From Hvar to Paris 2024
by Mark Jardine
The Olympic Games are unique The Olympic Games are unique. Coming once every four years, it can be a once in a lifetime sporting opportunity. For the small Croatian island of Hvar, Paris 2024 is a first, as the island's first-ever Olympian will be competing, and he's a sailor.
Posted on 23 Jul Never again! (Except for next time…)
by John Curnow, Sail-World.com AUS Editor
What's it like to take a Cruiser/Racer racing? And not just any old race What's it like to take a Cruiser/Racer racing? Not just any racing, mind you, but two of the world's most famous courses. The Transpac and the Hobart. This was the premise presented to Charles Ettienne-Devanneaux ahead of our most recent chat.
Posted on 17 Jul Whisper it quietly..
by Mark Jardine
Don't say it too loudly, but the Youth Sailing Worlds are taking place next week Don't say it too loudly, but the Youth Sailing World Championships are taking place at Lake Garda in under a week's time.
Posted on 9 Jul It's upon us
by John Curnow, Sail-World.com AUS Editor
Paris 2024 happens this month. Little wonder it seems like it has come back around quickly Paris 2024 happens this month. Little wonder it seems like it has come back around quickly, when this current quadrennial actually started in 2021. Still. Is what it is… 12 sailors comprise the Australian Olympic Sailing Team.
Posted on 2 Jul Make mine a Magnum
by Dougal Henshall
50 year old International Moth design gets a 21st century make-over In almost every respect, 'Magnum' was a 1970s classic, but 50 years on the Magnum Moth is about to get a 21st century make-over. Sailors wanting to join the growing Lowrider Moth fleet just have to ask themselves, "Do you feel lucky?"
Posted on 27 Jun Performance vs. Participation
by Mark Jardine
Or Correlation vs. Causation? I've heard many a time that one of the reasons for a fall in participation in sailing is the increased performance of boats. Effectively, the skill level and athleticism required in high performance boats excludes a range of people from participating.
Posted on 25 Jun The latest kit for summer boating, rain or shine
by Sarah Heron
Our pick of the latest kit Summer's finally here and the season is in full swing. Here's our pick of the latest kit for racing, cruising and enjoying the water, rain or shine.
Posted on 19 Jun It's just a stick
by John Curnow, Sail-World.com AUS Editor
It was just like watching an enthusiastic kid It was just like watching an enthusiastic kid. Alinghi's Silvio Arrivabene was totally in the 'nothing to see here' mode, and moreover, was keener to get into the ‘maybe exceeding them' remarks about their targets. Did someone say, ‘Spinal Tap'?
Posted on 17 Jun Corinthian Spirit
by Mark Jardine
The inaugural Corinthian J70 Worlds had a superb entry of 109 boats Sailing has gone through phases of being professional and Corinthian. Originally a pastime for the rich, then becoming a sport for everyone during the boom in the 1960s and 1970s.
Posted on 11 Jun Para, Inclusive and Open RS Venture Connect
by Mark Jardine
We find out more ahead of the upcoming World Championship at Rutland, UK We speak to Dan Jaspers, who is responsible for International Sales and Business Development at the RS Marine Group, about the RS Venture Connect.
Posted on 6 Jun Going to publish the 'F' word
by John Curnow, Sail-World.com AUS Editor
There was a distinct, if decidedly unfair, hint of the Darwin Awards when I first saw this There was a distinct, if decidedly unfair, hint of the Darwin Awards when I first saw this item come in. Most specifically, it related to the one where the guy had strapped a JATO rocket to his car.
Posted on 3 Jun Complex, Controlled Coordination
by Mark Jardine
Get it right and you'll have far more enjoyment when out on the water The International Paint Poole Regatta over the late May Bank Holiday long weekend in the UK was a superb yacht racing event.
