Indholdsfortegnelse for October 2025 i Sailing Today

The seasoned polar explorer Franklin lost two vessels and 129 men, himself included, in the late 1840s, searching for the route that would take 3,000nm off the sea route to the Orient. Even though global warming and satellite broadband has changed the nature of the task, isn’t it a little arrogant of an amateur yachtsman to consider himself capable? My interest in the northwest passage (NWP) was sparked when in 2005 we sailed our Sigma 41 Nightlife out to Stromness in the Orkneys. We were dodging some heavy weather so took the opportunity to spend half a day in Stromness museum which has a collection devoted to Franklin’s ill-fated expedition and the history of the Hudson Bay Company. The Stromness museum took a particular interest simply because Franklin, knowing the…

Words are the stock in trade of any journalist and when you find yourself lost for them, then you know you have a problem. It does happen from time to time though and there was a period where the mainstream manufacturers were putting out boats that were bland to the point where it was sometimes difficult to distinguish one from the other. These boats weren’t bad they were just… forgettable. This is not an accusation I can level at the new generation of Dufours; yet I still find myself somewhat lost for words. This is because I’ve run out of superlatives to describe the ludicrous amounts of space these new boats have; vast, immerse, remarkably roomy cavernous – prairie like? The reason for this uptick in space is thanks to…

This all-rounder sailing show isn’t only for the serious racers of the yachting world. The Southampton International Boat Show caters to all, from dinghy club members, young enthusiasts, and classic boat lovers, to bluewater cruisers, and all-out adventurers – it’s the perfect place to peruse the market, get to know some exciting brands, and hear about the latest boat designs, gear and technological advancements in sailing. Plus, it is also the perfect family day out… relaxing ashore listening to live music, trying some good food, and getting stuck in. As a proud media partner, our team will be there, and it’ll be great to say hello to some of you! What to expect This International Boat Show really is an event for all sailors and watersports lovers alike. Similarly to…

“They are towed around in a line behind the coach boat, again like ducklings ” The sun is shining, there is a consistent breeze from the southeast, and I hear the distinct flapping sound of a boat tacking through the wind. Popping up on deck I suddenly realise that I am surrounded: 10 little boats are bobbing to all sides of us, each one performing the same manoeuvre whilst rocking about on the waves. We’re on a mooring buoy and all around me are Optimist sailing dinghies. Of course, I like to think that our children know how to sail. After all, their entire lives to date have been spent more on the water than not. However, witnessing our boat underway, taking part in certain tasks or operations, or being…

French flourish as record fleet marks milestone Fastnet Race 100 years ago, on 15 August 1925 a group of sailing enthusiasts led by a gentleman by the name of Weston Martyr raced seven boats around the Fastnet rock, and back to Plymouth. The French pilot cutter Jolie Brise took first place and the legendary Fastnet Race was underway. A century later, the 51st edition saw a record fleet of 444 boats head out of the Solent, all sailing in the wake of that pilot cutter which had shown everyone the way all those years back. The race was a showcase for the great leap in performance that has taken place during that time; while the Jolie Brise’s 1925 finishing time was 6 days, 14 hours, and 45 minutes, some 2025…

In addition to mooring bills a fraction of those levied by the honest marina operators of my native South Coast, keeping a boat in the Baltic Sea carries some unexpected benefits. The further in you sail, the fresher grows the water, so back in the days when eastern Sweden was really hot in the summer, everyone lived in bathing shorts and upended a bucket of sea over their heads while cruising between idyllic islands with temperatures in the low 30s. I’ll bet plenty of people did that in the English Channel in the recent boiling summer, but the trouble in home waters is that after three or four douches, the salt in your hair gets a bit much. Not in the outer islands of the Stockholm archipelago. The sea is…

Fourteen yacht clubs assembled two-boat teams to contest the ‘unofficial’ world cup of yachting, gathering Admiral’s Cup veterans reliving their dreams through to youth crews realising theirs in competing alongside their heroes. Among them, two British teams, representing RORC Red and RORC White, plus hotly tipped teams from the Royal Hong Kong YC, the Yacht Club de Monaco, and the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia – the current holders – as well as Kiwi, US and several European clubs represented. Many had spent months training in the Solent, preparing their cutting edge raceboats, the sense of anticipation of a truly special event building. Day one dawned with steely sky and fickle winds mirroring the tension as light winds prolonged an agonising wait that had already lasted more than two decades.…

Race charter in the Caribbean is not only all about sailing in turquoise waters with consistent trade winds and dramatic island backdrops but it’s also about being part of a lively, local tradition. You’ll find that many Caribbean islands that run regattas are major social and cultural events, blending sport, music, food, and island spirit. This cocktail of hard core, adrenaline-driven racing, and legendary rum punch-fuelled après-race parties are what Caribbean regattas are all about because above all they foster unforgettable memories and friendships that will probably last a lifetime. The main Caribbean race season runs from January to late April, which not only avoids the hurricane season, but also gives overseas visitors plenty of time to make their trip south worthwhile, with many, particularly pro teams, using the Caribbean…

