Vendee Arctique: Breaking point – and beyond
When teams set out on a solo race to the Arctic Circle and back all of them knew that they would be venturing into new territory. No one had ever taken an IMOCA this far north, alone.
Italian Ambrogio Beccaria claims an unexpected victory after a thrilling conclusion to the Vendée Arctique
The Vendée Arctique race came to a thrilling conclusion last night as Ambrogio Beccaria (ITA) on Allagrande Mapei snatched victory from the clutches of the longtime leader Sam Goodchild (GBR) on MACIF Santé Prévoyance in the very final stages of the race from France to the Arctic Circle and back.
2026 TP52 World Championship set to dazzle as 15 teams get ready to race in Porto Cervo
In competitive sailing’s brave new world, where ultra-fast foiling boats grab the majority of the headlines, the evergreen TP52 fleet and its 52 Super Series regattas stand out as a bastion of the gold standard of ‘conventional’ yacht racing. The '26 worlds in Porto Cervo look set to be a thriller.
Reigning Vendée Globe champion Charlie Dalin dies aged 42
Terribly sad news from France today of the death at the age of 42 of solo sailing legend Charlie Dalin, who won the Vendée Globe 2024-25, despite battling gastrointestinal cancer throughout the gruelling singlehanded around-the-world race.
Thumping north alone...
The start of the Vendée Arctique may have been a quiet affair when the fleet set off from les Sables d'Olonne on Sunday 7 June, but it didn't take long for the pain, stress, sea sickness and breakdowns to start.
Podcast: Alan Roberts' quest for a Vendée Globe backer
British sailor Alan Roberts has been based in France now for several years as part of his quest to find a financial backer to help him make his dream of participating in the Vendée Globe solo around-the-world race.
The Arctic Circle and back
PlanetSail’s Matt Sheahan heads to the start of the Vendée Arctique in the infamous town of les Sables d'Olonne on the west coast of France to talk to skippers and find out how and why they are setting up for the big race to the north.
The story of Nicolas Lunven's remarkable third La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec victory
French solo skipper Nicolas Lunven has won the 57th edition of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec nine years after his last participation and seventeen years after his first victory.
Podcast: SailGP's weird weekend in the Big Apple
Magnus Wheatley and I try to make sense of the crazy goings on in New York at the sixth event of SailGP Season 6 in New York City last weekend.
Chaos in New York
With only four teams able to race and then a match race between two for the opening day in the Big Apple, the New York stage of SailGP opened with chaos and uncertainty for the spectators and teams alike.