Posted on 29 May The most famous boat in the world
by John Curnow, Sail-World.com AUS Editor
Goes by a lot of nicknames, but you'd think Comanche fits the bill wherever she goes Goes by a lot of nicknames, but you'd have to think Comanche fits the bill wherever she goes. Right oh. Well, for just another eight months or so, she's not going anywhere. The most famous boat in the world has another, albeit short, charter with one aim.
Posted on 20 May This isn't what I expected
by Mark Jardine
I'm very surprised just how different the new AC75s are A month ago, when I wrote 'AC75 launching season', just three of the AC75s set to contest the 37th America's Cup in Barcelona had been revealed. Now it's five, with just the French Orient Express Racing Team left to show their hand.
Posted on 13 May 100 Years of Jack Chippendale
by Dougal Henshall
One of the greats behind the golden era of the UK's domestic dinghy scene Regular readers will hopefully have enjoyed the recent 'Fine Lines' series of photos, times to coincide with the centenary of one of the greats behind the golden era of the UK's domestic dinghy scene, Jack Chippendale.
Posted on 13 May Pre-eminence
by John Curnow, Sail-World.com AUS Editor
Not too hard to work out that I am unabashedly Australian Not too hard to work out that I am unabashedly Australian. Hope everyone is as proud of their country, as I am. Most folk I know seem to be.
Posted on 6 May 'Fine Lines' Top Ten part 10
by Dougal Henshall
With a full history of master boatbuilder Jack Chippendale This, the tenth and final Fine Lines in this series ends up with a real example of what the thinking is all about, that near perfect fusion of style and function. Plus a more detailed look at Jack's life and his boats.
Posted on 1 May Good old Gilmac
by Graham Sharp
1961 Chippendale Flying Fifteen restored For my 60th birthday my wife decided to buy me a Flying Fifteen which she had seen advertised on the internet. 'Gilmac' was built in Jack Chippendale's yard and coincidentally came into the world the same year as me, in 1961.
Posted on 1 May Grabbing chances with both hands
by Mark Jardine
Can bad weather actually lead to more sailing? There's been no getting away from the fact that it's been a pretty miserable start to 2024 weather-wise in the UK. February saw record rainfall (yes, I know we're famed for our rain over here), it's been seriously windy and generally chilly.
Posted on 30 Apr worldmarine.media news update
by Mark Jardine
Transat CIC, Congressional Cup, Last Chance Regatta News from The Transat CIC from Lorient to New York, the 59th Congressional Cup where Chris Poole and Ian Williams contested the final and the Last Chance Regatta, where the final qualifiers for Paris 2024 were decided.
Posted on 30 Apr worldmarine.media news PILOT SHOW
by Mark Jardine
Featuring Mozzy Sails, Weir Wood Sailing Club, Crewsaver and UpWind by MerConcept Happy to launch the worldmarine.media news pilot show! Many thanks to contributors MozzySails, Weir Wood Sailing Club, Crewsaver and UpWind by MerConcept, sponsored by 11th Hour Racing.
Posted on 28 Apr No result without resolve
by John Curnow, Sail-World.com AUS Editor
Normally, when you think of the triple it might be Line Honours, Corrected Time, and Race Record Normally, when you think of the triple it might be Line Honours, Corrected Time, and Race Record. So then, how about sail it, sponsor it, and truly support it? his was the notion that arrived as I pondered the recently completed Sail Port Stephens.
Posted on 21 Apr The oldest video footage of Fireball dinghies
by Magnus Smith
A look back into our video archive We delve into the past, and round-up all videos which show sailing in the Fireball class of dinghy.
Posted on 21 Apr The price of heritage
by Dougal Henshall
A tale of a city, three towns but one theme, from dinghy historian Dougal Henshall The meeting in question took place down at the National Maritime Museum at Falmouth and saw the 1968 Flying Dutchman Gold Medal winning trio of Rodney Pattisson, Iain MacDonald-Smith and their boat Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious brought back together.
Posted on 19 Apr AC75 launching season
by Mark Jardine
Love 'em or hate 'em, the current America's Cup yachts represent the cutting-edge of foiling Love 'em or hate 'em, the current America's Cup yachts certainly represent the cutting-edge of foiling and are the fastest windward-leeward sailing machines on water.
