Not everybody can race an Open 60. But the Akilaria Class 40 thats making an appearance here in the States makes it possible for mere mortals to experience the exhilaration of sailing and racing a water-ballasted thoroughbred without necessarily needing a sponsor to foot a rather large bill. Its built to the French Class 40 box rule, which was created by a group of designers,
If last year was the year of smaller boats, this is the year of bigger boats – almost 50 percent of the fleet launched this year is above 40 feet. But this year’s fleet has more than just big boats; it includes a 16-foot sailing proa, a healthy list of cruising monohulls in the 30-foot range, and what has been a rarity in the past, sub-40-foot cruising catamarans. As with years past, performance
On a gorgeous autumn day, I found myself trimming the mainsheet aboard a Grand Soleil 37 during a race series in Annapolis. There couldnt have been a better way to test the sailing performance of this new boat from Italy.Though there are relatively few of this builders boats in the U.S., Grand Soleil is well respected among the cognoscenti here and in Europe. Its nicely
Click here to read a PDF version of this reviewMany of us would like to see the world from the deck of our own sailboats, but time, money, and long, slow offshore passages can interfere with that dream. Sailboats are efficient but slow, earning money requires time and roots, and crossing an ocean takes determination
Click here to read a PDF version of this reviewBack in 2004, Jeanneau caused quite a stir with the launch of its stylish Sun Odyssey 54 DS (deck saloon). Italian designer Vittorio Garroni had worked more with cars than boats when he came up with the fresh-looking 54 DS, and he wasnt bound by any conventional
Sitting at a table with designers and engineers in Miami, I have the sense of a futuristic adventure, akin to NASA in the 60s or Silicon Valley in the 80s. Their enthusiasm as they wax on about voltage levels, firmware, energy conversion, and interoperability is contagious. The unlikely source of all this is a catamaran, the Moorings 4300 Electric. In a Caribbean charter fleet
With its flat, plane-friendly Groupe Finot hull shape, dual rudders, square-headed full-batten main, and lifting, narrow-chord bulb keel, the Open 5.7 is obviously designed for the high-end of the performance spectrum. Its only 20 feet long, displaces merely 1,020 pounds (330 pounds are in the keel), and boasts a working sail area of 280 square feet. Off the wind the 5.7 carries a
(Click here for PDF version)This is not another sportboat designed to do nothing but scream downwind. The Rocket 22 is an update of the Gary Mulldesigned Pocket Rocket that has commanded a loyal following in the Pacific Northwest since the 1980s. Don Martins design brief was to use cutting-edge materials and insight to turn
Ive had a penchant for sailing on two hulls ever since I built a 26-foot racing micro-multihull some years ago. That boat routinely sailed at double-digit speeds but was frequently wet, so it was with some enthusiasm that I stepped aboard the considerably larger Broadblue 435 for a test sail on Chesapeake Bay. On deckThe 435 has plenty of deck space for walking
It could be said that Garry Hoyts Alerion Express 28 was ahead of the big daysailer trend when it was launched in the early 1990s. I took his latest entry in this growing genrethe Alerion Express 38for a test sail in light air off Newport, Rhode Island.Under SailThe boat is designed to excel in light air, and my test sail proved it was up to the task.
After four long months poised to spring into action at the first sign of the right weather window, Spindrift has announced that its record-breaking circumnavigation
In some stunning footage from onboard reporter Antoine Auriol, Boris Herrmann and his team aboard Malizia decided to cut their Code 0 free after it
Get your ground tackle setup right, and you’ll sleep much easier while you’re cruising. Get it wrong, and your boat could wind up on the
French builder Dufour Yachts has rolled out another new design bringing their line to eight models from 32 to 61 feet. The new Dufour 37
Antigua Sailing Week is happening now, and SAIL Managing Editor Lydia Mullan is on the water and in the big breeze to bring us a full report soon. Meantime, catch the action, from the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta to Antigua Sailing Week, in everything from historic wooden schooners to the latest greatest rockets.
I’ve never laughed so hard as I have on some of my charters, but it’s typically only funny after the fact. Every time I think
The new Excess 14 made its U.S. debut at the Miami International Boat Show, and a first walk-through revealed several features geared toward making this
Boating Writers International yesterday presented its annual awards before the opening of the Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show. The awards program recognizes excellence in
Got the winter blues? Join Managing Editor Lydia Mullan for a day on Dream Yacht Charters’ Lagoon 45 Panui during this month’s Caribbean Multihull Challenge
