The Ocean Race Europe Tracker has just had an update thanks to PredictWind, and now looks at routing for the boats, but it doesn't yet have VMG or VMC. Here's a little video as to what these acronyms are, and why I think it's important that they're shown on the tracker. As promised in the video, here is the link to The Ocean Race Europe Tracker: https://www.theoceanrace.com/en/racing/tracker And here is the link to the excellent Wikipedia page about VMG and VMC: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velocity_made_good Holcim-PRB Photo by Anne Beaugé / The Ocean Race

The third leg of The Ocean Race Europe 2025 got under way this afternoon in Cartagena, Spain under sunny skies and scattered clouds, as the fleet of seven state-of-the-art IMOCA yachts, each crewed by four-person mixed gender crews, powered away from the 3,000-year-old city at the start of the 680-nautical mile passage through the Mediterranean to Nice, France.

An International Jury has decided Team Holcim-PRB is entitled to redress for Leg 1. Holcim-PRB's finishing position in Leg 1 will be equal to its average finishing position at the finish of legs 2 to 5 of The Ocean Race Europe. The team had been forced to retire from Leg 1 of The Ocean Race Europe after a collision with Allagrande Mapei Racing. Both boats retired after the contact which came in the moments after the start of the race in Kiel, Germany two weeks ago. The Jury said no further penalties would be imposed on either team (beyond retiring from the opening stage) but that Holcim-PRB should be given redress (i.e. scoring points for leg 1) for being knocked out of the leg. Are the Sprint Gate's good for The Ocean Race Europe, or are IMOCA yachts unsuitable for this kind of tight racing? Give us your views in the comments and have a read of https://www.sail-world.com/news/289158/Blurring-the-line-between-sport-and-entertainment for further thoughts from me.

Before Leg 2 even began, the race was on for Holcim-PRB and Allagrande Mapei to make it to Portsmouth in time for the start after competing repairs from their Leg 1 Start crash. Thanks to the Kiel Canal they both made it in time, bringing the fleet back to full strength. Portsmouth gave a great reception to the fleet, and the crowds were out in force to send them off on Leg 2 to Cartagena with the Porto Fly-By. Thankfully there was no repeat of the drama we saw in Kiel, with the sailors choosing conservative starts in 10 to 14 knots of wind off the Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes. It was once again Paul Meilhat's Biotherm taking the two points, followed by Paprec Arkéa gained a single point at The Needles scoring gate. Once past the Needles and into Christchurch Bay the IMOCA yachts were doing what they do best – flying. At the Matosinhos Fly-By it was once again Biotherm taking the spoils, extending their perfect record in the race, but they were pushed all the way by Paprec Arkéa, who had to fight through the pack after losing ground at a tidal gate off Brittany. The leg also saw some spectacular sighting of whales and dolphins playing with the fleet. Yoann Richomme's Paprec Arkéa blasted down the Portuguese coast to take the lead, with Biotherm and Holcim-PRB on their heels. The fleet then made the turn at Gibraltar, exiting the Atlantic Ocean, and into the Med. At the finish in Cartagena it was once again the Biotherm team who took the win, retaking the lead in the Mediterranean on the closing stretch, with the returning Holcim-PRB second and Paprec Arkéa third. Thumbnail photo (c) Holcim-PRB / The Ocean Race Europe 2025 #imoca #vendeeglobe #theoceanrace #offshoresailing

Graham Vials and Chris Turner started the day on the cusp of winning an unprecedented sixth Flying Fifteen World Championship, headline sponsored by PRO-SET Epoxy and Ovington Boats, requiring a result in the top five of either of the final races, while Andrew McKee and Richard Jones, the only team who could cause an upset, required nothing less than two race wins. Vials and Turner stuck to McKee and Jones like glue in the pre-start, and then proceeded to loosely cover them on the first upwind leg, only deciding to break away and make a dash for the windward mark when a clear lane presented itself towards the end of the leg. Their tactical acumen and timing, which they’ve demonstrated throughout the event, was once again flawless, rounding the top mark first, and then only looking back to savour the moment, going on to take their sixth race win. An astounding record in such a high quality fleet, where consistency has been nigh on impossible to find for all the other teams. Read the full report at https://www.sail-world.com/news/289257/Flying-Fifteen-Worlds-at-Weymouth-UK-overall MB01EGUBACMIA8S

It was an earlier start for the fleet on P&B Race Day at the Flying Fifteen Worlds, headline sponsored by PRO-SET Epoxy and Ovington Boats, with the aim of completing three races to bring the event back on schedule. A decent North Easterly, gusting 20 knots, was established - but the same was present on Tuesday which petered out after one race - would it hold today? Read the full report at https://www.sail-world.com/news/289228/Flying-Fifteen-Worlds-at-Weymouth-UK-Day-4 MB01XYN4JNWQNAE

