Three iconic events, one unforgettable summer on the water and we’re only half way through the season. From the elegance of British Classic Week to the capacity crowd at the Tattinger Regatta and the

There was a time when a 32m (100ft) yacht was a superyacht. While technically it probably still is, over two decades the bar has been raised much, much higher, as have the masts. The huge growth in ri

In the lead up to the Royal Thames Yacht Club's 250th Anniversary there was more than a hint that the Solent based regatta was going to be a big one. With over 250 boats from the latest carbon flyers to beautiful classics that were more than a century old, the four day regatta to celebrate one of the oldest clubs in the world had ticked many of the boxes even before the fleet had turned up. Add to this the focus on the some of the teams and their boats that will take part in the return of the Royal Ocean racing Club's Admiral's Cup later this season and there was plenty to draw attention. Then, the weather turned up and lit the blue touch paper for what was to turn out to be a stunning few days of racing. PlanetSail was there in the thick of the action, afloat, on board and picking up the chatter ashore. Thumbnail pic - www.pwpictures.com **CORRECTION** - Tom Partridge is RTYC Rear Commodore Sailing Also, In IRC2 Django was disqualified for not having an endorsed certificate so Rogan Josh won both the IRC2 and IRC 2 Nationals Chapters & Links 00:00 Intro 00:54 What's the big deal? 03:08 Admiral's Cup Preview & IRC Nationals Review 06:17 On board Sir Keith Mills' classic Viveka 12:46 Why this is a big deal for the Royal Thames YC 16:56 On board West Solent One Design - Arrow 17:59 The final day DOCKTALK 18:32 Harken Procare support 19:31 MC1 Spars Facebook - @planetsail.org Website - www.planetsail.co.uk Linkedin - www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-sheahan Instagram - matthewsheahan

The good news was that SailGP was back up and running after having to pause proceedings and cancel an entire event following the dramatic dismasting of the Australian boat in San Francisco. More good news was that the full complement of 12 boats was ready and raring to go. But the weather had other ideas. Light, tricky and patchy conditions made the racing pretty stressful for everyone and resulted in some erratic results across the fleet. Overall you'd be tempted to call it a lottery, but a handful of teams were delivering sufficiently consistent performances to leave us all guessing as to whether it was tactics or timing that delivered the final result. Matt Sheahan reviews the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix and takes a look at the fleet standings at the mid point of the season.

The incredible growth in the size of superyachts and the rapid increase in speeds aboard the world's fastest machines has been staggering. And while modern design and materials have played a huge part in these areas, there is one element that has been crucial to these giant leaps and made it all possible - the rig. In particular, carbon rigs, without these the sport would still be pressed up underneath the glass ceiling that trapped development back in the 1980s. New Zealand based Southern Spars have built many of the biggest and quickest carbon rigs in the world and their success isn't just with boats, they've been involved in all kinds of areas ashore and even regular forays into space! With such an impressive roll call of results it was clearly time to make a visit to Auckland where Matt Sheahan got the full tour. In the first of our two part mini series, Matt finds out why carbon was the key and how Southern Spars build the big rigs, the fastest rigs and rigs of the future. Chapters & Links 00:00 Intro 02:50 Mark Hauser on Southern Spars background 04:53 Build process - Where does it start? 06:26 On the Shop floor 07:57 More on design 08:49 Back on the shop floor 12:11 ETNZ's Martin McElwee on the influence of the America's Cup 13:11 Shop floor - Painting and final stages 16:01 Beyond mast making Facebook - @planetsail.org Website - www.planetsail.co.uk Linkedin - www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-sheahan Instagram - matthewsheahan

Watch enough America's Cups and even though the new cycle for the 38th Cup hasn't started, experienced Cup followers will have been waiting for the first bust up....and now it's here. With teams threatening to walk away, tough talk and sharp press releases, there's no doubt we're into the negotiation phase and contrary to the last round it's not all sweetness and light. Matt Sheahan looks at what has been going on and explains what it might mean and where the Cup could be heading. Plus, we take a look at what changes could be afoot as the Defenders release a yet to be agreed draft protocol for the next event. Not everyone's going to like it.

The 38th America's Cup will be held in Naples in the Spring-Summer 2027. Matt Sheahan considers the news, reflects on Naples' previous Cup experience before then taking a look back at the 37th America's Cup in Barcelona and how the event played out.

Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones' latest launch Magic Carpet-e is a sleek modern Maxi that on the outside has plenty of IMOCA about her. The hopes are that on the race course she'll be pretty slippery too. But this Maxi is about more than that. When it comes to her systems below decks this is the most advanced 100footer to be launched for many years, a proof of technology that may well influence a generation of racers and cruisers to come. PlanetSail gets an exclusive, deep dive tour to look at the sophisticated systems that power this innovative Maxi. We also get to see her stunning accommodation, which has its own story to tell about how good looks and comfort play a big part in maximising the performance of this weapon of a machine. In Part 3 three of our Inside the Modern Maxi series Matt Sheahan gets the full tour below decks. CHAPTERS & QUICK LINKS 00:30 Setting the scene 01:00 Starting point 03:28 Accommodation tour 09:52 Canard 10:19 Keel 11:47 Power plant 13:45 Hydraulics 14:49 Propulsion 16:04 Range Extender 17:14 Battery 18:23 Systems control 19:53 Influence Facebook - @planetsail.org Website - www.planetsail.co.uk Linkedin - www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-sheahan

The complexity of any modern maxi is staggering, but Magic Carpet-e takes the technology onto another level. Designed to be the fastest 100 footer in the Mediterranean, not only is the latest Maxi to be launched designed to be the most powerful 100 footer on the start line, but her sophistication both on deck and below takes performance yacht design into new territory. In the second part of our exclusive three part series, Matt Sheahan gets aboard, goes sailing and takes the wheel to experience at first hand what this new rocket ship is like and talks to owner Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones, skipper Danny Gallichan and project manager Ed Bell about how this sophisticated and slippery Maxi works in practice. CHAPTERS & QUICK LINKS 0:34 Outlining the challenge 01:13 How fast? 02:15 The canard 03:38 What MCe feels like on the helm 04:55 Matt takes the wheel 06:06 Sir Lindsay explains the feel 07:52 Silent departure 08:08 Line speed 10:32 How just 6 winches was made possible 12:09 Rudders 13:40 Deck details DOCKTALK 20:32 Allen Bros' new cleat 21:33 Musto launch BR3 Facebook - @planetsail.org Website - www.planetsail.co.uk Linkedin - www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-sheahan

Some describe the new Magic Carpet-e as the most advanced Maxi to be built in more than a decade, others say that she will change not just the Maxi racing scene, but the use of electric power on board a yacht. And some simply point to a 100 footer that is a staggering 10 tonnes lighter than the previous Magic Carpet and is set to be a light weather weapon. There. is no doubt that she's a complex machine. She has a canting keel with nine and half tonne bulb that also acts like a centreboard. She has a retractable canard...that can change its angle of attack and also cants from side to side, plus she has twin lifting rudders. Her 46m carbon mast supports a giant sail plan that looks like a scaled up IMOC?..and yet there are just six winches on deck. But the biggest difference between this boat and the rest of the Maxi fleet is that Magic Carpet-e is fully electric. All the eveindence we needed to know that we had to go and see her for real. Matt Sheahan and videographer Richard Langdon were invited aboard Magic Carpet-e for a couple of days in her home port of St Tropez. In the first of three reports Matt speaks to owner Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones, skipper Danny Gallichan and project manager Ed Bell about the concept behind this sophisticated and slippery Maxi. Chapters & Quick links 01:33 First look 03:24 Why build a new boat? Owner Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones explains 04:57 The hard facts - Magic Carpet-e key features 05:41 How the project started - Danny Gallichan and Ed Bell explain 11:41 Why she's a cruiser too 14:53 Onboard underway - First taste Facebook - @planetsail.org Website - www.planetsail.co.uk Linkedin - www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-sheahan

What is going on at the sharp end of the sport? The Kiwis have just lost one of their biggest assets as three time America's Cup winning helmsman Pete Burling leaves Emirates Team New Zealand in a move that seemed to catch even the team by surprise. The spat between Sir Ben Ainslie and Sir Jim Radcliffe looks set to be a full scale divorce. And SailGP is forced to cancel an entire event after structural problems are found in some of the wingsails. It's tough at the top, Matt Sheahan looks behind the headlines to consider what is going on and why. Meanwhile, on the west coast of France 18 teams prepare to race 4,000 miles double handed in 32ft boats in one of the shorthanded classic ocean races. Matt talks to one of the youngest teams in the event, British pair Ellie Driver and Ollie Hill about what's in store for their Atlantic Challenge and why its such an important race. QUICK LINKS 0:31 America's Cup - Why has Peter Burling left? 04:18 INEOS vs Athena - The bust up between Sir Jim and Sir Ben 06:10 SailGP - Why a broken mast forced the Brazil Grand Prix to be cancelled 07:53 Transat Paprec - A big race in small boats - Ellie Driver & Ollie Hill talk to Matt Docktalk 17:17 Baltic Yachts 68ft Cafe Racer 18:23 Sevenstar Yacht Transport - getting the fleet home 19:30 Henri Lloyd launch their new range - Dynamic