Posted on 15 Apr All Hands on Deck at sailing clubs
by RNLI / GJW Direct
To fundraise for the RNLI in 200th anniversary year The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is marking 200 years of saving lives at sea in 2024, and the charity is inviting sailing clubs to celebrate with them.
Posted on 9 Apr America's Cup and SailGP merge designs
by Mark Jardine & Bene Donovan
Cost-saving measure will ensure that teams only have to purchase one type of boat In negotiations reminiscent of the PGA and LIV golf, an agreement has been come to by the America's Cup and SailGP to merge the design of the yachts used on the two high-profile circuits.
Posted on 1 Apr Thirteen from Fourteen
by John Curnow, Editor, Sail World AUS
Not races in a sprint series - we're talking years! Not races in a sprint series. We're talking years! Yes. That's over a decade. Bruce McCracken's Beneteau First 45, Ikon, has just won Division One of the Range Series on Melbourne's Port Phillip to amass this most brilliant of achievements.
Posted on 27 Mar Sailing Chandlery's Founder Andrew Dowley
by Mark Jardine
Interview with Andrew as the business has gone from strength to strength The business has gone from strength to strength, but never moved away from its ethos of getting sailing gear to the customer as fast as possible.
Posted on 27 Mar Shaking off the rust
by Mark Jardine
Sunday was what I'd count as the start of my 'sailing season' While I had sailed a couple of times already this year, Sunday was what I'd count as the start of my 'sailing season'. It's been a pretty grim February in the UK so the days getting longer and a bit drier is welcome.
Posted on 18 Mar Remembering the early days of sailing races on TV
by Magnus Smith
Finding old episodes on Youtube, starting with the Ultra 30s Do you remember when certain classes managed to make the breakthrough into television coverage, and have a whole series filmed, not just appear briefly on a single show?
Posted on 17 Mar Winning at last!
by Dougal Henshall
How did the Firefly class come to be at the 1948 Olympics in the first place? We'll get into detail on Firefly 503, Jacaranda, later on but maybe an even bigger story is how the Firefly Class came to be at the Olympics in the first place. To put things into perspective we first have to go back even further to the early 1930s.
Posted on 15 Mar The Maiden. A Triple. Four Bullets
by John Curnow, Editor, Sail World AUS
I kind of like our Managing Editor's name for 18-footers: The Kings of the Lowriding World The JJ Giltinan Championship is often referred to as the unofficial World Championship of the mighty and majestic 18-Footers. I kind of like our Managing Editor's name for them – The Kings of the Lowriding World. Yes. That most definitely suits.
Posted on 11 Mar Taking a look at the Nacra 570
by Mark Jardine
We chat with Rogier Voetelink the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show The Nacra 570 is designed to bridge the gap between a holiday beach cat and a high performance catamaran, making exhilarating multihull sailing more accessible for those who don't want the hassle of a daggerboard cat.
Posted on 6 Mar A show like no other
by Mark Jardine
I've written a lot about the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show in the past and will in the future I've written a lot about the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show in the past and am sure I will write more on it in the future. Last year I wrote 'It may not be the biggest...'. The reason I keep coming back to it is that it's truly a show like no other.
Posted on 4 Mar Book review: Uffa
by Magnus Smith
Yachting's eccentric genius I wasn't expecting to be particularly interested in a biography just because it covered the designer of famous dinghies. But one of the delights of reviewing books is the unexpected gem that grips you. This is one such book!
Posted on 3 Mar The slightly unusual at the RYA Dinghy Show 2024
by Magnus Smith
Y&Y's roving photographer enjoys a chuckle Back in Farnborough again, the Dinghy Show presented the usual huge range of sailing craft. It's always great seeing the latest hulls, new rope systems, crinkliest sails, and innovative products. But I always have an eye for the slightly unusual...
