Sail Magazine

by Adam Cort

Adam Cort is SAIL’s executive editor. He lives and sails in the Boston area.

Safe, Sound and Visible

by Adam Cort, Posted September 14, 2010

Seaview Sail Pods from PYI house and protect your steering instruments while ensuring you can still see them clearly. Sail Pods are available in four sizes, with faceplates that can be custom pre-cut to order. Each Sail Pod comes with a UV-resistant ABS plastic housing and stainless steal rail mounts. Enclosed wire runs protect cables and sockets from moisture and snagging.A number of

See the Wind at Night

by Adam Cort, Posted September 14, 2010

The new Tri-Color Anchor Navigation Light from Signal Mate uses a clear window on top to allow the white stern light to shine upward. This extra beam of light then illuminates the wind vane’s reflective patches whenever the light is on, eliminating the need to click on the anchor light to make the wind indicator visible—an incorrect and dangerous practice that can be confusing to other boats in

America’s Cup: New Look, Fresh Start

by Adam Cort, Posted September 13, 2010

Although we don’t yet know the venue, we know a good deal more about what the 34th America’s Cup regatta is going to look like following Monday's press conference in Valencia, Spain. First and foremost, it’s going to be aboard 72-foot catamarans with wing sails.Let me say that again: 72-foot catamarans with wing sails.According to officials, the new AC72 class will

J/111

by Adam Cort, Posted August 25, 2010

According to designer Alan Johnstone, the brief for the new 36ft 6in J/111 one-design was for a boat that he and the rest of the J/Boats crew would want to sail—and it shows.During a recent daysail off Newport, Rhode Island, hull #1 reveled in picture perfect sailing conditions, with winds out of the east in the mid to high teens. Sailing to windward, the boat was balanced and easy to

Ronstan Core Block Series

by Adam Cort, Posted August 16, 2010

Ronstan’s Core Blocks include a proprietary two-stage bearing system and durable alloy cheeks. Stage one provides “ultra-low friction” when handling moderate loads. The second stage engages when the wind pipes up and loads increase. According to Ronstan, this two-stage approach cuts overall friction almost in half.Core Block cheeks are precision-shaped with an eye toward providing maximum

Gill OS2 Offshore Smock

by Adam Cort, Posted August 16, 2010

The Gill OS2 Smock features three-layer construction, which makes it easier to get the jacket on and off, and also more comfortable to wear.Intended for serious coastal and offshore sailing, the smock configuration offers the advantage over a regular jacket of having fewer openings for water to get through. This can be especially important when working on the foredeck or when out during

Hanse 545

by Adam Cort, Posted August 10, 2010

Hanse's new flagship ushers in a new look for the company's big boats. A large, uncluttered foredeck and low-profile cabintop give it a purposeful air; the self-tacking job, big mainsail, roomy cockpit and bold interior styling are all Hanse trademarks.

Najad 570

by Adam Cort, Posted August 10, 2010

Swedish builder Najad is known for combining sweet-sailing hulls with meticulously fitted-out interiors, and its new flagship continues that tradition. It is a powerful world cruiser that can easily be handled by a crew of two. <object

Tartan 4000

by Adam Cort, Posted August 3, 2010

The category of performance cruiser is one that has accommodated everything from stripped-down racers masquerading as weekenders to ice-breakers pretending to be competitive with the help of a generous PHRF rating. The Tartan 4000, though, is a performance cruiser in the truest and best sense of the word—a boat that does well on all points of sail and takes good care of its crew,

Class 2M

by Adam Cort, Posted August 3, 2010

With a beam of less than 5ft on an overall length of 23ft, this daysailer promises exciting upwind sailing. There's a lifting T-keel to facilitate trailering and a high-aspect-ratio rig. <object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"