France’s dominance of singlehanded offshore racing can be traced back to one event: the proving ground known as La Solitaire du Figaro. Check the list of Vendée Globe winners and you will struggle to find one that did not establish their singlehanded racing credentials with a win in ‘the Figaro’.
With a new title sponsor and a slew of new talent on the sailing team, the French America’s Cup campaigners are looking to shake off their mantle of plucky underdogs, and have set their sights on going the distance in the Challenger selection series at the 38th America’s Cup.
Two big launches at opposite ends of the world. On top, the 32m Ultim trimaran Gitana 18 headed out from her base in Lorient on the west coast of France for her maiden sail. Down under the Kiwis slipped their dock lines in Auckland to take their newly reconfigured AC75 out for its first sail.
First outings for Gitana Edmond de Rothschild and Emirates Team New Zealand; Podcast: James Pleasance - World Match Racing Tour; Making sense of Grand Prix sailing’s fragmented landscape
Sailing’s Olympic classes, SailGP, the America’s Cup and the Vendée Globe, all showcase our sport at its highest level. But they rarely interconnect. Is sailing missing a chance to dramatically grow its audience by failing to align its biggest competitions?
On the latest episode of the Yacht Racing Life Podcast I'm joined by James Pleasance – executive director of the World Match Racing Tour, as we discuss the history, evolution, and future of one of sailing's most iconic competitions.
Performance improvements under the new rules for the 38th America’s Cup are more likely to come from a multitude of incremental gains, rather than from a radical design breakthrough that would turn AC design thinking on its head.
America’s Cup Defender’s AC75 poised to take flight in Auckland; AC38 late entry deadline looms with rumours of up to three potential additional challengers; Three Vendée Globe superstars return to their Figaro roots
Paul Cayard and Frithjof Kleen continue to hold the Star fleet in a Vulcan death grip at the 99th Bacardi Cup in Miami after four races sailed on Biscayne Bay.
Barely dry from a high speed lap of the planet, Dee Caffari talks to Matt Sheahan about how this year's RORC Caribbean 600 panned out for the fleet.