Clipper Ventures have revealed the next-generation fleet for the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, which over the past 30 years has introduced over 7,000 crew to ocean racing. The new yacht, called the Clipper RX, is 72 feet long, has a 97 feet tall mast, and incorporates some of the latest thinking in yacht design, with a wider stern, twin rudders, and dreadnaught bow, as well a novel aft caddy to protect the twin helm positions, as well as along the mainsheet traveller to be mounted above this. The mid cockpit and twin companionways reduce the amount of fore and aft movement needed on deck, and the forestay is set further aft, increasing safety during sail changes. The fleet of yachts is currently under construction, and to find out more, I spoke to the legendary sailor and founder of the race, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, as well as the Clipper Ventures CEO William Ward. You can read the full announcement at https://www.sail-world.com/news/292957/Announcing-the-Clipper-RX-Ocean-Racing-Yacht #sailing #yachting #clipperrace

Discover the craftsmanship, heritage, and innovation behind Contest Yachts in this exclusive behind-the-scenes tour. Since 1959, this family-run, third-generation yard has been shaping some of the world’s finest luxury performance bluewater cruising yachts, spanning 42ft to 85ft. What began with the building of the Olympic-class Flying Dutchman dinghy has evolved into a global benchmark for semi-custom yacht design and construction. In this video, we dive into what truly sets Contest apart: *Heritage & family values* A story that began in 1959 continues today with the third generation at the helm, preserving a legacy of quality and trust. *Luxury performance bluewater cruisers* From 42 to 85 feet, each semi-custom yacht blends ocean-going capability with refined comfort. *Lloyd’s Register certified hull construction* Contest goes far beyond industry standards. We break down what this level of certification really means - and why it’s so rare among yacht builders. *Forward-thinking design partners* Innovative naval architecture by judel/vrolijk & co, paired with sophisticated, superyacht-inspired interiors by Wetzels Brown. *Innovation at the core* Contest was the first series-builder to adopt vacuum injection moulding, ensuring unmatched structural integrity, consistency, and weight efficiency. *Craftsmanship meets technology* See how traditional skills - especially their remarkable wood bending and curving techniques - complement modern composite construction for a yacht that feels both handcrafted and cutting-edge. *Award-winning excellence* Multiple Contest models have earned honours at the European Yacht of the Year (EYOTY) and British Yachting Awards, particularly in the coveted Bluewater Cruiser categories. If you’re passionate about yacht design, innovation, or bluewater cruising, this deep dive into Contest Yachts is not to be missed. To find out more or step onboard at the boot Düsseldorf boat show (17-25 January 2026), contact the Contest Yachts team: *United Kingdom* W: https://www.contestyachts.co.uk T: +44 (0)2380 450 011 E: info@contestyachts.co.uk *Netherlands* W: https://www.contestyachts.com T: +31 (0)227 543 644 E: info@contestyachts.com

Thomas Coville and the crew of Sodebo Ultim 3 have rounded Cape Horn, the last of the great Capes in their circumnavigation, in a record time of 26 days, 4 hours, 46 minutes and 25 seconds. The team on the 105 foot long Ultim trimaran have endured a tricky end to their Pacific Ocean crossing, but still remain ahead of the Jules Verne Trophy record pace set by Francis Joyon on IDEC Sport in 2016/17, but they know their journey up the Atlantic will be challenging, and Joyon’s passage, especially in the North Atlantic, was exceptional. While rounding the legendary point is yet another amazing achievement, the team are fully aware that the ultimate goal is far from complete. We take a look at their Pacific Ocean crossing, as well as the whole Jules Verne Trophy route and the other records that the team has broken so far. From Cape Leeuwin, their passage east to the south of Australia and past New Zealand has been a roller-coaster of emotions, as well as having to navigate seas of over five metres at times. Their lead over IDEC Sport dropped to just 15 miles along the length of Australia, and they briefly fell behind record pace to the south of New Zealand, before regaining a lead at the time that Joyon had to travel relatively far north due to the weather systems they encountered back in 2017. At Point Nemo their advantage increased to 200 nautical miles, increasing to over 500, before light winds hampered them on the approach to Cape Horn, halving their lead at the famous landmark. We also look at where they are, and the immediate challenges ahead. Right now, the team are heading upwind to the North East, and will be looking to hook into the favourable winds between Argentina and the Falkland Islands, avoiding light headwinds winds to the East. The routing is complex in this area in the world, and they need a strong passage to the equator as they aim to build a lead of over a thousand nautical miles by the equator, as they know that Joyon’s team had an extraordinary finish when they set the record. You can track their progress live at https://sodebo-ultim3.sodebo.com/ as well as sending the team a good luck message! #sailing #ultim #julesverne

