Yachting calendar treading water

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A Winter the Media Noticed by Deb Whitehorse A few weeks ago, before the latest storm buried the East Coast in snow, strong ice and clear wind brought the Van Nostrand Challenge Cup back to the Navesink River in Red Bank. The historic race ignited a wave of attention. 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.

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. https://www.uksailmakers.com/x-drive-sails/

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

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…

One singular sensation

 

Prime number: One singular sensation

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Planning to see a Broadway show on your own? You’re not alone—even though you will be at the show: Solo theatergoers purchased nearly 20% of Broadway tickets, according to data from the Broadway League cited by NPR. That’s double the rate of just a few years ago, NPR reported. The rise of people who want to see a show without having to discuss it over an overpriced dinner in the theater district afterward reflects a broader cultural shift toward doing things alone. People are also traveling, eating at restaurants, and watching movies and concerts all by themselves in greater numbers, a social psychologist told NPR. Looks like we’ve all become a pack of loners.

Grondin, Cayard claim 2025 Rolex honors

 

Naval architect Bill Tripp traces his love of sailing to his father, Bill Tripp II (above), famed designer of boats like the Bermuda 40 and Columbia 50. Bill grew up surrounded by his dad’s sea stories, and shares a vivid tale below in this newsletter.

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: North Sails - Lex Risks - Tripp Design   Pardon the interruption In a perfect storm of Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) and Presidents Day (Feb. 16), along with the Scuttlebutt team supporting the fully subscribed 2026 Women’s Winter Invitational Regatta (Feb. 13-15) in San Diego, the next newsletter will be delayed until February 20. Thanks! Grondin, Cayard claim 2025 Rolex honors US Sailing has revealed the 2025 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Awards, with Paul Cayard and Laura Grondin recognized for the most outstanding performances in sailing by American athletes over the past year. A nomination period submitted possible candidates, with a committee selected by US Sailing to advance the top three men and women. The award recipients were announced at New York Yacht Club’s Champions Dinner on February 12, 2026 in New York City, co-hosted by New York Yacht Club and US Sailing. Each year, the awards not only recognize individual achievement but also inspire future generations of sailors to pursue excellence. The selection process emphasizes not only competitive success, but also the sportsmanship, leadership, and commitment that define exceptional sailors. A seasoned veteran on the racing scene, Paul Cayard has no shortage of titles to his name. But his mainstay has been the Star Class, where in 2025 he won the World Championship, triumphing over a fleet of 100-plus boats. This championship win is Cayard’s second Star World title – 37 years after his first World’s win. He also placed third at the Star North American Championship. Outside of Star sailing, Cayard is an accomplished tactician, winning the Voiles des St. Tropez on Twin Soul B. Laura Grondin made history as the first female helm to win the J/70 World Championship this past year, with the title coming down to the final moments of the final race. Grondin also finished second at the Melges 24 World Championship, overcoming a collision and two DNFs early in the regatta. A former International Melges 24 Class Chair, Grondin is also one of the class’s most accomplished female owner-drivers, consistently demonstrating competitive excellence and leadership both on and off the water. Established in 1961 by US Sailing and sponsored by Rolex, these awards are widely regarded as the highest individual honors in American sailing. For more information on the awards: https://www.ussailing.org/competition/awards-trophies/us-sailings-rolex-yachtsman-yachtswoman-of-the-year-awards/

 

Do local tax hikes actually scare off millionaires?

Alyssa Nassner

The folks streaming the Super Bowl from their couches sometimes cheer the idea of hiking taxes on those privileged to watch it from the stadium’s executive box. But high-earners and some critics claim that local tax hikes can backfire, since those jetting into Santa Clara, CA, for the big game today could also pack their bags for good in a move to lower-tax jurisdictions. The debate is gaining steam in 2026, as several states and cities consider reaching into the deepest local pockets to cover public spending: New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani is lobbying state leaders to raise taxes on the richest New Yorkers to fund campaign proposals like free childcare and bus service. Several state legislatures, including Virginia’s, Washington’s, and Rhode Island’s, are mulling their own millionaire income tax hikes, while Californians might soon vote on a ballot measure that would impose a one-time 5% tax on the wealth of residents worth $1 billion or more. Some wealthy New Yorkers have threatened to leave the Big Apple over taxes. And Google co-founder Larry Page already left California in response to the state’s proposed billionaire tax. Venture capitalist David Sacks personally left California for Austin, TX. His firm, Craft Ventures, opened an office in Austin but is maintaining its San Francisco location too. Other Silicon Valley billionaires, like Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, said they won’t ditch the Bear State. Moneybags repellent? The millionaire tax in Massachusetts, which slaps a 4% surcharge on income over $1 million, passed in 2022 and has been held up as a success story. Supporters laud the levy for bringing in almost $6 billion to the state’s coffers over the first two years, boosting education funding and plugging gaps in the public transit budget. Boosters claim that wealthy Massachusetts residents haven’t rushed to rent U-Hauls, citing the rising number of millionaires in the state since the tax was imposed, perhaps because the state’s high quality of life outweighs the tax burden. But the Boston-based libertarian think tank Pioneer Institute insists that local wealth growth is largely due to ballooning asset values and notes that counting Mass-based millionaires doesn’t reflect the number of affluent residents moving to lower-tax destinations like Florida and New Hampshire. Big picture: Evidence from across the US is mixed, as several studies show that millionaires don’t move en masse in response to tax hikes, and when they do, it’s not as significant as headlines might imply. Though some research pushes back, saying that a not-insignificant number of high earners do leave over time.—SK

