Leading French offshore sailor Sébastien Josse says he believes that designers and builders need to develop improved control systems for foils to be fit for extreme ocean conditions. The solo sailor…
Elaine Bunting
Foil damage in Southern Ocean forces out Vendée Globe favourite Seb Josse
Top French sailor Sébastien Josse, one of the favourites in the Vendée Globe solo round the world race, has decided to retire after damage to one of his foils in…
Vendée Globe solo sailor rescued in Southern Ocean after keel failure
French solo sailor Kito de Pavant, taking part in the Vendée Globe race, has been rescued from a remote position in the Southern Ocean after his keel fin was partially…
Why do the new Vendee Globe IMOCA 60 yachts have foils?
Foils are the newest phenomenon on the Vendée Globe race and one that looks as if it is set to change offshore racing. But why have these experimental ideas appeared…
Three crew and two children rescued in the Atlantic from sinking ARC yacht
A crew of five taking part in the ARC transatlantic rally has been rescued after their yacht began sinking yesterday. The crew of the German-flagged Noah: Alexander Grefrath, his wife,…
ARC 2016 sets off across the Atlantic with one of the most diverse fleets yet
A massed fleet of 212 yachts from 31 different nations set off on the ARC 2016 transatlantic rally today in ideal north-easterly winds of 10-12 knots. The fleet this year…
Collision and foil damage puts Alex Thomson’s Vendée Globe lead in jeopardy
A collision with an underwater object has damaged the starboard foil of Alex Thomson’s Hugo Boss, putting his attempt to win the Vendee Globe solo round the world in jeopardy.…
How Comanche took more than a day off the transatlantic record
No sailing record has a more storied history, or is harder to beat, than the transatlantic record. At a time when sailing records are being divided into smaller currencies and…
Alex Thomson out to win Vendée Globe with the solo race’s most revolutionary speed weapon
Over its history, the Vendee Globe solo round the world race has seen many significant technical innovations – canting keels and wingmasts to name but two. But the introduction of…
Biggest ever ‘Big Class’ schooner gathering at Superyacht Cup in Palma
Seldom has there been a more magnificent sight in sailing than on the opening day of the Superyacht Cup in June. Seven classic and replica schooners gathered for a friendly…
Volvo Ocean Race announces return to epic Southern Ocean route
The Volvo Ocean Race today announced the route for the next edition in 2017 and with that a return to the emphasis on long Southern Ocean legs. The route will…
Southern Wind: two new performance cruisers around 100ft
One of the conspicuous growth areas of yachting, albeit a specialised niche, is performance cruisers of around 100ft. This is being fanned by the intensifying seriousness and maturity of superyacht…
Olympic silver medal is dream result for Ireland’s Annalise Murphy
Ireland’s Annalise Murphy today won an Olympic silver medal in the Laser Radial Women’s class in a dream finish to the sailing medal race in Rio. It is a triumphant…
British sailors in five medal positions at Rio Olympics after day of ‘survival conditions’
British sailors had one of their best days yet at the Rio sailing Olympics on Thursday. On a day when the Finns and 470s were battling in big waves on the…
Paralympic sailor Hannah Stodel awarded top Cowes Week Trophy
In a sport in which determination is in decent supply, Paralympic sailor Hannah Stodel stands out. The 30-year-old sailor has spent the last 16 years striving for an Olympic medal…
Ainslie and Land Rover BAR race wins delight home crowd at America’s Cup World Series Portsmouth
Ben Ainslie’s Land Rover BAR team stamped the ‘bring the Cup home’ message on the first day of racing at Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Portsmouth today by tying…
What is the AC45? Meet the America’s Cup World Series foiling catamaran
The boat being raced in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series is the AC45 – sometimes also called the AC45f. It is a one-design 44ft foiling catamaran (that’s what…
Ainslie makes Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Portsmouth the push for new America’s Cup blueprint
As Ben Ainslie races in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Portsmouth this weekend he embarks on the on the second crucial chapter of his goal to prove Britain can…
Is world cruising still safe? Elaine Bunting talks to long-term cruisers
Recent attacks on sailors in the Caribbean and Indonesia have raised concerns about the safety of world cruising, but the reality is that with a small amount of caution this…
New solo 24hr record of 771 miles set by François Gabart in trimaran MACIF
French solo sailor François Gabart has set a new record for the outright 24hr speed record in his 100ft trimaran MACIF. His shore team announced today that, subject to official…