Jono Pank and Isobel Bretherton won the GJW Direct Bloody Mary Pursuit Race, the sixth leg of the Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series, held at Queen Mary Sailing Club on Saturday 10th January 2026. Second place went to Angus Cook and Lucie Hopkins, also sailing a Firefly, while third place was taken by Ian Dobson and his son Ted in their Mirror dinghy. Jono Pank became the first sailor to win the Bloody Mary two years in a row, having taken the trophy last year with his son Freddie. This is a remarkable achievement, considering the number of variables and conditions required for such a result. The winning team from Imperial Poona Yacht Club crossed the line ahead of a 124-boat fleet, featuring sailors representing 42 boat classes from 62 sailing clubs. The race was held in a north-easterly Force 2-3, with the sun making a welcome appearance throughout. You can find the full report and results at https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/292870/GJW-Direct-50th-Bloody-Mary

Today we have an exclusive Q&A with Benjamin Schwartz, co-skipper of Sodebo Ultim 3 from the Pacific Ocean during their Jules Verne Trophy record attempt around the world. We ask about their watch system, how they handled the Indian Ocean, the technical challenges and any breakages they've suffered, how the team is feeling at the halfway point, what their strategy is for the Pacific Ocean and beyond, and also how Leo, their drone pilot, captures the amazing footage, and recovers the drone at the end of each flight. Benjamin also has a thank you for our Sail-World viewers, so do please send the team a message of support on the tracker at https://sodebo-ultim3.sodebo.com/ We take a look at the tracker to see how they are progressing as they approach Point Nemo in the Pacific Ocean, and what their advantage is over the reference time set by Francis Joyon and his team on IDEC Sport in 2016/17 when the round the world record was set. We end today's video with another drone flight, from start to finish so you can see how it's done! With very many thanks to the Sodebo Ultim 3 team. Thumbnail photo © Jérémie Lecaudey #sailing #yachting #roundtheworld #ultim

We start with some stunning drone footage sent inn from the Sodebo team, taken on 30th December in the Indian Ocean. This really demonstrates just how fast this yacht is travelling, and remember they’ve been doing this 24/7 for over 17 days, without a break. We then take a look at the round the world course. The Sodebo team have smashed record after record over the first 17 days. The first major point is crossing the equator from north to south, which the Sodebo team completed in 4 days, 4 hours and 2 minutes, smashing the previous record set by Spindrift of 4 days, 20 hours and 7 minutes, and put them over 500 nautical miles ahead of Francis Joyon’s IDEC Sport, who currently hold the Jules Verne Trophy and the round the world record. The Sodebo team then stayed close to the South American coastline as they made their way down the South Atlantic and extended their lead to over 1000 nautical miles. In this animation, the yellow boat is Sodebo, with the red boat being the course that IDEC Sport took in 2016/17 when they set the record. This was a slow section for Joyon and his team back then, but Sodebo has had to take a longer route that IDEC Sport, who managed to cut the corner of the Saint Helena high pressure system. Thomas Coville and his team though smashed the record to the Cape of Good Hope, setting a new reference time of 10 days, 23 hours and 55 minutes, beating Gitana’s record of 11 days, 9 hours and 53 minutes, and was nearly two days quicker than Joyon and IDEC Sport’s time. The threat though in the deep south is icebergs. The team have to balance up the benefits of the shorter route, and potentially stronger winds, to the south, with the danger of hitting one of these, which wouldn’t just be an end of their record attempt, it would put their lives in severe danger. The passage across the Indian Ocean is when IDEC Sport enjoyed a near-perfect run, and Sodebo could do nothing as they watched their lead reduced to under 200 nautical miles at times as they gybed to find the best winds, knowing that Joyon and his team back in 2016/17 covered the entire ocean on one gybe at incredible speed. Sodebo has though held the lead and set a new record to Cape Leeuwin of 17 days, 1 hour, and 17 minutes, over 5 and a half hours quicker than IDEC’s time. At the time of recording, Sodebo is to the south of Australia, having covered 770 nautical miles over the past 24 hours at an average speed of 32.2 knots as the crow flies. The Pacific Ocean saw IDEC Sport having to duck north after passing New Zealand, which took them off the ideal path. If Thomas Coville and his team have good weather systems in the Pacific then they could rebuild their lead over the reference time and set a new record to Cape Horn, setting themselves up for the final push up the Atlantic. We end today’s video with another amazing drone flight, from start to finish, recorded on 29th December. You can track Sodebo via https://sodebo-ultim3.sodebo.com/ Thumbnail photo © Jérémie Lecaudey