A promising breeze in the morning on Allen Sailing day at the Flying Fifteen Worlds, headline sponsored by PRO-SET Epoxy and Ovington Boats, flattered to deceive when the wind petered out as the only race of the day was completed. The sailors came into the day recharged and raring to go after Monday's lay day, happy to get out on the water for the hour earlier start time, with aching muscles soothed, if not fully recovered. The forecast was for the wind to decrease throughout the day, and turn more from the east to the north east later in the day, but the wind itself had other ideas, reducing in intensity early and ending up switching the other way to confuse and confound many. Read the full article on the day's racing at https://www.sail-world.com/news/289195/Flying-Fifteen-Worlds-at-Weymouth-UK-Day-3 MB01ZDBAMABZZ2K

The sailing was close to perfection on Hyde Sails Race Day at the Flying Fifteen Worlds, headline sponsored by PRO-SET Epoxy and Ovington Boats. Sunshine, winds starting at 23 knots, slowly decreasing through the afternoon, two metre waves and exemplary courses allowed two superb races on this second day of the event. The first race of the day started with an incredibly even line, with the fleet going away cleanly first time, which pleased Race Officer Mark ‘Woodsy’ Wood no end after the general recalls on Saturday, “We tweaked the line slightly and ended up with the leader overnight at the pin end, while the boat which was second overnight at the committee boat end, and the boat in third starting in the middle.” The racing was exceptionally tight, with the battle for the race win going down to the wire, only being decided in the final seconds on the reach to the finish line from the leeward gate. Read the full article on the day's racing at https://www.sail-world.com/news/289136/Flying-Fifteen-Worlds-at-Weymouth-UK-Day-2 MB01YZQCRSQCW05

82 teams from 4 continents are taking part in the Flying Fifteen World Championship, headline sponsored by PRO-SET Epoxy and Ovington Boats and hosted by the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy in the UK. 'Glamour' was the word used by many of the sailors when they came ashore on Impact Marine Race Day. A 15 to 22 knot easterly with a big rolling swell and sunshine in Weymouth Bay made for a perfect start to the event with two races held. Read the full article on the day's racing at https://www.sail-world.com/news/289114/Flying-Fifteen-Worlds-at-Weymouth-UK-Day-1 MB019KJGPBJOWDI

There was drama in Sassnitz, Germany during SailGP practice racing, as firstly the French SailGP Team's starboard rudder broke off during a windward mark bear away, and then on the same leg Mubadala Brazil SailGP Team nose dived, with the main crossbeam collapsing, causing the boat to fold and the rig to drop. We take a look at the incidents, and hear reaction from Mubadala Brazil's Paul Goodison, Bonds Flying Roos' Jason Waterhouse and Emirates GBR's Iain Jensen, plus reaction from the SailGP tech team. #sailgp #crash #sailing #foiling

Biotherm raced into Portsmouth,UK this morning with maximum points and a commanding early lead, while Malizia's daring inshore gamble at Dover stole second place in The Ocean Race Europe Leg 1. In Kiel, Allagrande Mapei is ready to rejoin the race having repaired their boat, with the goal now of reaching Portsmouth in time for the start of the second leg. Thomas Ruyant said, "The chainplate repair was completed today. The outrigger will be reinstalled this evening, and the team will finish prepping the boat for a Friday morning departure. Our preferred option is to go through the Kiel Canal, which should save us a lot of time, especially given the current weather (light winds along Denmark). We'd arrive tomorrow afternoon at the canal's exit to head up the Elbe estuary. Sailing the Kiel Canal requires a pilot on board since we draw more than 3 meters; for safety, we'll be accompanied by a RIB, and for the two locks, we'll use a large inflatable fender, which we'll keep all the way to Portsmouth. After that, the weather is in our favour for a fast downwind run to the Solent, which we hope to reach between Saturday evening and Sunday midday. That scenario is fantastic news and would allow us to start the second leg. We really hope Holcim-PRB can do the same. We're following their repairs closely—they've been our partners in misfortune at the start of this European tour, and we'd love to have the full fleet back together to continue The Ocean Race Europe." Thumbnail photo (c) Lloyd Images / The Ocean Race Europe 2025 #imoca #vendeeglobe #theoceanrace #offshoresailing

While the five IMOCA yachts still racing in Leg 1 of The Ocean Race Europe are closing in on Portsmouth, the race is on for Holcim PRB and Allagrande Mapei to do their repairs after their crash at the start. Leg 2 starts on 17th August, so they will need to be speedy to get their in time. Could the 98 kilometre Kiel Canal to the North Sea be the answer? Map courtesy of Maximilian Dörrbecker (Chumwa) - own work, using OpenStreetMap data Kiel Canal photo of Locks at Brunsbüttel courtesy of Ralf Roletschek / www.Roletschek.at #theoceanrace #imoca #sailing #yachting