Many of the Sail Ionian charter yachts, especially the larger ones, are equipped with in-mast furling mainsails. For some guests, these systems are unfamiliar, or they may have experienced difficulties with them in the past. In-mast furlers have a reputation for jamming, which is usually caused either by incorrect operation or lack of proper maintenance. However, once you learn the correct way to use them, you’ll be able to avoid being the cause of any problems! The advantages are really in ease of use. It’s much quicker and far less work to pull out a sail than it is to raise one, particularly on larger yachts over 40ft. As the yachts get bigger, the weight of the sail increases... and who wants to do that in 35 degrees! Granted, sail…

Cruising yachts HANSE 360ST Readers will be aware that the Hanse 360 has been out for over a year now and this entry level Hanse has received many plaudits during that time for its blend of cruising versatility and ease of handling. The 360ST is on offshoot of that model with the ST apparently standing for ‘Sport, Talent’. As such, this means that the team at Hanse has worked hard to boost the performance of the original Berret/Racoupeau design by adding a deeper T-keel, bigger sail area, a reshaped rudder, and beefed up rigging. The running rigging has also been tweaked to allow for a mainsheet traveller, while deck hardware has also been upgraded with new winches. • Inspirationmarine.co.uk JEANNEAU SUN ODYSSEY 415 French manufacturer Jeanneau has set about revamping…

“The America’s Cup is now a seated video game” The America’s Cup has just gone through possibly the most revolutionary change in its 174-year history. After almost 10 months of wrangling and fierce arguments behind closed doors since the conclusion of the last Cup in Barcelona, Team New Zealand’s Grant Dalton and Great Britain’s Sir Ben Ainslie say they have managed to put aside their differences and are now united in forging a new direction for the event. Together the Defender and Challenger of Record have announced a new protocol which they hope will shape the future of the America’s Cup for many years to come. I was part of a Zoom conference call where Ainslie and Dalton laid out their new shared direction. Dalton explained the rationale to me…

A camping dinghy may not offer the comforts of a modern cabin yacht, but no yacht is comfortable on a hard beat, no matter how many berths she may accommodate in her cabin. And there are serious disadvantages to yacht ownership. Yachts are restricted as to where they can stop for the night by their deep draught and their unhandiness compared to a smaller vessel, which is why many of them sail only from marina berth to marina berth. A dinghy, by contrast, can slip easily into the shallows, to find a secluded berth in a remote backwater of the coastal wilderness. Once it has been experienced, the purity and simplicity of sleeping in a dinghy under canvas becomes very seductive. Owning a cruising dinghy should not be seen as…

What’s your role at Sevenstar? I’m responsible for Racing Yacht Logistics at Sevenstar, which means I’m involved whenever we’re transporting racing yachts. My work starts right at the beginning of the process, finding tailored solutions that match the client’s needs in terms of sailing schedules and loading ports. Most regattas take place in specific regions during certain times of the year, so we must offer reliable options to pick up and deliver these high-value yachts on time. I coordinate closely with our line managers to make sure everything is dialled in perfectly. Beyond that, I handle numerous direct requests from clients to ensure the transport runs smoothly from start to finish. I look for the best solution based on their preferred dates, and I also take care of the additional…

N58°57.4’ W03°17.5’ GULL’S EYE If you are looking to cruise the northern Scottish Isles, or further afield to places like Scandinavia, Orkney is a good option as a first port of call from the mainland. It takes just a day’s sail to reach the Orkney archipelago and there are plenty of interesting harbours to visit among the 70 islands. The Orkneys, comprising The North Isles (and north/west mainland) and the South Isles (and south/east mainland), also offers some of the finest sailing grounds in Northern Europe, which makes it an ideal place in which to consider basing your yacht there for a season. One of the most convenient marinas, particularly if you are coming from the west coast of Scotland, is Stromness. This is one of three marinas (Kirkwall, Stromness…

RUSTLER 36 | ASTRAEA The Rustler 36 needs no introduction. This go-anywhere Holman & Pye globetrotter is a proven ocean crossing machine but also offers a superb proposition for safe coastal cruising. Astraea is exceptionally well-maintained and in stunning condition, with beautiful varnish work on deck, and has an immaculate interior. She is well equipped with an upgraded Nanni 37.5hp engine, bow thruster, quality electronics, an excellent suite of sails including asymmetric spinnaker, blade sail and storm jib. This is a Rustler 36 which has benefited from meticulous professional care, long-term undercover storage, and regular upgrades. Ideal for serious cruising and coastal passage-making with character and strength built in. Year: 2009 LOA: 10.77m (35.4ft) Beam: 3.35m (11.11ft) Draft: 1.68m (5.6ft) Displacement: 7,623kg Hull Construction: Glassfibre Keel: Long Engine: Nanni 37.5hp…