 

AI has found a home in real estate

Sundaemorning/Getty Images

Buying and selling a home can be a chore, as anyone who’s ever posted a picture holding a set of keys with the caption “So, we did a thing!” can attest. Many people have turned to AI to help smooth out the process. Streamlining search: Rather than clicking through 100 boxes to pick your desired home type, price, square footage, and amenities, you can just ask ChatGPT to “find three-bedroom homes that have been on the market for a while with a fenced-in yard, fireplace, and a dog park nearby.” If you add “Zillow” to the front of your prompt, it will bring up the app and show you photos and maps. Unfortunately, AI still can’t tell you whether the neighbors next door raise tarantulas. Getting down to brass tacks: Once you find a place, AI can help make you aware of potential red flags or determine how much to offer by: Pointing out things like old roofs, suspect HVAC systems, and cracks in the drywall. Determining how much energy those vaulted ceilings could cost you. Translating notes from a home inspection into plain language. Sellers are getting in on the action, too: Realtors are using generative AI to virtually stage home photos and write property descriptions. There are some horror stories (like AI-hallucinated bathroom demons), but overall, 50% of agents say AI has had at least a moderately positive impact on business, according to a 2025 National Association of Realtors survey.

Most spectacular yachts in film and TV

 Most spectacular yachts in film and TV

When BOAT International sought to profile the most spectacular yachts in film and TV, they knew the glitz and glamour of superyachts make them ideal stars in everything from box-office blockbusters to the latest Netflix drama. From cartel chaos to catamaran soirees, their list of 22 yachts were nearly all powerboats, but thanks to James Bond, two sailing yachts made the cut:

No Time to Die
A Spirit 46 sailing yacht takes a starring role in the James Bond film No Time to Die. The 14-metre sailing yacht features in the film, which catches up with Bond following his departure from active service. This is not the first time Spirit Yachts has collaborated with the Bond franchise. In 2006, the Spirit 54 featured heavily in Daniel Craig’s first Bond film Casino Royale when it became the first sailing yacht to travel up Venice’s Grand Canal in 300 years.

Skyfall
Daniel Craig’s turns as 007 brought a new generation of beautiful sailing yachts onto the big screen, the most notable of which was Aria I. This 56-metre steel schooner from Pruva Yachting starred in the 2012 film Skyfall as Chimera, the yacht which carried James Bond to villain Raoul Silva’s island hideaway. Preparing the yacht for filming was an arduous process, including re-upholstering inside and out.

Robert Duvall died at 95

 Robert Duvall died at 95. The legendary Apocalypse Now and The Godfather actor, whose career spanned six decades, died Sunday at his home in Virginia, his wife, Luciana, said. A seven-time Oscar nominee who won Best Actor for his role in the 1983 drama Tender Mercies, the versatile Duvall was known for his quiet intensity. According to the Hollywood Reporter, his favorite role was the cowboy Augustus McCrae in the 1989 miniseries Lonesome Dove, based on the acclaimed novel by Larry McMurtry. James Garner was the initial choice for the role but declined because he couldn’t ride a horse for long periods, whereas Duvall was a skilled rider.

 

Renowned restaurateur is fed up with influencers overrunning his restaurant

 

London restaurateur Jeremy King says he’s tired of online influencers ruining the dining experience for other guests as they try to make content for their followers. Some influencers get annoyed about not being allowed to use a tripod, while others rush to the bathroom to change outfits and then complain that their food is cold. King said the troublesome behavior has “gone beyond decency and has become incredibly intrusive,” forcing him to consider banning influencers altogether ...