It's often the super maxis which grab the limelight in the iconic Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, but the the 2025 edition, saw double handed teams take seven of the top ten places overall in the battle for the Tattersall Cup, which is awarded to the overall winner on IRC. The drama continued, as a protest was lodged which decided the outcome of the overall win, so we take a look at what happened, and conclude with a montage of some of the amazing scenes during the start in Sydney Harbour. Wishing you all a Happy New Year! Thumbnail Photo (c) ROLEX / Kurt Arrigo

The Ultim Trimaran Sodebo, with Skipper Thomas Coville and his team, started their Jules Verne Trophy round the world record attempt on the evening of 15th December 2025, and have made an incredible start as they head down the Atlantic. Meanwhile, it hasn't been all plain sailing for the all-female team on The Famous Project CIC, with a mainsail hook causing them problems. We bring you tracker updates from both yachts, and Dee Caffari explains how they are handling the problems they've encountered. Here are the trackers for the two boats: Sodebo: https://sodebo-ultim3.sodebo.com/ The Famous Project CIC: https://trimaran-idec.geovoile.com/julesverne/2025/viewer/ Thumbnail photo (c) Jérémie Lecaudey #ultim #julesverne #trimaran #recordattempt

It was great to catch up with legendary sailing journalist Andy Rice to discuss some of our highlights of the 2025 sailing season. In this chat we discuss: - The Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series, now in it's 17th year, which Andy founded back in 2009. - SailGP, how the circuit is evolving, some of Andy's idea of what would be good and his writing for the New York Times - Live coverage of the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championship, where Andy commentated alongside Dutch 49erFX Olympic gold medallist Odile van Aanholt - His own sailing in the Musto Skiff, including competing in the iconic Lord Birkett Trophy at Ullswater in the Lake District Sit back and enjoy the sailing chat, and wishing you all a Merry Christmas! Credits: Tim Olin for photos from the Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series and of Andy in the Musto Skiff SailGP for video and photos from the racing The 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 classes for clips of the 2025 World Championship Many thanks to all.

Designed for leisure boaters under sail or power, Ocean Safety's Jon Buoy EVAC has been developed to bridge the gap between a liferaft and traditional man overboard devices. Lightweight, portable and simple to deploy, it provides vital peace of mind without the bulk of a conventional raft. We spoke to Oceean Safety's Alistair Hackett to find out more about EVAC. Key features include automatic inflation, an inflatable arch and canopy, a boarding ladder and grab handles for accessibility, and a weighted keel for stability. Supplied in a semi-rigid valise with a three-year service interval, the EVAC combines ease of stowage with dependable protection in an emergency. #yacht #rib #safety

