This was a ‘no brainer’ decision as my rigging has been around the world once already and I would never take it into the Southern Ocean for a second time.…
Wally founder Luca Bassani: The man at the cutting edge of yacht design
Try a game of word association with any superyacht industry professional and I’d be surprised if the word innovation didn’t bring the response Wally. Since 1994, Wally Yachts has –…
Mainsail handling: Advanced sailing techniques for catamarans and multihulls
A mainsail cannot know whether it is hoisted on a monohull, a catamaran or a trimaran. The principles of sail trim are universal. On all types of yacht the traveller,…
Spirit 111: This sailing art gallery is one of the most sensational yachts ever built
Powering upwind with green water rushing over the leeward rail, an enormous mahogany-clad wheel in hand and a view of the cleanest flush decks ahead, I couldn’t help but feel…
Celestial navigation: Why sailing by following the stars is enjoying a resurgence
Sailor and navigation expert Stokey Woodall, who has made a living teaching celestial navigation for several decades, has seen interest rise steadily over the past five years. “People want to…
Speed sailing record holder Paul Larsen explains how to get your boat up to pace
Not only is Paul Larsen clued in to what makes a boat go fast, he’s just as passionate about getting the best out of every crew. Boatspeed comes down to…
Ngoni: This stunning sailing superyacht is Ed Dubois’ last masterpiece
The owner’s brief for Ngoni would be challenging for any size of yacht: “Build me a beast. Don’t build me a sheep in wolf’s clothing. This has to be an…
Pogo Foiler: This little racing machine will take the Mini Transat to another level
Since the Pogo 1 was launched in 1997, the Pogo Structures yard in Brittany has won ten out of the last 12 Mini Transat 6.50 races (the single-handed transatlantic race…
Downwind developments: The latest offwind sails for faster tradewind crossings
These can transform cruising yachts, giving them sufficient power to sail in light airs when previously crews would have been likely to resort to the engine. However, as we can…
Family adventure: How we home-schooled our kids while sailing across the Pacific
Sailing the paradise of the Pacific Ocean with my own boat had been my dream since forever. The first big question was when would be the right time for the…
It takes a team to Tango: The inside story of the fourth Wallycento superyacht
This may be the fourth 100ft yacht designed to the Wallycento box rule, but it’s one that raises the bar with regard to combining form and functionality with outrageously cool…
Cruising New Caledonia: Spectacular sailing in the French corner of the Pacific
“OK, this time you’ll do it, right?” Wietze asks, full of hope that this time I’ll grab the mooring buoy without a hitch. I’m totally focussed on the white buoy…
From the archives: How the early years of the Fastnet Race shaped its legend
In 1931, a Yachting World correspondent who went by the name of Solent opined: “615 miles seemed to me too long for any yacht race by some 500-odd miles.” But…
Taking control: How modern autopilot systems can be your best helmsman
It’s hardly surprising. At speeds that are regularly in the high 20s with sustained bursts in excess of 30 knots, there is much to gain from getting it right and…
Vendée Globe 2020 preview: Next generation foilers will sail on the limit
The world of single-handed offshore racing is a uniquely rarefied one. It’s an oft-quoted statistic that more people have been into space than sailed around the planet non-stop, but solo…
Video: See inside 9 of the most amazing modern sailing superyachts
1. Aquarius The brief for Aquarius included that she should be, ‘an elegant, muscular sailing yacht with a classic profile for family enjoyment.’ But that barely scratches the surface of…
Pink Gin VI: The inside story of Baltic Yachts’ all-carbon super sloop
The Baltic 175 Pink Gin may have captured most of the headlines for her sheer size and cleverly engineered topside balconies, but below decks a collection of Cuban art and…
Inside a legendary Whitbread: Extract from Maiden by Tracy Edwards and Tim Madge
Tracy raises the funds, finds the boat of the same name and skippers the first all-female crew around the globe in the world’s greatest fully-crewed yacht race. The years 1989/90…
Hallberg-Rassy 50: New model continues the Swedish yard’s twin-rudder revolution
The Hallberg-Rassy 50 is the fifth new generation twin-rudder model from the Swedish yard. As with its immediate predecessors – the 340, 40C, 44 and 57 – the new boat…
5 tips: Vendee Globe veteran explains how to face the fear and do it anyway
Facing your fears is something that challenges every sailor, but none more so than those taking on single-handed offshore racing. Nick Moloney is a social animal and thrives on being…