Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2025 i Yachting World

There are two fundamental principles behind sail racing that have long been held sacrosanct. The first is that each boat is only powered by wind and human body movement. The second is that outside assistance is not allowed. Both are being eroded in the brave new worlds of SailGP and the America’s Cup. SailGP introduced a ‘coaching booth’ last season, where skippers and tacticians on the boat can hear – mid-race – from coaches or strategists off the boat. For the sailors, it might not feel like a leap: foiling boats have demanded helmets and headsets for a few years now, so it’s just another voice in their ear. But it is a fundamental shift. My teen sailors know that I can’t talk to them once the four minute gun…

The America’s Cup is heading to Italy. After many rumours, Cup defenders and organisers Team New Zealand confirmed on 15 May that Naples will host the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup in 2027. This will be the first time the America’s Cup has been sailed in Italy, though Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli has been one of the most committed and ever-present challengers in the modern America’s Cup. The opportunity to host the event will not only reward the team and its loyal supporters with a home event, but potentially also gift a rare ‘home advantage’ to a Challenger who has not earned the right to host through winning the event. “Italians are the most passionate and engaged America’s Cup audience and obviously it is the home of Luna Rossa who…

If you ride an e-bike you’ll be used to being called a cheat. You’ll also be familiar with the way opinion has polarised in the cycling world on their benefits versus downfalls, particularly where there has been criticism from walkers who blame e-powered mountain bike riders for ripping up the countryside. But what a game-changer they are, allowing you to explore further afield while making it more fun for those who’d otherwise be at the back of the pack. Now, think about what might happen if sailing went down a similar route? If we thought that the foiling debate had stirred things up, just wait until the issue of powered race boats gets under the sailing public’s skin. Because the next hot topic that the racing world looks set to…

LA GRACIOSA Just north of Lanzarote in the Canary islands is a beautiful little island. La Graciosa is a great stop after sailing south from mainland Spain or Portugal, but it’s a destination in its own right as well. The island, just under 30km2 in area, has the most stunning beaches against a volcanic backdrop. The island is part of the Chinijo National Park, so visitors by yacht must obtain a permit before anchoring in the turquoise water of Playa Francesca bay or mooring in the small port of the only settlement on the island, Caleta de Sebo. In this fishing village you feel as if time has stood still. La Graciosa is quiet and peaceful. There are no tarmac roads, just sandy streets and whitewashed houses. In Caleta de…

Summer came early this year, with much of northern Europe basking under stable, warm conditions throughout April and May that brought predictably light winds and sunny, dry days. The balmy period finally broke, in typical British fashion, just before the second May Bank Holiday. Significantly, this makes 2025 the third season in a row ahead of the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race when many competitors likely completed early training miles or qualifying races in predominantly light conditions. And while we can’t yet guess what the wind gods will serve up for the Fastnet start on July 26, the last two races have seen 30+ knot winds in the first 24 hours. The 2023 Rolex Fastnet Race was particularly testing, with one yacht sunk, a man overboard (all crew safely recovered), multiple…

When it’s on, it’s on. There’s no delaying showtime. Exactly 20 hours after leaving my UK home, while still hopelessly trying to rub the jetlag out of my eyes like an overtired infant, we were docking out of Cape Town and I was handed the keys to this souped-up super-cruiser. This was better than any caffeine hit. The opportunity to sail a Southern Wind from its South African yard is one I’d craved for many years, but would a quick sea trial of the new award-winning SW108 during its commissioning phase, and before the yacht was even handed over to its owner, actually be possible? More than that, how about a sail trial that allows you to move through the gears in response to the changing conditions, get fully powered…

Ten years or so ago I was contacted by a Finnish yachtsman, Tapio Lehtinen, who was seeking assistance with his studies of astronavigation. He was obliged to become a master of this ancient art to take part in the 2018 solo Golden Globe Race around the world. For the event, boats had to be typical of those available for the late 1960s race won by Robin Knox-Johnston, and navigation was to be by traditional methods. Tapio’s yacht in the inaugural event was plagued with gooseneck barnacles, which severely restricted his speed and upwind sailing ability, yet he was among only five that finished. Determined to be competitive, Tapio decided to have another go at the race in 2022. He sailed the same boat, the Gaia 36 Asteria which, although the…