The Royal Varuna Yacht Club in Thailand is a hidden gem, with a stunning view towards Ko Lan, a small island in the Gulf of Thailand. During the winter months in the northern hemisphere, the Royal Varuna Yacht Club can give visiting sailors some of the best warm water sailing available. The club welcomes guests from around the world and has accommodation on-site, a beautiful clubhouse while enjoys the most amazing sunsets, great facilities including full bar and restaurant, and super-friendly staff who are ready to help with whatever you need. We take a close look at the club, talking to key people to find out more about its history and ethos, as well as the thriving sailing school which has been nurturing young sailors who have gone on to represent Thailand at the Olympics, and win huge World Championships in classes such as the Optimist. he club hosts a number of world-class events and training camps, and in early 2026 will be hosting the ILCA Thailand National Championship, the Royal Varuna Yacht Club Open Masters Championship for ILCA 4, 6, 7 and International OK dinghies, and the OK Thailand Open Nationals. The club also hosts World Championships for major dinghy classes. There is also a thriving catamaran section with large fleets of Formula 18s, Dart 18s and Hobie 16s. For foiling sailors the incredible Switch dinghy is built nearby at Element 6 Evolution, and it's an ideal place to learn to fly. Royal Varuna Yacht Club organises the world-famous King's Cup Regatta, held in December every year, which is well established for keelboats and has a growing dinghy fleet. If you are looking for a way to escape the cold in Europe or North America, and keep your sailing up during the winter, then there's possibly no better place on earth to do so. The only warning is that you may not leave! Find out more about the club at https://www.varuna.org/ and view the upcoming regatta schedule at https://www.varuna.org/regattas #sailing #paradise #thailand

Baltic Lifejackets, based in Älgarås, Sweden, have been producing lifejackets, buoyancy aids and floatation clothing since 1977, and have been pioneering some of the innovations we've seen in the market. At Metstrade 2025, the annual gathering of the marine industry in Amsterdam, I spoke with Baltic's Oscar Anderberg to find out more about their latest range, including the Winner, Poseidon, Athena and Force lifejackets. Find out more at https://baltic.se/en/ #sailing #yachting #lifejacket #safetyatsea

Over the past two years at CDK Technologies on the West coast of France, the most advanced offshore sailing yacht ever built has been taking shape. At 32 metres long, 22 metres wide, 38 metres high, and with 50,000 hours of design & study, 200,000 man hours of construction by the 200 people involved in the project, the new Maxi Edmond de Rothschild trimaran will be capable of pushing the 24 hour record, which currently stands at 907.7 nautical miles, to over a thousand nautical miles, which would be averaging close to 42 knots. Named Gitana 18, this Ultim trimaran is a radical departure from the existing generation of offshore leviathans, utilising adaptations of technologies we’ve seen in the smaller America’s Cup, SailGP, and even the International Moth designs, and scaling them for use in the world of offshore trimarans. No expense has been spared, and all the knowledge and experience of the Gitana and Team Verdier design offices, combined with C3 Technologies for the rudders, Re Fraschini making the foils, Southern Spars building the mast and boom, Harken deck hardware and North Sails, have come together to make this extraordinary yacht. Speed gains of 10 to 15 percent are expected, and skipper Charles Caudrelier is aiming for perfect flight in up to 3 metres waves. On every front Gitana 18 will take offshore sailing to another level. Under the waterline of the central hull is a T-foil centreboard, nearly 5 metres deep with a foil span of 3 metres, with the first of three U shaped rudders at the back, with the central rudder on a hinge to lift it out of the water. The port and starboard hulls also have this unique U-shaped rudder, each with a height of 4 metres and foil span of 2 metres, all equipped with trim tabs for steering and ride height control. The port and starboard rudders lift vertically. The port and starboard hull’s Y foils look very much like those on the America’s Cup AC75 monohulls, but pivot from the inboard side of hull, having a span of over 10 metres and foils nearly two and a half metres wide. Moving to the rig, the mast has spreaders which can be raked back whilst sailing to modify the power of the mainsail – a first at this scale. And then there is the stunning artwork by Florian and Michael Quistrebert, designed to complement and work in harmony with the radical technology. Thumbnail photo (c) E. Stichelbaut / polaRYSE / Gitana SA #sailing #ultim #trimaran

The first five days for the all female team on the The Famous Project CIC circumnavigation saw a cautious departure in rough seas and stormy squalls and a tricky crossing of an anticyclonic ridge off the coast of Portugal. Alexia Barrier, Dee Caffari, Annemieke Bes, Rebecca Gmür Hornell, Deborah Blair, Molly LaPointe, Támara Echegoyen and Stacey Jackson have since been sailing downwind in the trade winds. The maxi trimaran is shaking off the dust and lengthening its stride south of the Cape Verde Islands. The next challenge is the Doldrums, the Intertropical Convergence Zone, just above the equator, where the north-east and south-east trade winds collide, creating an area of great stormy instability, where sudden gusts of over 30 knots alternate with endless moments of dead calm. We hear from the team on board, including a repair of one of their wheels, take a look at the tracker and the Doldrums, then enjoy some epic footage from about the trimaran. You can follow the race via the tracker at https://trimaran-idec.geovoile.com/julesverne/2025/viewer/ Thumbnail photo and onboard video (c) Deborah Blair #sailing #roundtheworld #trimaran #recordattempt