Two boats have returned to Kiel after a collision moments after the start of Leg One of The Ocean Race Europe. Both Holcim PRB and Allagrande MAPEI Racing are back at the dock in Kiel with their shore teams working hard to assess the damage and plan repairs. All crew are reported safe after side to side contact at high-speed between Team Holcim PRB and Allagrande MAPEI Racing. While those two teams returned to Kiel to assess damage and begin repairs, Biotherm drew first blood to lead the IMOCA fleet to the Kiel Lighthouse scoring gate, securing the first two points of the race, with Paprec Arkéa close behind and claiming a single point. Thumbnail photos Lloyd Images / Vincent Curutchet / The Ocean Race Europe #imoca #vendeeglobe #theoceanrace #offshoresailing

Sunday saw the first races of the 2025 Keyhaven Regatta at Keyhaven Yacht Club, a small club at the western end of the Solent in the UK. It also happens to be where I do my sailing from! I put together a montage of the sailing and surroundings which I hope you enjoy. Clubs are the life-blood of sailing, and if you're interesting in trying out the sport then go down to visit your local club and see what it's all about. We're a friendly bunch and would be happy to show you around! A map of sailing clubs can be found at https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/club/ so you can find the one closest to you. Thumbnail photo (c) Sean Jardine

We all have insurance for our yachts and boats, but there are times when what you need is a little bit out of the ordinary - you may be going somewhere or making a passage that's not covered by a standard insurance policy. This is where Haven Knox-Johnston Specialist comes in. They are the experts who can provide what you need for your boating lifestyle. Find out more at https://www.havenkjspecialist.com/ #insurance #sailing #yachting #powerboating

Video by Mags Norris of the XOD starts at Cowes Week 2025 on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday. There was no racing on Monday due to storm Floris. The X One Design class is a wooden dayboat designed by Alfred Westmacott in 1909, with the first racing held in 1911. At Cowes Week they race for the Captain's Cup. Thumbnail photo by Martin Augustus / www.sailingimages.co.uk

The Centenary Rolex Fastnet Race started today from Cowes, with the fleet of 444 yachts bound for the Fastnet Rock, then on to the finish in Cherbourg. Mark Jardine, Managing Editor of Sail-World.com and YachtsandYachting.com went out to Hurst Castle with his camera and drone to capture the action as the boats, ranging from the mighty Ultim trimarans, through to the IMOCAs and grand prix yachts competing in the 2025 Admiral's Cup went through the narrrows out of the Solent, past the Needles, and on their way West. #sailing #yachting #fastnet #admiralscup #offshoresailing

V-DRY-X is a major launch for the Australian technical clothing brand Vaikobi, launching into the yacht racing team market with high performance outer layer clothing specifically designed to be customised with the branding and colours of that team. Mark Jardine, Managing Editor of Sail-World.com and YachtandYachting.com, talked to Pat Langley, Vaikobi's founder, and Bart Milczarczyk, Lead Product Designer, about the range, and took a closer look at the zipper pullers which can change to different colours to match a yacht team's theme.

The WASZP Games 2025, being held at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy in the UK, has attracted 248 of the foiling dinghies to take part in a week of varied and high intensity racing. Mark Jardine, Managing Editor of Sail-World.com and YachtsandYachting.com, travelled down to Portland Harbour to speak to the sailors and organisers, including SailingFast's Duncan Hepplewhite, Women's Sprint Champion Pearl Lattanzi from Hawaii, Allen's Ben Harden, who is coming to grips with the WASZP and foiling, and Raffy Seddon, who started out in the WASZP at the beginning of the year. We also bring you superb commentary from the Race 5 start by Marc Ablett. All sailing footage thanks to the great team at Down Under Sail. #sailing #foiling #sendit

The high speed, short course action of SailGP is thrilling to watch, but inevitably causes tight situations and means the Umpires have to react quickly to decide who is right and who is wrong. Arguably, the most controversial decision of the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Portsmouth was in Race 6, as the Canadian Northstar SailGP team gybed on to starboard towards Gate 2 on the second leg, together with Rockwool Denmark, coming in towards Emirates GBR SailGP Team and Australian's BONDS Flying Roos to the right of them. The Flying Roos were penalised, which infuriated Driver Tom Slingsby, so I spoke with SailGP's Chief Umpire Craig Mitchell to find out how the decision was made and why the Australians were found to be in the wrong, together with views of the incident from multiple angles and UmpApp's tracking of the boats. Have a watch and tell us whether you think this call was right or wrong. #sailgp #portsmouth #sailing #umpire