By anyone's standards, this has been a big week for big news from the high-performance end of sailing, with three back-to-back bombshells delivered in as many days.
First up came the shock news that SailGP had been forced to cancel its Rio de Janeiro event, originally scheduled for May 3–4, due to structural flaws discovered in the wingsails of several F50 yachts. The decision follows an investigation into the Australian team's wing collapse in San Francisco, which revealed bonding issues in the shear web of multiple wings, posing significant safety risks. SailGP CEO Russell Coutts emphasized that athlete safety is paramount, stating that suspending the event allows time for necessary repairs and further inspections. The cancellation is a setback for Brazilian fans and the debuting Brazil SailGP Team led by Martine Grael. Ticket holders will receive full refunds, and organizers are exploring options to reschedule the event. The fleet now has an eight-week window to complete repairs before the next scheduled event in New York City in early June.
Hot on the heels of the SailGP news as a terse announcement from Sir Jim Ratcliffe that he had withdrawn Ineos Britannia's intention to challenge for the 38th America's Cup, citing prolonged negotiations with Sir Ben Ainslie's Athena Racing as the primary reason.
Ratcliffe expressed frustration over a six-month delay in finalizing terms, which he believes compromised the team's preparation. Despite previous statements of intent to continue, this decision marks the end of Ratcliffe's involvement in the upcoming Cup.
Ainslie, who is leading Athena Racing with the endorsement of the Royal Yacht Squadron as Challenger of Record, has not officially responded. According to a message to us from his communications department the team's focus 'remains firmly on our challenge for the 38th America’s Cup, and on our role as Challenger of Record'.
Then, yesterday – while we were all still reeling from those first two announcements – Emirates Team New Zealand sent out a press release revealing the mind blowing news that three-time America's Cup winning helmsman Peter Burling was leaving the team.
Despite efforts to reach an agreement post-AC37, both parties cited evolving team dynamics and compressed timelines as factors in the split. Team CEO Grant Dalton acknowledged Burling's significant contributions, stating, "Pete has been a central figure who has grown incredibly within Emirates Team New Zealand since he joined 10 years ago."
Likewise, Burling expressed pride in their shared achievements and indicated he would take time to reflect on his next steps. Precisely where those next steps might lead him are now the subject of considerable speculation.
Meanwhile, there is excitement building here in Palma, Mallorca – home of Yacht Racing Life – for the 29th Superyacht Cup Palma, with the entry list shaping up to deliver one of the most exciting editions yet.
From 25–28 June, the Bay of Palma will see a head-to-head between four Baltic 68 Café Racers in their own class, a graceful trio of Hoek Truly Classic 128s, and some serious horsepower from first-timers like the Y8 Sveam and the 47-metre The Aquarius. Defending champion Rose returns aiming for a three-peat, while Cervo and Gelliceaux add spice to the performance mix.
With a new venue at Club de Mar-Mallorca, top-tier sponsors back on board, and the legendary St. Regis Midsummer BBQ returning, it’s shaping up to be a classic Palma regatta—competitive on the water and buzzing on shore. Expect elegance, action, and plenty of stories from us.
If there’s one division to keep a sharp eye on in this year’s Rolex Fastnet Race, it’s the two-handed fleet. With over 70 entries and counting, the doublehanded scene has never looked so stacked—or unpredictable.
Reigning champ Romain Gibon is back with Abracadabra 2, but new hardware is on the line with Tanguy Bouroullec’s turbocharged Aruba (a brand-new Pogo RC) and Jean-Pierre Kelbert’s slick JPK 1050 Léon, co-skippered by French sail designer Alexis Loison – who made history in 2013 when he and his father Pascal became the first ever double-handed team to win the Rolex Fastnet Race overall, sailing the JPK 1010 Night and Day.
Add in familiar names like Jangada and Cora, and it’s shaping up to be a classic Fastnet chess match. There’s family flavor, too: Sophie Palmer takes the tiller with her father Richard, and Emma Breese steps up on Mojo.
The talent is deep, the breeze is never guaranteed, and no two Fastnets are ever the same. It’s going to be a wild one—and we’ll be watching every gybe, shift, and sail change.