Vaikobi has announced the launch of its groundbreaking Impact Protection Series of Headwear, a new collection of lightweight, EN 812-certified impact hats engineered to protect watersports athletes from head knocks, bumps and scratches, without compromising comfort, performance, or style. Designed for sailors, foilers, surfers and paddlers, the new range features three styles: the Bump Hat Surf (cap with buckle and strap), Bump Hat Hydro (Cap with drawcord), and Bucket Bump Hat (brim hat with buckle and strap), each available in multiple colours. Find out more at https://www.sail-world.com/news/292179/Vaikobi-Launches-the-Impact-Protection-Series ! #headprotection #wingfoiling #kitefoil #windsurfing #sailing

At times we may look for a new challenge in sailing, and switching to a new class can be a way of achieving that. Getting that decision right takes thought and a bit of research. Will the class suit you? Are you the right weight? What boat should you get in that class? All questions which could decide where you make the right choice. I spoke to Ben McGrane, One Design Manager at Hyde Sails, who has had success in the Merlin Rocket, Flying Fifteen, XOD, Mirror, International 14, Contender, RS800 and RS400 as a helm, also as a crew n the 505, Fireball, International 14, XOD and 49er, to ask his advice to those thinking of making a switch. #sailing #dinghysailing #dinghy

Code sails have revolutionised sail handling on yachts, and Seldén's second generation of furlers, called CXr, have a patented ratchet design, as well as an innovative 'nail' terminal to connect to the torsion cables. During Metstrade 2025, the annual gathering of the global marine industry in Amsterdam, I spoke to Seldén Mast's Richard Thoroughgood to find out more. #sailing #yachting #rigging

The all-female crew on The Famous Project CIC have set off on an attempt to capture the Jules Verne Trophy and break the round the world record. The Jules Verne Trophy, which is displayed at the National Maritime Museum in Paris, is the prize for the fastest circumnavigation of the world by any type of yacht with no restrictions on the size of the crew, provided the vessel has registered with the organisation and paid an entry fee. A vessel holding the Jules Verne trophy may not necessarily hold the absolute round the world record, although it currently does. It was initially awarded to the yacht which sailed around the world in less than 80 days, as per the Jules Verne novel Around the World in Eighty Days in which Phileas Fogg traversed the planet. The current holder is IDEC Sport skippered by Francis Joyon who completed the circumnavigation in 40 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes and 30 seconds, finishing on 26th January 2017. Joyon sailed 26,412 nautical miles at an average speed of 26.85 knots. Skippered by Alexia Barrier, with Dee Caffari as first officer, together with an international crew of six female sailors, The Famous Project CIC crossed the start line on the maxi trimaran IDEC Sport at 13.40 UTC on Saturday 29th November. To complete the course, they must round the three great capes: Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin, and Cape Horn. It is the first time since 1998 that there has been an all-female attempt at the record, when Tracy Edwards and crew on Royal & Sun Alliance were dismasted 2,000 miles from Cape Horn. You can follow the race via the tracker at https://trimaran-idec.geovoile.com/julesverne/2025/viewer/ #sailing #roundtheworld #trimaran '#recordattempt

Ben Harden runs us through some of the Allen sail fittings which are available during Metstrade 2025, held at the Amsterdam RAI in November.

The biggest prize pot in sailing was up for grabs in Abu Dhabi in the SailGP Grand Final over the weekend. We take a look at how the starts were won in the light winds on Day 1, and then see who won the start in the three-boat Grand Final itself where Tom Slingsby's Australian BONDS Flying Roos, Peter Burling's New Zealand Black Foils and Dylan Fletcher's Emirates Great Britain team battled it out, and then what the winning move was that sealed the 2025 Season title. We finish with interviews of the winning sailors. Thumbnail photos (c) Bob Martin for SailGP #SailGP #sailing #foiling #abudhabi