Thirty five years ago 'Big Red' dominated the biggest offshore race in the world by winning every leg of the Whitbread Round the World Race. It was a phenomenal performance by a Kiwi team led by Sir Peter Blake which not only reaffirmed New Zealand's sailing prowess, but laid one of the key foundations for making Auckland one of the most famous venues in the world for major sailing events. The success also went on to provide a connection with the America's Cup as well as helping to build a huge and successful marine industry down under. Winning the Whitbread was big at the time, but the repercussions over the years that followed were huge. Today, Steinlager II, locally known as 'Big Red' is still a big and active part of New Zealand's sailing heritage and is a regular sight on the Hauraki Gulf. It was also the platform on which Kiwi round the world sailor Conrad Colman announced his NZ entry for the next Ocean Race shortly after the new that the next race would include an Auckland stopover. It was, in short, a big week downunder and Matt Sheahan was there. Aside from having a snoop below decks aboard Steinlager II, he talked to Conrad and his team's co founder Rowan Gyde about the new campaign. He talked to Evelien van Vliet about the Trust that runs 'Big Red' and discussed the news with one of New Zealand's best known and longest serving sailing journalists, Martin Tasker where he explained what it means for NZ and The Ocean Race, along with highlighting the importance of the invincible big red maxi.

Auckland is out of the running to host the next America's Cup. Despite winning the event five times the Kiwis have only managed to host it on three occasions and only twice have they been able to invite an international audience thanks to the global pandemic. Little surprise that the locals are very upset that once again they are unable to reap the rewards of an impressive performance by the home team that has made them the second most successful of all time. Matt Sheahan considers why the Auckland plan has come to nothing and where the Cup might be hosted in 2027. Plus, other Cup news, gossip and speculation.

The pace of change is accelerating with every event so far in SailGP Season 5. Just as we start to think we have a handle on where the balance of power is heading there's another shake up. Yet all the while there's one team in particular that is proving to be consistent as they work their way up through the overall rankings. Matt Sheahan provides the PlanetSail 10minute review of San Francisco, event 5 of the 2025 season

Just as in motorsport's Formula 1 where this year there are big changes to the previously well established pecking order, SailGP looks like it is going through the same process this season too. Never has the racing been closer and never have the former top dogs been put under such relentless pressure. New teams, new players and a new level of intensity along with the challenges of new technology and an impressive roll call of the world's best sailors means that the 2025 SailGP season is showing signs of being the best to date. Matt Sheahan provides PlanetSail's review of the Los Angeles. Key Points ? SailGP LA - A Season Shake-Up? PlanetSail's Review & What It Means for the Championship! ? 2025 Season Shake-Up - Is this the most competitive SailGP season yet? The dominance of past years is under threat! ? Weather & Conditions - From 19 knots and full foiling to light wind challenges on Day 2. How did teams adapt? ? Key Performers: Kiwis - Determined to bounce back from Auckland & Sydney struggles. Canadians - Consistently in the top half, proving their strength. Brazilians - A huge breakthrough moment for Martine Grael's team. ? Wild Scoreboard Swings - From dominant wins to shock underperformances, LA saw unexpected leaderboard chaos! ? What do you think? Who will come out on top in San Francisco? Comment below! ? Like & Subscribe for more SailGP updates! ? Don't forget to turn on notifications! ?

What if you could see the wind in such detail that your path to the top mark was simply a matter of threading the best gusts together? The racing world elite can not only do this in their sleep, but they can identify minute changes in the breeze' strength and direction even when their head is inside a helmet and their face shielded by a large visor. At the recent America's Cup in Barcelona most of us were preparing to struggle with seeing what the top teams would spot on the race course that influenced their tactics??But AC37 changed all that. When Emirates Team New Zealand described what they would like spectators to see on the race course, Capgemini set about creating a way to see the invisible, the wind. Their Windsight IQ technology took wind spotting onto another level as it revealed the invisible advantage in a completely new way for the first time. Matt Sheahan finds out how it was done. Docktalk 14:18 Mustang Survival - New foul weather gear and lifejackets 15:24 Zhik - New offshore kit gets the thumbs up

It is renowned for being the toughest offshore race in the Caribbean and far harder than many first timers expect. The 16th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 was not different. But to add to the action this year saw an impressive line up of Maxis and grand prix machines and some of the closest fought battles throughout the fleet in the history of the event. PlanetSail takes you inside the strategy, challenges, and defining moments that led to victory in the 2025 edition. How was the race won? What made the difference on the water and why do the most seasoned offshore sailors call this one of the toughest races in the world? Matthew Sheahan reports on who did well and why Docktalk 13:58 Lift 45 - A new performance cruiser 15:08 Sevenstar Yacht Transport - Shipping the big guns

