Innehållsförteckning för May 2025 från Sailing Today

An easterly is due in the next few days, announces a cruiser as we stand around a blazing beach bonfire. The sand under my feet is soft, and still warm from the day. The smell of melting marshmallow hangs in the air beside the fire that crackles. Tendrils of white smoke rise, making our human presence known, but we are far from everything here in the coral atoll of Mauipha’a, our last stop in French Polynesia after 14 months cruising this country. Tonight, 10 boats are anchored in the inky blue lagoon, waiting for a weather window to take us west. Some to the Cook Islands, Niue or Samoa. The sky looks infinite and the stars seem to fizz. Plans, routes and destinations are discussed. I wonder if we’re all…

As I strolled through the throng at the Gosport boat jumble in search of that ever-elusive bargain, I met up with my pal Ella Hibbert. Ella plans to circumnavigate the Arctic (northwest and northeast passages) later this year on her own. She has a proper boat and is as comprehensively prepared as she can be. We wish her well. Her effort has set me thinking about some of her forerunners in the far north. Nansen, one of the greatest Arctic explorers was seeking the North Pole in the last years of the nineteenth century when things went to the bad. The journey involved an epic drift on the polar pack when he and one comrade over-wintered in a shelter they built of snow and ice. Living on bear and walrus…

There’s no doubt the RORC Caribbean 600 has hotted up to become one of the premier offshore races; this year’s edition brought 66 entries - over 600 sailors representing 32 nationalities – to the startline off English Harbour, Antigua. Run by RORC in association with Antigua YC, the 600nm course twists and turns around 11 of the stunning Leeward Islands – St Maarten the northernmost turning mark, and Guadeloupe the southernmost – making it the longest race in the region. For crews, the RORC Caribbean 600 is known as one of offshore racing’s most strategically challenging courses, a reputation that repeatedly attracts some of the world’s top owners, skippers and crews. It also forms part of RORC Seasons Points Championship. And for 2025 – in case any additional incentive was…

As a charter skipper it’s rare that I have the freedom to plan an itinerary, but when I do, I’m drawn to the smaller islands of the Ionian Sea. My charters often take me to picturesque Ithaca, Meganisi, Kastos, and Kalamos, where you can relax in an empty bay with just the sound of the cicadas for company. Each of these islands has its own unique charm, but Ithaca holds a special place in my heart. This legendary island, steeped in the timeless Mycenaean myths of classical heroes, keeps me returning to explore its stunning coastline and rugged interior. There is something magical about Ithaca’s secret bays and lush landscapes, and the hot summer breeze seems to whisper tales of Odysseus’s epic journey. Every itinerary obviously needs adapting to the…

“As every parent knows, whenever they did want to help it would make things take longer” A lot of parents talk about teamwork with their kids. “Teamwork makes the dream work” and other stock phrases are meant to make certain tasks easier such as tidying their bedrooms, or helping to set the table, or anything else vaguely masking chores as something a little more fun. But when you live on a sailing boat you are a team by default. You are a family of crewmates. The boat simply doesn’t function unless you all have roles and pitch in. These roles are constantly in flux and, unlike their landlubber counterparts, they don’t necessarily have to come in the form of dressing up unpleasant tasks. On any given day, for any kind…

Big Sir Jim foiled as Ainslie wins battle for America’s Cup The Royal Yacht Squadron has stepped in to clear up any uncertainty over who was actually going to challenge for the 38th America’s Cup following the spectacular bust up between star skipper Sir Ben Ainslie and financial backer, Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Ainslie and Ratcliffe worked hand in glove as INEOS Britannia fell agonisingly short in their campaign to win the 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona last year. The team put together the strongest performance by a British team since the 1960s. Following on from that, a challenge was immediately laid down by the Royal Yacht Squadron to the victorious Team New Zealand, making them the Challenger of Record for the 38th edition. At the time it was presumed that…

“We still don’t know much of what the 38th Cup will look like!” An insider at one of the SailGP teams told me that the team owners bought the franchise for a particular country at a cost of $15m two years ago. Today, even if they wanted to sell, they wouldn’t let that franchise go for less than $85m. Quite a departure from the old cliché that going yacht racing is like tearing up hundred pound notes, one after the other. At the end of February I was asked if I would like to write about SailGP for The Athletic, which is the sporting arm of the New York Times. Since then I’ve been feverishly getting up to speed on things SailGP related, including queueing up for two hours outside…

Those who have sold a boat will know the sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach as you say goodbye to her for the last time. It’s a bittersweet moment as you wave someone else off the dock. After all, this boat has looked after you well, been responsible for many memorable moments, and has played a significant part in your life. My husband, Fergus, and I spent eight years having the most amazing adventures, as we sailed halfway around the world on our Lagoon 440 catamaran Two Drifters. Having reached Australia in 2022, and with Covid still playing havoc with travel, we decided it was time to pause our circumnavigation, sell the boat and return to the UK. While we decided to take a break from boat owning,…