Posted on 1 Mar Taking a closer look at the Switch
by Mark Jardine
We spoke to Simon Hiscocks to find out more about the one design foiler There are many dinghies throughout the years which have taken their inspiration from the International Moth and become one design. The Europe and the British Moth are two, and now there's the Switch.
Posted on 28 Feb Back with a vengeance
by John Curnow, Editor, Sail World AUS
Categorically been on the Mixed two-handed offshore bandwagon from the beginning Categorically been on this bandwagon from the beginning. Flag bearing, card-carrying, full-blown trumpeter. Mixed two-handed offshore. You might argue it had a wee false start, but it just was a bridge too far at the time
Posted on 26 Feb We chat with Tom Morris on the Allen stand
by Mark Jardine
At the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show Tom Morris of the Youtube channel Mozzy Sails talks to us at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show 2024 about developing fittings with Allen for his RS800, his favourite block, the America's Cup and more!
Posted on 26 Feb Celebrating 25 years of Rooster!
by Mark Jardine
We speak with founder Steve Cockerill at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show Mark Jardine speaks with Steve Cockerill, founder of Rooster, on the 25th Anniversary of the innovative sailing clothing and chandlery company.
Posted on 25 Feb 1948 Olympic Firefly wins Concours d'Elegance
by Mark Jardine
At the RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show For the judging of the Concours d'Elegance, Mark Jardine, Editor of YachtsandYachting.com, was joined this year by the British Sailing Team 49er crew Fynn Sterritt, who has been selected for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Posted on 24 Feb Oldest video footage of 18ft Skiffs
by Magnus Smith
A look back into our video archive, from 1939 to 1987 With the JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championships starting next week, it's a great time to look back into our video archive, from 1939 to 1987, to see some of the oldest footage of skiff sailing in Australia. There are some gems!
Posted on 23 Feb It's a wrap!
by Mark Jardine
In sailing we have a lot of plain white hulls In sailing we have a lot of plain white hulls. Let's face it, when everything looks the same, it does make things a bit dull. The end of February is a dreary time, so it's time to talk about boats which brighten things up.
Posted on 19 Feb You try doing it one-handed!
by Magnus Smith
Lynn Steward has carried on dinghy racing, despite physical challenges Lynn Steward races the only Challenger trimaran at Wigan St Helen's SC, and frequently jokes with the able-bodied competitors in the PY fleet crossing the finish line ahead of her: "You try doing it one-handed!"
Posted on 18 Feb Small Packages
by John Curnow, Editor, Sail World AUS
You know? It is all about really good things You know? It is all about really good things. In sailing, two of the best attributes have always been fun and participation. Some would argue that these may have slipped off of late, but perhaps, it is more about finding a suitable offering.
Posted on 13 Feb Ben McGrane's Tips for Winter Handicap Racing
by Mark Jardine
Keep going in the winter for some of the best racing of the year! Ben McGrane is a serial competitor at winter handicap events. They offer hardy UK sailors the opportunity to continue to compete through the winter months, and with the introduction of the Sailjuice series, the events have continued to thrive.
Posted on 13 Feb A+T 500 series Wind Sensors
by Mark Jardine
For the highest accuracy and faster response A+T Instruments may be a name that needs introducing to you in the world of performance marine instrumentation. They are a group of highly qualified engineers who are taking a no-compromise approach to constructing the best sensors and instruments.
Posted on 9 Feb In Rarefied Company
by Mark Jardine
Winning the ILCA 7 Worlds is one of the pinnacle achievements in sailing Winning the ILCA 7 Worlds is one of the pinnacle achievements in sailing. Winning it more than once puts you in rarefied company.
Posted on 6 Feb Book review: Knowledge 2.0
by Magnus Smith
Staying Afloat in the Information Age - by Mark Chisnell This non-fiction book takes a handful of sailing stories and experiences, and draws out from them what it means to know something in this era of modelling, uncertainty, 'alternative' facts and fake news. It leans on science, psychology and narrative.
Posted on 6 Feb