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.
Both are big steps forward, both were carefully choreographed affairs and both represent the first steps in two new generations at the very leading edge of the sport.
PlanetSail's Matt Sheahan reports on these – and considers whether there may be a late entry into the 38th America's Cup.
To race around the world alone non-stop is pretty special and those that succeed enter an elite club. But when it comes to lapping the planet against the prevailing winds and currents, non-stop and alone the list stops way short of double figures.
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.
With many still reeling from the shock of a close call with tragedy in Auckland there were questions aplenty for SailGP. But as the fleet was shipped across the Tasman Sea to the third event of Season 6 there seemed to be more questions than answers. PlanetSail's Matt Sheahan breaks it all down...
Why the new Gitana 18 could be the fastest offshore boat ever built and how to sleep at 40 knots – on your own. PlanetSail's Matt Sheahan dives into the detail after last weekend's launch of the latest Edmond de Rothschild Maxi in Lorient.
This week’s announcement that the challenger line-up for the 38th America’s Cup will include a United States entry – in the form of the newly-formed American Racing Challenger Team USA syndicate – comes as a welcome breath of fresh air for yachting’s oldest and most prestigious competition.
ICE Yachts’ new Felci-designed flagship model is a masterclass in developing a yacht that is precisely attuned to its owner’s style of sailing.
On the latest episode of the Yacht Racing Life Podcast I catch up with British yachtsman Chris Draper to discuss his move to join the America’s Cup defender Emirates Team New Zealand and life inside one of the most successful teams in modern sailing.
Philippe Presti is known for his unassuming style and easy smile. But when I caught up with him recently in Lorient at the launch of the French America’s Cup challenger La Roche-Posay Racing Team, that trademark smile seemed even broader than usual – and with good reason.
