This newsletter is provided through the support of its sponsors, delivering a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk…with a North American focus.
Today's sponsors:
UK Sailmakers - Mount Gay Rum - FOILFAST
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by Deb Whitehorse Reporters from The New York Times, The New Yorker, and NPR took notice of ice sailing. Historic iceboats and clubs filled social media feeds with photos and video. The audience expanded in a way we rarely see. That attention helps recruit new sailors and preserve historic clubs whose traditions stretch back more than a century. It reminds the public that this is not a curiosity, but a serious winter sport with deep American roots and active fleets from Montana to Maine. For decades, people have asked: why not the Olympics? In the late 1990s and early 2000s, there were formal discussions with the International Sailing Federation about bringing ice sailing into the Winter Games. Meetings were held. Surveys were conducted. A purpose-built Olympic ice yacht was even considered. The effort ultimately stalled, largely because the Olympics require certainty, and ice does not cooperate on a fixed schedule. For an article about the situation with more detail, click here. This season demonstrated that when conditions arrive in highly visible places, the story of the sport travels farther. For links to the stories, click here.
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Performance sails that don’t break the bank It’s a fact that load path sails, with continuous yarns running corner-to-corner, retain their aerodynamic design longer than traditional sails. This extended peak-performance life means you get more value for the price of the sail. The problem is that most load path sails come with a hefty price tag. Most do...but not all! X-Drive® from UK Sailmakers are the load path sails that deliver premium performance without breaking the bank. Since their introduction a decade ago, UK Sailmakers has continuously improved the X-Drive manufacturing process. Today, you can work with UK to select from a range of yarn options and protective layers (e.g., taffeta) to create the right sail for your goals at a price you can afford. X-Drive – the ideal sails for serious club racers and performance cruisers. Contact UK Sailmakers and discuss how price-performing X-Drive sails will help you sail with confidence. |
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Demonstrating a fundamental truth Istvan Kopar competed in the inaugural edition of the Golden Globe Race — a race that rekindled the spirit of the original 1968 solo non-stop circumnavigation challenge. That 2018-19 journey culminated in him becoming the only American — across both editions to date — to complete the course. Now, he is preparing for a new chapter: the Anniversary Challenge — a solo, non-stop, westbound circumnavigation timed to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026. If the Golden Globe Race celebrates tradition, seamanship, and patience, the Anniversary Challenge takes those same values and turns them directly against the prevailing winds and currents of the planet. - Full report
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Yachting calendar treading water The yachting calendar is treading water as international chaos has created safety concerns. It began in Mexico when drug cartels were stirred by recent government action, with the U.S. Department of State listing significant coastal regions as high-risk travel areas. For California, this led to the cancellation of the Puerto Vallarta Race and has the Newport to Ensenada Race in April watching the headlines. And now the recent conflict with Iran has several prominent events wondering what the impact will be later in the year. The 2026 finale for the World Match Racing Tour and the Women’s World Match Racing Tour are both to be held in November at Amaala on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast. AMAALA is also hosting The Ocean Race 2027 finish. On the other side of the peninsula, the SailGP league has bigger problems as their final two events of the 2026 season are also in November, and across the Persian Gulf from Iran in the United Arab Emirates. “If it’s like it is now, there’s no way we’re going there,” noted Australian skipper Tom Slingsby. “We’ll just have to wait and see. Those decisions are way above my pay grade but I’m sure they’re already looking at it. Everyone will be watching how that all progresses.” Standing by… |