 

Switzerland will vote on a population cap

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Unlike your college apartment, Switzerland might limit the number of people allowed to live there. Yesterday, the Swiss government scheduled a June referendum on whether the home of Toblerone should cap its population at 10 million. Promoted by a popular right-wing party, the ballot measure—which could limit immigration not just of refugees but also skilled workers—is meant to address the effects of mass migration like ballooning housing costs, overcrowded transit, and changing culture. At capacity, no cap Switzerland’s vibrant economy and Alpine paradise image made it into an immigrant magnet: Its population grew 10%, to 9.1 million, in the past decade—five times faster than that of the EU. If the demographic ceiling passes, authorities would restrict newcomers: Once the population reaches 9.5 million—projected for 2035—the government would have to suspend immigration for family members of foreign residents and limit asylum. At 10 million, Switzerland would start withdrawing from international treaties that make its borders more porous than its cheese, like its free movement accord with the EU, which allows Europeans to live and work there. Critics say this could threaten trade with the EU, the destination of over 40% of Swiss exports. Meanwhile, business leaders are worried about a skilled worker shortage and reduced pension contributions. It might happen…according to a November poll, 48% of voters support the measure, 11% are undecided, and 41% oppose it.

 

Charles Milliard acclaimed as new leader of Quebec Liberal Party

By

The Canadian Press

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Updated: February 13, 2026 at 6:12PM EST

Published: February 13, 2026 at 6:17AM EST

Quebec Liberal Party leadership candidate Charles Milliard walks on stage before giving a speech at the Quebec Liberal Party Leadership Conference in Quebec City, Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Joel Ryan/The Canadian Press)

The Quebec Liberals have acclaimed 46-year-old Charles Milliard as their new leader, forgoing the need for a second leadership race in less than one year.

With no other candidate accepted by the party, the Liberals formally announced Milliard as the new leader shortly after Friday’s application deadline.

“It’s an important moment for our party,” the Liberals said in a message posted on social media. “It’s a moment that engages us and brings us together and propels us into the future.”

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Milliard is a member of the Quebec order of pharmacists and was head of the federation of Quebec chambers of commerce.

He came second in the 2025 Liberal leadership race to ex-federal cabinet minister Pablo Rodriguez, who resigned in December amid a crisis involving allegations of vote-buying and reimbursed donations.

Milliard has never held public office but has been a member of the Quebec Liberals since 2010.

He is promising to renew the party, which has fallen out of favour with large swaths of the francophone majority, with the provincial election scheduled for Oct. 5.

Milliard will spend his first days as leader at a pivotal moment in Quebec politics. The Coalition Avenir Québec is also seeking a new leader after Premier François Legault announced last month he would step down.

• READ MORE: Quicksketch: A look at newly acclaimed Quebec Liberal Leader Charles Milliard

Meanwhile, the Parti Québécois have been riding high in the polls for more than two years, with the Quebec Liberals in a distant second place.

The Quebec Liberals had previously announced a large rally this Sunday at a hotel in Trois-Rivières, Que. to welcome their new leader, who does not have a seat in the Quebec legislature.

The only other potential rival in the Liberal leadership race was Mario Roy, a farmer from Quebec’s Beauce region.

He confirmed an interest in running, but was excluded by the party for not meeting the nomination requirements. Roy finished fifth during that 2025 race.

Currently, Liberal member Marc Tanguay is serving as the party’s parliamentary leader.

Milliard is taking over the leadership of a party that has been plagued by allegations about its last leadership race.

Le Journal de Montréal published text messages in November suggesting some party members who had voted for Rodriguez in the leadership race could have received cash rewards.

A separate report in Le Journal de Montréal alleged that around 20 donors to Rodriguez’ leadership campaign received envelopes containing $500 in cash to reimburse their donations during a fundraising event in April.

The Canadian Press has not independently verified the allegations in those media reports.

The province’s anti-corruption unit has opened an investigation into the fundraising.

This week, a retired Quebec Superior Court judge, hired by the party to investigate the allegations, released his findings saying he was not able to corroborate the media reports.

The review also noted there was nothing to suggest Rodriguez was aware of alleged fundraising irregularities.

Rodriguez was also dogged by the firing of his former parliamentary leader Marwah Rizqy’s chief of staff, Geneviève Hinse, a close collaborator of Rodriguez.

Hinse is suing Rizqy, the former Liberal parliamentary leader, for $500,000 for wrongful dismissal after she was fired on Nov. 17. Hinse denies allegations by Rizqy that she was fired for circumventing rules that forbid using legislature funds for partisan work.

Neither Rizqy’s nor Hinse’s claims have been tested in court.

In the aftermath of Hinse’s dismissal, Rizqy was expelled from the Liberal caucus by Rodriguez.

But she returned to the legislature earlier this year and told reporters that it would be up to the next leader to decide whether she rejoins the Liberal caucus.

She met with Milliard but did not reveal the discussion.

“I never wanted to be excluded,” Rizqy told reporters. “I can assure you that I did everything I could to preserve my integrity, and that of the party, when I was parliamentary leader.”

Rizqy has said she won’t seek re-election.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 13, 2026.