SEE WHAT LIES AHEAD This is heralded as a next-generation forward-looking sonar for boats under 60ft and has the potential to be particularly useful when exploring anchorages in remote or poorly charted regions. It’s a single transducer system with 30º horizontal, 90º vertical scan, plus a maximum forward range of 200m. It’s compatible with displays using HDMI and VGA outputs, and there’s seamless integration with Raymarine Axiom displays, including split-screen functionality. Price TBA. daniamant.com ULTIMATE DECK SHOES? This range of deck shoes was conceived from the outset to offer the perfect solution for very high-end racing on grand prix performance boats or superyachts. The aim was to combine the highest standards of both design and functionality. For example, a winch button heel pad is designed to give positive engagement with…

Don’t just sit on the rail! Heel angle trim is key in keelboats, as Chris ‘Twiggy’ Grube explains to Andy Rice Keelboat sailors obsess about maintaining the optimum angle of heel. According to Grube, it’s a good obsession to have, and keeping consistently to that ideal heel is a vital goal for success on the race course. “It’s about getting the right amount of angle on the rudder and making sure you’ve got good flow over both foils,” says Twiggy. Every class has a known optimum heel angle, although this will probably vary across different wind and wave conditions. “In the J/70 we’re aiming at 8° of heel in super-light conditions, but once we’re up to full power conditions we’re aiming for 12°, and an absolute max of 14°. The…

Cruisers’ comms set-ups analysed The Ocean Cruising Club has conducted a survey of its members and what communication equipment they carry when at sea – specifically when out of the reach of VHF and mobiles. In total 355 members responded, with the majority sailing the Atlantic (66%), Pacific (36%) and smaller but equal numbers sailing the Indian Ocean and high latitudes. Neil McCubbin, who conducted the survey, explained: “The OCC is constantly interested in safety, as are the other major sailing clubs. Noting the experience of Raindancer (whose rescue was in part co-ordinated via Starlink, see yachtingworld.com for the full story) and others in rescues enhanced by the new, non-GDMSS technologies to explore.” The survey confirmed that Starlink has now become near-ubiquitous among bluewater cruisers, with 64.2% of respondents carrying…

As the sun slipped below the horizon, so did the noise of the day. The thermal wind softened, the engine fan stopped whirring, and the last of the tourist boats swung into port. In that quiet moment of reflection that one takes at dusk, I was living every sailor’s dream. We were anchored off the coast of the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve. This remote north-western tip of Iceland is only accessible by boat. Four or five waterfalls cascaded fresh glacial melt down the horseshoe of mountains and into the fjord that was our home for the night. In this isolated northern outcrop of the globe just the hardiest of sea creatures, birds and puffins went about their business on the rocky shores. Otherwise we were entirely alone. We are living in…

HELGELAND ARCHIPELAGO The Helgeland archipelago, just south of the Arctic circle, is one of the lesser known gems on the spectacular Norwegian coast. “Most people focus on Lofoten, but Norwegians know that Helgeland, just south of Lofoten, is the real pearl in the crown,” says Norwegian skipper Steinar Willassen, who grew up in the area. “The steep, rocky islands and the crystal clear water are impressive. Do you fancy sailing to a glacier? Then Svartisen is the place to go. You can sail right up to a jetty and view the glacier from your cockpit.” For those who like to hike on shore, the Sherpa-steps on Rødøy will bring you to the top of the Rødøyløva, where you can marvel at the view across the archipelago. “Each island has a…

The wind was dying with the light after a lively passage down the western Peloponnese, but a lumpy sea remained. As we sloshed around in the swell, my wife Maxi and I easily made the decision to fire up the Volvo Penta for the last handful of miles into Pylos. Fifteen minutes later the engine note suddenly wandered, before the motor groaned in protest and promptly died. I dashed inside to investigate. Our engine bay is vast and lies under the saloon floor of Namika, our Angus Primrose-designed 1983 Trident Marine Voyager 38. I secured the trapdoors, then climbed in. The engine is just two years old, the seawater filter was clear, the shaft still spinning with our momentum. Nothing looked untoward, but fuel seemed the most likely culprit. An…

