When it comes to displacement, racing yachts today cover the widest spectrum – from fully flying AC75s to the heavyweight J Class. In between lie light displacement and planing boats,…
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5 top tips: How to gybe in strong winds
Gybing any boat in strong wind can be loaded with jeopardy but it’s particularly risky on a powerful boat like a VO70. The boat that was originally constructed for US…
First look: Aeolos P45 – ultrafast carbon cruiser-racer
Following the ultra lightweight Aeolos P30 short-handed offshore race boat that weighs only 1,550kg, this Dubai-based brand led by German engineer and sailor Hans Genthe has developed a 45ft performance…
Second hand boats: Buying a yacht to upgrade
Among brokerage listings it’s rare to see a yacht openly advertised as ‘work needed’. After an initial conversation, the potential buyer can be easily put off by not knowing how…
Rolex Fastnet Race winner declared as Caro takes victory overall
Max Klink’s Botin 52, Caro, has officially been declared the winner of the Rolex Fastnet Race 2023, with the announcement coming early afternoon on Wednesday 26th July. “This is a…
Great seamanship: The Voyage of the Aegre
Back in July 1973, Nicholas Grainger and his wife, Julie, sailed from north-west Scotland bound for the oceans of the world. Their boat was a 21ft clinker-built traditional Shetland Islander,…
Caro 1st in IRC Zero in Rolex Fastnet Race – can they hold on for the overall win?
Max Klink’s Botin 52, Caro, crossed the Rolex Fastnet Race finish line at 06:25:02 on Tuesday 25th July to earn the class win IRC Zero – while their corrected time…
IMOCAs win race to Cherbourg with Macif first monohull in Rolex Fastnet Race
In the battle of the big boats it was the brand new IMOCA Macif, skippered by Charlie Dalin with Pascal Bidégorry which was first monohull home to take line honours in…
Australia to the Seychelles on a classic Swan
It was time to go. Sailing up the east coast of Australia at the end of a cyclone season can be challenging and dangerous for even the most experienced sailors.…
Line honours and new Rolex Fastnet Race course record for Ultime SVR-Lazartigue
Francois Gabart’s Ultime SVR-Lazartigue has claimed Rolex Fastnet Race line honours and set a new course record of 1d 8h 38m 27s over the 695-mile offshore. With two foiling Ultimes…
Incident-packed first day for Rolex Fastnet Race fleet with rescues, retirements and one yacht sunk
After yesterday’s strong wind start for the Rolex Fastnet Fleet, the number of boats that have retired from racing has continued to multiply. At 0700 this morning over 80 of…
50th Rolex Fastnet Race starts: but early retirements pour in with furious conditions forecast
The 50th Rolex Fastnet Race got underway today, Saturday 22 July, with the largest offshore racing fleet ever setting off from Cowes in rain and 20-25 knot headwinds . With…
‘Gnarly’ but potentially record-breaking forecast for 2023 Rolex Fastnet Race
Strong headwinds are forecast for the start of the 50th Rolex Fastnet Race, which sets off tomorrow from Cowes, Isle of Wight to Cherbourg, France, via the iconic course around…
What does it take to sail two-handed around the world?
Long-distance offshore racing nurtures extraordinary levels of self reliance and mutual support. The inaugural Globe 40 race, an ambitious and testing circumnavigation for double-handed Class 40 teams via the three…
Rolex Fastnet Race 2023 stacked IMOCA fleet set to entertain
The famous Rolex Fastnet Race always provides an intriguing line up of amateur and professional teams all looking for race glory as they battle the 629nm course from Cowes, round…
Italia Yachts 12.98 review: premium cruiser-racer
Few new boatbuilders notch up a succession of race wins, including three ORC World Championship victories, as quickly as Italia Yachts has managed. What makes this even more impressive is…
Who will win the 2023 Rolex Fastnet Race?
This Saturday’s 2023 Rolex Fastnet Race will be the biggest offshore race of all time, with a record-breaking entry list of over 490 yachts for its 50th anniversary edition (the…
First look: Swallow Yachts BayCruiser 32
Look beyond the traditional styling of the Swallow Yachts BayCruiser 32 and you’ll find a thoroughly up-to-date trailer-sailer concept with carbon rig, water ballast and deep draught (2.7m) lifting keel.…
Two giant foiling trimarans set for a Fastnet Race battle
As with most big races around the world, bragging rights in the Rolex Fastnet Race race are split into two broad camps, the line honours winners (the first boat to…
How to win the Rolex Fastnet Race: expert navigator’s tips
The 2021 edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race came with an interesting change. The finish line, having always previously been in Plymouth, is now in Cherbourg. Not only does this…