Daily Sailing Debrief - 2026/01/27

Daily Sailing Debrief

Jan 27

Offshore & Ocean Racing

Sodebo Ultim 3 Smashes Jules Verne Trophy Record Thomas Coville and his six-man crew aboard the 105ft trimaran Sodebo Ultim 3 have shattered the world record for the fastest circumnavigation, finishing in 40 days, 10 hours, and 45 minutes. Read the Full Report
Mission Accomplished: The Famous Project’s All-Female Lap Alexia Barrier and her crew (including Dee Caffari and Támara Echegoyen) made history as the first all-female team to complete a non-stop, round-the-world lap on a trimaran, setting a women's reference time of 57 days and 21 hours. Read the Full Report
The Autopilot Debate in Doublehanded Racing Following a Sydney Hobart Race dominated by two-person crews, the community is debating whether the use of high-tech autopilots provides an "unmeasured advantage" that deviates from traditional seamanship. Read the Full Report

Melges Claims Melges 24 North American Title Harry Melges IV and his team rallied from a 10th-place start to secure the 2026 North American Championship in Miami, closing with two bullets to take the title by seven points. Read the Full Report
Italy Dominates 2026 ILCA Under-21 Worlds Italian sailors claimed gold in all three categories at Marina Rubicón, Lanzarote. The regatta saw 12 scheduled races completed in challenging medium to strong wind conditions. Read the Full Report
PredictWind O’Pen Skiff Regatta Palooza The Manly Sailing Club hosted a high-energy "Palooza" for the O'Pen Skiff class, emphasizing adventure sailing and beach games to keep the sport fun for the next generation. Read the Full Report
18ft Skiffs: Team Balmain Wins President’s Trophy Newly crowned Australian champions Henry Larkings, Tom Grimes, and Lachlan Pryor continued their winning form in a 10-14 knot Nor'Easter on Sydney Harbour. Read the Full Report
22nd Royal Langkawi International Regatta The Japanese team on Char Chan emerged as the undisputed story of the regatta, which concluded after a week of ideal wind and sunshine in the Andaman Sea. Read the Full Report

Evolution of the Cup: A Retrospective A look back at the 34th America’s Cup and the pivotal shift to AC72 catamarans, which changed the trajectory of the event and the broadcast experience forever. Read the Full Report
In Memoriam: Geoffrey Mason The sailing world mourns Hall of Fame producer Geoffrey Mason, a Navy veteran who was key in bringing the 1986-87 America's Cup from Australia to global TV screens. Read the Full Report

Bayesian Builder Sues for $540 Million The Italian Sea Group has filed a lawsuit in Sicily seeking €456 million in damages, alleging that human error by the crew led to the sinking of the luxury yacht. Read the Full Report
A New Era for Edson American marine manufacturer Edson has been acquired by a group led by former CEO Adam Cove. The company will now operate as Edson Pumps, LLC and Jacob E. Marine. Read the Full Report
Beneteau Oceanis 52: Full Tour A walkthrough of the new Oceanis 52 family cruiser from the BOOT Düsseldorf show, detailing its layout, cockpit flow, and modern Italian design philosophy. Read the Full Report
HanseYachts Expands Australian Presence Performance Cruising Yachts, founded by Olympian Matt Hayes, has been appointed as the exclusive Australian dealer for the HanseYachts portfolio. Read the Full Report
A Big Lake Upgrade: The San Juan 21 A feature on trailer-sailing the classic San Juan 21 sloop on the expansive waters of Lake Champlain. Read the Full Report

Maine Maritime Academy’s Sail Training Legacy A look at the unique program at MMA that leads to a USCG license as a mate on auxiliary sail vessels using a fleet that includes the historic schooner Bowdoin. Read the Full Report

What Sailing Can Learn from Motorsports Mike Zani explores an experiment in "Low Rules" racing, suggesting the sport should focus more on positioning and incentives rather than rigid legalistic protests. Read the Full Report
The "Walking Judge" Initiative International Judges discuss whether "walking the docks" can make the protest system more approachable and less intimidating for casual racers. Read the Full Report
The Patriot Cup: Honoring Veterans The Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race has established a new perpetual trophy to encourage and recognize participation by active-duty military and veterans. Read the Full Report
Nautical Trivia: Why "Starboard"? Explaining the etymology of "starboard," which derives from the Old English steorbord, or the "steer-board" side of the ship. Read the Full Report

Daily Sailing Debrief