rescue swimmer
Whether or not a rescue swimmer would be useful for a crew will depend on their sailing yacht’s emergency procedures. It can be very effective for larger crews operating in…
Brit Sam Goodchild takes Vendée Globe lead after fleet’s first testing night
Day 3 of the Vendée Globe dawned this morning, Tuesday 12 November, with much of the fleet having gone through their first bout of testing conditions around Cap Finistere. Though…
‘Seamanship isn’t about sailing slowly’ – Nikki Henderson
The sailing world is small. But of the 350 or so passengers on board the Boeing 777 I took recently from Heathrow to Seattle, my seat neighbour turned out to…
Who will win the 2024 Vendée Globe?
So who will win the 2024 Vendée Globe? Spoiler alert: we don’t know . And that’s not only because of the Vendée Globe’s notorious attrition rate (somewhere between 1 in 4…