Having raced tens of thousands of miles on 33-36ft yachts optimised for IRC racing, I’ve long been frustrated by the perception that only relatively heavy designs can be competitive offshore. As a result, we’ve been sailing boats that, though capable of surfing fast in certain conditions, are nowhere near as exciting as they could be. Historically, the trade off has been that planing boats of this size are slow in light airs and rarely sail upwind at speeds that match their rating. However, two years ago Didier Gaudoux’s 35ft one-off Sam Manuard/Bernard Nivelt-designed Lann Ael 3 convincingly won both races, totalling 500 miles, of the IRC double-handed European championships. In doing so he proved it’s possible to design a lighter planing boat that can sail to its rating across a…

Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones didn’t want a new boat, yet today not only has he a shiny new state of the art 100-footer, but a machine described by some as the most advanced Maxi to be launched in more than a decade. And at the new boat’s first competitive outing on the first day of racing at this year’s PalmaVela regatta Magic Carpet-e won the first two races. To say that her build happened by accident would be an exaggeration, yet the genesis of what has turned out to be such an advanced and promising new Maxi didn’t start with a set of clear objectives and well-defined goals. Having been built pretty much in secret by Persico Marine in Italy and pre-launched discretely last autumn, (before being taken back into the…

Y6 LOA 19.65m 64ft 6in • Draught 3.50m or 2.85m 11ft 6in or 9ft 5in • Beam 5.75m 18ft 10in • Displacement 25,900kg 57,100lb • Ballast 8,600kg 18,950lb yyachts.de Over the past decade Y Yachts’ range of 70 to 90-footers has stood out from the pack in an increasingly crowded market place. These semi-custom lightweight carbon fibre yachts offer a level of simplicity, along with the possibility of short-handed – or even solo – sailing that’s rarely encountered on a fast cruising yacht of this size. But until now the German yard, formed by Michael Schmidt, has not offered a smaller yacht than its first series-built model, the 70ft Y7. The 64ft Y6 is therefore a major departure that brings Y Yachts’ appealing philosophy, including a flexible semi-custom approach, to…

If you have an ageing yacht, should you ‘love it or list it’? Could you refit and upgrade instead of selling? An increasing number of owners are choosing to do just that, transforming decades-old designs into modern cruising boats A well-found GRP hull can, as environmentalists are right to highlight, have a long life. But taking the decision to refit a yacht that’s decades old can involve complex work. Despite this, plenty of owners are choosing to take this route, especially bluewater cruising sailors who value safety and strength over pure performance. A PERFECT FIT The first GRP yachts were built in the 1960s, when the vagaries of building in the material were still not fully understood. Fortunately, most manufacturers erred on the side of caution and simply used lots of…

The first official account of the sinking of the Bayesian superyacht, an interim report by the UK-based Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), was released on 15 May. The report is a harrowing read, recording the events of the fatal incident. MAIB investigators pieced together the sequence of events, the movements of the 10 crew and 12 guests, and the rapid timeline of the sudden tragedy, which resulted in seven deaths off Sicily, including that of the Bayesian’s owner Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, and the yacht’s chef. On 18 August 2024, Bayesian motored to Porticello, on the northern coast of Sicily, to anchor for the night – both for shelter from the forecast weather and to easily disembark guests the following day. The report notes that Bayesian anchored…

Your ultimate cruising adventure It’s the ultimate route plan: if you could sail around the planet, where would you go? And how long for? Whether you’re looking to pack in a quick career break, or considering a more open-ended voyage, we have expert guidance on how to pick your route around the globe. Around the world, alone Sailing solo in a small boat doesn’t need to limit your ambitions. Single-handed sailor James Frederick shares what he’s learned from halfway around a cruising circumnavigation following the Pardeys’ mantra: ‘Go small, go simple, go now’. How far does £100,000 take you? With sumptuous new bluewater cruisers often selling at well over the £1million mark, Will Bruton takes a clear-headed look at what one-tenth of that budget will get you. Can you buy…

There’s no getting away from the fact that parts of Europe are busy. Some of the huge sales numbers manufacturers have reported in recent years often reflect significant charter fleet and base investment. Meanwhile many European marinas have up-spec’d to handle larger yachts, and are often operating at full capacity. These hotspots bring improved marine services and more – but is there anywhere you can still get away from the crowds? We asked cruisers who have sailed, lived and worked around Europe for their recommendations. Some are within touching distance of major sailing hubs, but with careful timing can be enjoyed at their quietest. Others are truly off the beaten track and require a more expedition-style sailing approach. There is also a temptation to think of Europe as ‘easy’, and…