NORTH BASSENTHWAITE WEEK 2-10 August, Bassenthwaite SC, Bassenthwaite Lake, Cumbria OVERVIEW: Bass Week is one of the most popular open events in the north of England, offering nine days of racing with a holiday vibe in the beautiful Lake District. Family environment with camping available on site and a full social programme for all ages. Mix of fleet and handicap racing, including series prizes and one-off races. WEBSITE: bassweek.org.uk FILEY REGATTA 17-18 May, Filey SC, Arndale Country Carpark, Filey Bay, North Yorkshire OVERVIEW: Open regatta in Filey Bay with up to 90 boats and two courses: a windward/leeward and a P course. Fleet starts for any class over six boats and a slow and fast handicap. Four races on Saturday and three on Sunday with one discard. Food available on…

On 23 February, under a hot Caribbean sun, 14 tiny yachts bobbed their way out daintily through the harbour in front of Antigua’s National Sailing Academy, slipping past superyachts and cutting edge race boats. Cute by contrast, the fleet of robustly designed, largely self-built Globe 580s was destined for a far tougher challenge than their petite 5.8m LOA might suggest: the startline of the inaugural Mini Globe Race – a solo westabout circumnavigation following the trade winds. The race features stopovers first in Panama, then (after over-landing to the Pacific) Fiji, Cape Town (via a pitstop in Darwin, in northern Australia) and finally, Recife, Brazil, before finishing in Antigua in spring 2026, the first round-the-world race to do so. There are also plentiful pitstops mandated in largely tropical destinations, the…

As the icicles start to melt and the snow drops emerge, thoughts inevitably turn back to sailing in the balmier months ahead. In anticipation, manufacturers of sailing clothing are beginning to gear up in the northern hemisphere, announcing a raft of new wonder garments. It has been a bit quieter this year than in previous years, perhaps because brands like Musto and Henri Lloyd only recently redesigned their leading offshore ranges. It means that this year’s round up is more focused on the medium performance cruising lines, or sportier smallboat racing. Big boat kit Having said that, Helly Hansen has just won a design award for its second incarnation of the Aegir Ocean Jacket 2.0 (£725) and Bib (£625). Aegir 2.0 is aimed at the most demanding offshore sailors and…

Part of Croatia’s charm and attraction is the fact there are oodles of beautiful places to visit by yacht, including unspoilt islands and National Parks, and a wealthy mix of secluded anchorages and modern marinas to choose from. With over 3,000 miles of stunning coastline to explore, Croatia is one of the most favoured charter holiday destinations. Its uncrowded anchorages, a reliable climate for all levels of sailing ability, and fascinating history and culture to discover, adds to its appeal plus, its location in the Adriatic Sea opposite the eastern coastline of Italy and its border countries of the Balkan Peninsula (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania), also means it’s convenient in terms of travel from the UK. This short haul flight of approximately two and a half…

Set against the spectacular backdrop of MDL’s flagship Ocean Village Marina, the South Coast & Green Tech Boat Show 2025 returns this May to bring you the very best global power, sail and electric brands, along with innovative eco-friendly products, all at the same great venue. Guided by Raymarine, the three-day event, taking place between 9–11 May, promises to be bigger and better than ever. With an expanded waterside area opposite the popular Banana Wharf restaurant, the show will host over 90 boats on display in the marina and a vast range of onshore exhibitors. Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or a potential new boat owner looking to dip your toes in the water, the South Coast & Green Tech Boat Show 2025 delivers an array of impressive vessels, from…

Sir Ben Ainslie’s 1851 Trust has never been more relevant not only as a transformative force in youth sailing education but also in helping stem the effects of climate change. The 1851 Trust that was launched by Sir Ben Ainslie and Sir Keith Mills during their British challenge for the 35th America’s Cup in 2014 is proud to have HRH the Princess of Wales as Patron. The 1851 Trust is a specialist education charity that uses sport-inspired learning to educate and empower young people (8-16 years old) through STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) and climate education. Its free digital education platform STEM Crew connects the science behind elite sport with real-world applications, making learning interactive, accessible, and fun. Ultimately it is designed to inspire a generation of young people…

SWEDEN YACHT 45 | LUNA OF PLYMOUTH Luna of Plymouth is a beautiful example of the Sweden Yachts 45, a yacht that combines exceptional build quality with superb sailing performance. Easily and comfortably sailed shorthanded, she has a fully-battened main and has a choice of self-tacking jib or overlapping genoa which are all controlled by an electric winch, and overall she is in great condition. Below decks she has an L-shaped galley with two fridges and an electric induction hob and multi-function oven, three double cabins, two heads, and a newly upholstered leather dinette and forward facing chart table in a spacious saloon. Both above and below decks she has unusually generous stowage space, including three big lazarettes aft, and a large locker forward. Luna has spent most of her…