We glide down the eastern side of El Hierro and leap into the vastness of the ocean as we begin our Atlantic crossing. The island shrinks behind us as the…
Seconds separate double-handed IMOCA Fastnet fleet after 695 miles
After three days of racing over 695 miles, less than 30 seconds decided the podium finishers in the double-handed IMOCA fleet of the Rolex Fastnet Race. The class winner was…
First look: X43 – second generation
Mark 2 versions of a good yacht are often a lot better than the original, with many small changes that improve ergonomics and collectively make life on board easier and…
Giant 140ft ClubSwan 125 Skorpios is first monohull in Fastnet
The monolithic Skorpios, the largest yacht ever to take part in the Rolex Fastnet Race at 42.6m/140ft (including bowsprit!), has taken monohull line honours in the 2021 edition. The ClubSwan…
First look: Oceanbel 128 explorer
The man behind this new Finnish brand set up Nautor’s Swan in the 1960s and then built 41m luxury monohulls in Thailand as Concorde Marine. Now Pekka Koskenkylä has teamed…
Maxi Edmond de Rothschild takes line honours in Rolex Fastnet Race
While the smaller monohulls faced a battle of attrition in the first 24 hours of the Rolex Fastnet Race, the crew of the 100ft trimaran Maxi Edmond de Rothschild have made…
Extraordinary boats: TF35 semi-automated foiler
In recent America’s Cups we have seen a small army of grinders pumping away to bring pressure to their flying yacht’s hydraulic lifeblood, while flight controllers attempt to keep up…
Tough first night for Rolex Fastnet Race with favourites among early retirements
White-capped waves, a building swell, and gusty breezes saw the world’s biggest offshore yacht race, the Rolex Fastnet Race, start this morning from Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, in…
All-star line-up: boats to follow in the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race
It’s hard to imagine a more diverse and intriguing fleet line up than this year’s Rolex Fastnet Race entries, making it hard to pick out which Fastnet boats to follow. The…
World ARC postponed as cruising rally organisers face dilemma
World Cruising Club, organisers of the annual Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) and the round the world World Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, have cancelled the start of the 2022 World ARC rally…
Last minute travel rule change means Fastnet competitors can now enter Cowes and Cherbourg
With last night’s announcement by the British government that restrictions would be eased for visitors from France returning to the UK, competitors in the Rolex Fastnet Race now have increased…
World’s coolest yachts: S&S 34
The most innovative all-time classic is the S&S 34. As a class they appeared in 1967, a year before the first Golden Globe Race, and Ted Heath [then leader of…
Hannah Mills and Eilidh McIntyre on their stunning gold
The Medal Race should have been straightforward for Hannah Mills and Eilidh McIntyre. Having sailed a really solid qualifying series in the 470 Women’s event, the British duo carried a…
Everything you need to know about the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race
The Rolex Fastnet Race is one of the world’s most iconic offshore racing challenges – here’s everything you need to know about the 2021 edition: When does it start? 1230 Sunday,…
Humanitarian rescue or human trafficking? New law causes confusion for rescues at sea
In a move aimed at reducing illegal migration across the Channel, the UK government is proposing legislation to make it easier to prosecute traffickers, but it could have a knock-on…
How to follow the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race
The newly extended 695-mile Rolex Fastnet Race is a true blue riband event and offshore classic, finishing for the first time in Cherbourg, France, and attracting a capacity fleet which…
Hannah Mills becomes greatest female Olympic sailor with gold
Hannah Mills and Eilidh McIntyre (GBR) have won gold in the 470 Women. Along with an Olympic Sailing silver from London 2012 and gold from Rio 2016, gold at Tokyo…
Olympic Sailing: Belcher and Ryan win gold for Australia
Mat Belcher and Will Ryan (AUS) have won gold in the Tokyo 2020 470 Men’s Olympic Sailing regatta, with Anton Dahlberg and Fredrik Bergstrom (SWE) taking silver and Jordi Xammar…
First look: Grand Soleil 72 Performance
The gorgeous new Italian designed Grand Soleil 72 Performance blends excellent performance that’s optimised for Mediterranean sailing with a very spacious and comfortable interior. The sleek lines and low-profile coachroof…
Going for gold: When only one Olympic medal matters
How is it that anyone could possibly be distraught, in floods of tears, because they’re carrying a seven-point advantage going into an Olympic Sailing Medal Race? The answer to that…