Sail Magazine

by Adam Cort

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

Volvo Ocean Race Visiting Middle East

by Adam Cort, Posted March 16, 2010

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, has broken new ground for the Volvo Ocean Race by being confirmed as the first Middle East stopover in the history of the event.A boat from Abu Dhabi will also take its place on the start line of the 2011-12 race, which is scheduled to begin in Alicante, Spain, in the autumn of next year.The agreement was signed yesterday by

Payne Wins Moth Worlds

by Adam Cort, Posted March 15, 2010

A repeat for 2009 Rolex Yachstman of the Year Bora Gulari was not to be as UK sailor Simon Payne won last week’s Puma 2010 Moth International World Championships in Dubai.Nonetheless, the U.S. contingent has no reason to be ashamed. While second place went to Aussie Andrew McDougall, third went to U.S. sailor Brad Funk (husband of Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Anna Tunnicliffe—small

Merriman-Trinter Win Bacardi Cup

by Adam Cort, Posted March 15, 2010

American skipper Rick Merriman and crew Phil Trinter took first place on the sixth and final day of Star Class at this year’s Bacardi Cup in Miami and in the process secured an overall regatta win as well.With strong, gusting winds hitting 24 knots, about a half-dozen boats were dismasted, including the day's early leader, Bermudan skipper Peter Bromby and crew Magnus

Heineken Regatta Turns 30

by Adam Cort, Posted March 12, 2010

Although many regattas have struggled of late as a result of the current economic climate, the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta marked three decades of serious racing and partying this past week with some 240 yachts taking part.As in years past, the three-day event, organized by the Sint Maarten Yacht Club, attracted some of the world’s most talented sailors, including America’s Cup veterans

More from SpeedDream

by Adam Cort, Posted March 12, 2010

After unveiling the SpeedDream concept a couple of months ago, New England-based designer Vlad Murnikov is continuing to shed light on his planned record-breaking monohull as the project moves forward.According to Murnikov, who designed Fazisi, the Russian entry in the 1989-90 Whitbread Round the World Race, SpeedDream will be capable of sustained speeds of 40-45 knots

Tall Ships Coming to the Great Lakes

by Adam Cort, Posted March 3, 2010

The American Sail Training Association (ASTA) is teaming up with the environmental organization Great Lakes United to bring a fleet of international tall ships to American’s heartland.As part of this summer’s Great Lakes United Tall Ships Challenge 2010, the fleet will race through all five Great Lakes, making port appearances in cities in both the United States and Canada. Specific stops

Groupama Racing the Clock, Orange 2

by Adam Cort, Posted March 2, 2010

After a slow start, skipper Franck Cammas and his maxi trimaran Groupama 3 are now locked in a tight “virtual match race” with Bruno Peyron’s 38-meter catamaran Orange 2.Cammas is about midway through an attempt at the Jules Verne Trophy, which is awarded to the boat with the fastest circumnavigation. Orange 2 currently holds the record—completing the 27,000-mile

Miami Grand Prix This Week!

by Adam Cort, Posted March 2, 2010

South Florida will once again be the site of some of the world’s most competitive racing when the 2010 Miami Grand Prix kicks into gear later this week.The regatta, which takes place March 4-7, will feature a strong field of Farr 40s and Melges 32s, as well as a single IRC class. As was the case at Key West

Tunnicliffe, Gulari Accept US Sailing, Rolex Awards

by Adam Cort, Posted March 1, 2010

The weather in New York City may have been frightful—closing airports and stalling trains—but it did nothing to dampen the celebratory atmosphere during last week’s US Sailing's Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards ceremony in the New York Yacht Club’s famed Model Room.Attendees, including former award winners Magnus Liljedahl, Hannah Swett and Dawn Riley, had the rare treat

Grinding Made Easy

by Adam Cort, Posted February 26, 2010

Grinding winches can be fun—to a point. Now, for those times when you don’t feel like building arm strength there’s the WinchRite, from Sailology LLC, a fully portable electric winch handle that makes everything from raising the main to furling in the genoa a snap.Designed specifically for sailing, the WinchRite provides up to 100 newton meters of torque and rotation speeds from 50 to 120