Please select your home edition
Edition
Crewsaver 2021 Safetyline LEADERBOARD

Remembering the early days of sailing races on TV

by Magnus Smith 17 Mar 2024 13:30 GMT
1999 Hoya Vision Care Ultra 30 Grand Prix round 1 in Sunderland - Kevin Sproul steers Star Alliance © Peter Bentley

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?

Right now, the SailGP spectacle prepares for Otautahi, Christchurch in one week (23-24 March 2024), but can you recall its TV predecessors...

Early 1990s

The year 1994? I feel young again, just from mentioning it! Back then we had Ultra 30s with a crew of eight crammed in - these videos show them hiking, but the boats did switch to trapezes eventually.

More action here, this time from 1995...

Late 1990s

We now enjoy high quality on-water coverage, and shoreside interviews, from the Audi Laser 5000 Eurocup 1996 on Lake Garda. Andy Rice of Sailjuice looks very young here!

Mid 2000s

Extreme 40 (lowriding) catamaran racing ran from 2005 till 2016.

We turn the clock back to 2010 with the opening day of the UK round of the Extreme Sailing Series at Cowes Week. There were nine crews taking part in five short course races in front of the crowds at Egypt Point.

Let's enjoy some carnage now, to finish our nostalgia run...

The 2010s

The World Match Racing Tour brought keelboats and a whole new discipline to our screens. Here's some coverage from 2014.

What did we miss?

If you can find other great reminders of sailing on TV, let's share them with the world. You can submit video links to us for immediate review.

Today, and the future

SailGP was launched in 2018 with the F50 foiling catamarans, and shows no sign of stopping in 2024. Which of us can possibly predict what is next for televised sailing racing in ten years time?!

Jimmy Spithill, driver of USA SailGP Team, gives a thumbs up after the USA SailGP Team capsize during a practice session ahead of the France Sail Grand Prix in Saint-Tropez, France - photo © Ricardo Pinto for SailGP
Jimmy Spithill, driver of USA SailGP Team, gives a thumbs up after the USA SailGP Team capsize during a practice session ahead of the France Sail Grand Prix in Saint-Tropez, France - photo © Ricardo Pinto for SailGP

Related Articles

Foiling Frenzy at Fraglia Vela Malcesine
The Moth Worlds at Lake Garda are something else! The Moth Worlds at Lake Garda are something else! Regardless of where sailors are in their careers, or the reputation they have, everyone wants to be there and have a tilt at the title. Posted on 7 Jul The oldest video footage of Moth sailing
A look back into our video archive, to when the name of this class first settled down We delve into our video archive to find the oldest possible videos that show Moth racing. Are these International Moths, British Moths... or was the name still Olive, Inverloch 11ft, National Moth or Brent One-Design?! Posted on 6 Jul The power of tech
What is the cost of safety? How do you measure it? More importantly, how do you appreciate it? What is the cost of safety? How do you measure it? More importantly, how do you appreciate it? Posted on 2 Jul An evening with the Scaramouche Sailing Trust
Sailing hasn't always been a sport for inner-city state schools like the Greig City Academy Sailing hasn't always been a sport for inner-city state schools like the Greig City Academy (GCA). But they've shown it can be accessible to everyone, with amazing results. Posted on 2 Jul Jazz Turner completes Project FEAR
Drama right to the end in her non-stop, solo, unassisted navigation of the British Isles Jazz Turner has completed Project FEAR, her non-stop, solo, unassisted navigation of the British Isles in her Albin 27 yacht. A flotilla of supporters met her in Seaford Bay, which grew and grew the closer they came to Brighton Marina. Posted on 1 Jul Project FEAR is in the final few days
Charity circumnavigation almost over, in record time, with a record total raised Jazz Turner is expected to reach home (Brighton Marina) on Monday 30th June or Tuesday 1st July. She has sailed round the British Isles - all round Ireland and the Shetland Islands - without any assistance in 27 days so far. Posted on 28 Jun Funding for clubs transforms sailing opportunities
During the latest RYA Participation Webinar we heard from UK clubs about their experiences During the latest RYA Participation Webinar we heard from a range of UK clubs, walking through their case studies, and then heard from experts in finance who talked us through the opportunities and pitfalls of acquiring funds. Posted on 26 Jun A brief history of marine instrument networks
Hugh Agnew has been involved since the outset, and continues to develop at the cutting edge One man who has been involved since the outset, and continues to develop at the cutting edge, is Hugh Agnew, the Cambridge-educated mathematician who is one of the founders of A+T Instruments in Lymington, so I spoke to him to find out more... Posted on 25 Jun Project FEAR turns southwards
Charity circumnavigation progress report from the Shetland Islands Last month I didn't even know that Muckle Flugga existed. Yet today, the very name of the island brought tears of emotion to my eyes, as I heard Jazz Turner scream it out in victory, in a video she took when passing the lighthouse. Posted on 22 Jun The Big Bash
Every summer the tournament rolls into town. A short format of the game. Fun and excitement abound. Every summer the tournament rolls into town. Local and international players. A short format of the game, run over a relatively compact six-week season. Posted on 15 Jun
Copyright 2025 YY Online Services Ltd. registered in England no. 7895890
Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy