Pro sailors on their Southern Ocean experience

Leg 3 of The Ocean Race, through the Southern Ocean proved a test of both human endurance and technological limits. Helen Fretter speaks to the sailors “I’m so happy not to be alone,” an emotional Boris Herrmann said standing at the base of his 29m/95ft mast, a foot-long gash ripped into the carbon above his […]

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F1 star Sebastian Vettel backs new German SailGP team

Sebastian Vettel will be co-owner of the new German SailGP team alongside Thomas Riedel, with 49er medallist Erik Heil at the helm Four-time F1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel and double Olympic sailing bronze medallist Erik Heil have joined forces, alongside team owner Thomas Riedel, to announce a brand new German SailGP Team. Germany will be […]

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Paddle sports continue uptick in watersports participation

The annual Watersports Participation Survey has shown watersports participation is still rising after a pandemic boom saw UK participation rise dramatically The increase in people participating in watersports in the UK during the Covid 19 pandemic – when restrictions on international travel reduced overseas holiday options – continued to build in 2022 despite those restrictions […]

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How (and why) wood is making a comeback in yacht building

Rupert Holmes reports on latest developments in wooden yacht construction, and why this ancient material is being used for hi-tech contemporary design Why would a naval architect and structural engineer used to working with cutting edge materials for America’s Cup teams, including INEOS Britannia, and companies like Airbus, be excited about working with wood? “It’s […]

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640.9 miles in 24hrs: Holcim-PRB smashes monohull record

Kevin Escoffier’s IMOCA team Holcim-PRB has smashed the 24-hour monohull sailing record by covering an incredible 640.9 miles in the transatlantic leg of The Ocean Race The Ocean Race 2022-23 – 26 May 2023, Leg 5 Day 4 onboard Team Holcim – PRB, at full speed during the 24 hours record. Kevin Escoffier’s IMOCA Holcim-PRB, competing in […]

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Swimming with humpback whales

Having paused their Pacific cruise in Mo’orea, Josh Shankle and Rachel Moore find wonderment swimming with humpback whales “Slip into the water, don’t jump. Try not to splash, and follow me,” our guide Torea hurriedly told us as the panga-style boat slowed to a stop, only 100m away from a sleeping giant. “Stay together, stay […]

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How to provision a yacht for a long passage

Long term liveaboard Catherine Lawson talks about how to provision a yacht for a long passage and passes on some of her top tips Provisioning a yacht for a long period away from conventional shops, with limited cold store space, dry goods stowage and galley facilities, can be daunting. In a beautifully illustrated new book, […]

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Buddy Melges, 1930-2023

Legendary American sailor Buddy Melges known as the ‘Wizard of Zenda’ has passed away at the age of 93 Skipper Buddy Melges and the crew of America 3 get set to round the second mark on their way to a victory over Stars and Stripes in the America’s Cup defender series 30 April 1992. (Photo […]

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When a sailor and a chicken took on an incredible voyage

Young Breton sailor Guirec Soudée and his famous red hen, Monique, ride out Christmas ice-bound in Greenland. Tom Cunliffe introduces this extract Say what you will, but the French have got style. We Anglo-Saxons may fancy ourselves as adventurers, but then along comes an unsponsored lad from North Brittany in a 30ft steel boat and […]

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How to trim asymmetric sail in light airs

Pro offshore sailor and Olympian Francesca Clapcich shares tips on how to trim an asymmetric spinnaker in light airs with Andy Rice Francesca Clapcich has enjoyed a hugely diverse and successful racing career. Her years racing the Laser Radial at Olympic level honed her wave-riding skills where sailors steer huge arcs – either luffing up […]

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What you need to know to sail across the Pacific

A Pacific Ocean crossing can be spectacular, but also daunting. Kate Ashe-Leonard has advice on what you need to know before you set sail across the Pacific Coffee in hand, I gaze out from our cockpit across the flat lagoon of the palm-fringed coral atoll in Fakarava. We are in the Tuamotus, French Polynesia. Yesterday […]

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Starlink at sea: all change for cruisers 

Starlink has shaken up its offering for cruising sailors with a crack down on service term violations and new data plans Starlink, Elon Musk’s low orbit satellite network which delivers low cost high speed internet via a portable dish, has shaken up its offering for cruising sailors and other broadband users at sea. Starlink has […]

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Double handed sailing skills: Tacking

In the latest instalment of her series on double handed sailing skills, Pip Hare explains the best process for tacking with two onboard Double handed sailing skills are increasingly important to master as the recent boom in double handed racing, both inshore and offshore, continues and boats designed for couples to cruise two-up become ever […]

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