PELAGIE ISLANDS The Pelagie islands remain my favourite corner of the Mediterranean, writes Viveka Herzum, who spent two seasons cruising the region as a charter skipper. Seventy miles from both Pantelleria and coastal Tunisia – and twice as far from the closest major Sicilian port – they’re too out of the way for most leisure cruisers. The result? Uncrowded waters, a uniquely close-knit marine community, and only a handful of local yacht charters. The Pelagie’s main islands are as beautiful as they are unalike. Just 25 miles apart, Linosa is an exquisite moon to Lampedusa’s bright and boisterous sun. Lampedusa’s elongated shape and east-west orientation make for an unexpected sailing haven, allowing for an ideal range of anchorages for either of the area’s prevailing winds, the north-westerly Mistral and south-easterly…

I’ve always found local winds fascinating. One year in France, while racing a Q Class in a classics regatta, a whole fleet of spinnakers blew up ahead of me as a waterspout ripped through the course with the Mistral – a wind so infuriating that it was written into old French law that if it blows for over nine days a cold-blooded murder simply becomes a ‘crime of passion’. Cruisers hoping to enjoy a calm summer in the Greek Islands are often shocked by the Meltemi, a wind that jumps from 12 to 40 knots with little prior warning. And in a remote atoll in French Polynesia we found ourselves in boat lockdown whilst the Maramu raged through – a strong persistent sou’wester that can often last over a week.…

Over the last few decades some key individuals have helped shape the supersail world. While the odd uber project may help stoke the industry, it’s these serial owners, those commissioning a whole family of designs, who really leave a mark. In the following pages we explore (and sail) two of the latest, remarkable examples of such visions. Both craft are performance machines, albeit in acutely different ways. Both owners are on their fourth superyacht of the same name. One prefers an ultra-customised path of innovation, while the other pursues the specialist evolutionary improvements of a semi-custom focussed yard renowned for its fast ocean cruisers. One owner drives business growth, the other technological advancement. It feels like we’ve grown with them. Tracing the progression of the Magic Carpets and Kibokos reveals…

OYSTER 805 LOA 25.28m 82ft 9in • LWL 22.71m 74ft 9in • Beam 6.35m 20ft 10in • Displacement 64,700kg 142,639lb • oysteryachts.com Oyster Yachts proudly unveiled this contemporary new design at its annual private view event in St Katharine Docks, London, in early May, with a model which bridges the yard’s semi-custom speciality with that of the supersailing world. It describes the 805 as a ‘superyacht-inspired bluewater cruiser’, one which features plenty of custom choices, including the option for a shoal keel which draws just 2.67m (8ft 9in) to allow access to shallow anchorages normally off limits to many big yachts. The 805 continues the British yard’s long-standing partnership with Lymington-based Humphreys Yacht Design, a collaboration which has already resulted in more than 100 circumnavigations completed by Humphreys-designed Oysters. The…

Turning a 77ft vessel in tight spaces with a fat, full keel and a powerful prop walk is nothing short of an education! Can learning traditional boat handling skills make you a better yacht sailor? Historic vessel skipper Charlotte Hathaway explains why it can I came to traditional sailing by accident, but now I’m here, I’m a convert. And that’s because sailing traditional boats will make you a better all-round sailor. Don’t believe me? “I agree with the proposition 100% having spent my life voyaging, racing and teaching in traditional craft,” says Tom Cunliffe. He literally wrote the book on gaff sailing and pretty much all other sailing topics as well. Today I skipper the 104-year-old, 100-tonne, former Lowestoft fishing smack Excelsior, which operates as a sail training vessel in…

‘The S&S yawl offers exceptional sailing performance’ TAPIO LEHTINEN NOMINATES SWAN 55 GALIANA “Olin Stephens had designed two 6 Metres before creating his breakthrough yawl, Dorade, in 1929 – a scaled-up ocean-going 6mR. Forty years later, the Swan 55 marked the end of his ocean racing yawl lineage. I love feeling connected to this legendary chain of S&S yawls, including Stormy Weather, Manitou, Santana, Baruna, and Kialoa II. In my opinion, the Swan 55 is the classiest and most beautiful design Nautor ever built,” he says. Galiana was built in 1970 and raced in the 2023 Ocean Globe Race. “The S&S yawl offers exceptional sailing performance combined with comfort and seaworthiness. Galiana will take me safely anywhere on the planet. The yawl rig makes sailing enjoyable, with many sail combinations.…