Three more sailors have crossed the finish line, all are impressive achievements in their own rights, but one story stands out, Jingkun Xu's incredible journey of determination and grit. Facing challenges long before the start, the first Chinese sailor to complete the Vendée Globe defied expectations, sailing solo with just one hand and capturing the hearts of millions. His emotional, candid updates portrayed just how hard this race is. But his biggest challenge? Getting to the start line in the first place. Speaking no French or English yet selling his home in China and moving to the heart of the French dominated offshore racing scene with no shore team, his solo challenge started with preparing his boat, alone. His story reveals an exceptional campaign and his story is one of the most inspiring of the race. Matt Sheahan reports on this exceptional sailor and the week that saw Antoine Cornic and Oliver Heer compete their Vendée Globes to join the elite group of solo circumnavigators. #VendeeGlobe #Sailing #PlanetSail #NeverGiveUp PREVIOUS VENDEE GLOBE REPORTS - Records, Champagne & Crisis - Vendée Globe Week 13 - 6-2-25 https://youtu.be/qDM-yrxCepo The Latest Vendée Victories - Vendée Globe Week Twelve 29-1-25 https://youtu.be/9pfL0HvL0ps - Broken Boats, Bodies & Stress - Vendée Globe Week 11 - 23-1-25 https://youtu.be/FM4mOW3Q3KM - Why Was Charlie Dalin So Quick? - Vendée Globe Week 10 - 15-1-25 https://youtu.be/SGbYOWdXZYk - Into The Finish - Vendee Globe - 13 -1-25 https://youtu.be/H06AXfdqmsY - Ice, Lightning & Stress - Vendee Globe - Week Nine 9 -1-25 https://youtu.be/Y3sQkGr_URE - The Turning Point - Vendee Globe - Week Eight 2-1-25 https://youtu.be/tpHyhuMTHtI - Emotions Run High and Low - Vendee Globe - Week Seven 26 12 24 https://youtu.be/1Dy0y5qI7bc - A Massive New Cape Horn Record - Vendee Globe https://youtu.be/-0aGaQkKKJY @VendeeGlobeTV @xujingkun99

The Auckland and Sydney SailGP events have sent shockwaves through the fleet - was the southern hemisphere stage the turning point of the season? Season 5 is three events in and all signs point to 2025 being the most competitive season yet! With new game-changing technology, a growing fleet, and unexpected leaderboard shifts, some are already asking whether the biggest shake-up in SailGP is already underway. We dive into the biggest takeaways from these back-to-back events, analysing key performances, dramatic moments and what it all means for the 2025 season. With unexpected results, high-speed action, and major shake-ups, could these races have reshaped the entire championship? Who dominated? Who struggled? What's next? We break it all down in this latest PlanetSail review. Key Topics: ? Auckland & Sydney: The Ultimate Game Changers? ? Standout Teams & Surprise Struggles ? The Championship Battle: How This Affects the Leaderboard ? What These Races Mean for the Future of SailGP in 2025 Chapters & Links 00:20 Intro - What's happened since Dubai? 01:09 Event 2 - Auckland 05:39 Event 3 - Sydney ? LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for more expert breakdowns from PlanetSail! ?

Fourteen weeks in and the finishers keep coming and while every one has every reason to celebrate, Violette Dorange could be the brightest star in a fleet of round the world rock stars. At 23 she is the youngest skipper ever to have completed the Vendée Globe and she came home to an incredible welcome. But Dorange's achievement is about far more than simply being the youngest. The candid way in which she told her story as she headed into the unknown has built her a huge following on social media and now in the mainstream French press. Matt Sheahan takes a look at her success. Plus, we report on the four other 'winners' that crossed the line this week to complete their Vendée Globes CHAPTERS & LINKS 01:00 Guirec Soudée 02:21 Kojiro Shiraishi 02:59 Violette Dorange 07:09 Louis Duc 08:41 Sébastien Marsset 09:24 Rankings PREVIOUS VENDEE GLOBE REPORTS - Records, Champagne & Crisis - Vendée Globe Week 13 - 6-2-25 https://youtu.be/qDM-yrxCepo The Latest Vendée Victories - Vendée Globe Week Twelve 29-1-25 https://youtu.be/9pfL0HvL0ps - Broken Boats, Bodies & Stress - Vendée Globe Week 11 - 23-1-25 https://youtu.be/FM4mOW3Q3KM - Why Was Charlie Dalin So Quick? - Vendée Globe Week 10 - 15-1-25 https://youtu.be/SGbYOWdXZYk - Into The Finish - Vendee Globe - 13 -1-25 https://youtu.be/H06AXfdqmsY - Ice, Lightning & Stress - Vendee Globe - Week Nine 9 -1-25 https://youtu.be/Y3sQkGr_URE - The Turning Point - Vendee Globe - Week Eight 2-1-25 https://youtu.be/tpHyhuMTHtI - Emotions Run High and Low - Vendee Globe - Week Seven 26 12 24 https://youtu.be/1Dy0y5qI7bc - A Massive New Cape Horn Record - Vendee Globe https://youtu.be/-0aGaQkKKJY