Sailing News Summary for May 9, 2025
With less than 24 hours to go, the Transat Paprec fleet is stacked for a spectacular finish in Saint Barthélemy, with a dozen boats within striking distance. In SailGP, Hans Henken credits Michael Menninger for sharpening Team USA’s tactical edge ahead of New York. France claims the eSailing Nations Cup, World Sailing updates its Olympic class rankings, and young foilers light up Lake Garda in stable breeze. Plus: Hannah Mills promotes clean energy in SailGP, Jamie Gifford shares how to troubleshoot marine electronics at sea, and your sailing highlight of the day captures the thrill of boat-on-boat action.

Sail GP/America’s cup

Hans Henken: U.S. SailGP Team Already Benefiting from Menninger (4 min read)
Flight Controller Hans Henken says the U.S. SailGP Team is seeing immediate gains from the addition of Michael Menninger ahead of the New York Sail Grand Prix. With his elite match racing and foiling experience, Menninger has brought technical insight, unbiased feedback, and strategic clarity to the crew. As SailGP teams rely heavily on data between limited on-water sessions, both sailors are deep into analytics and tactical refinement. New York will be a key test of whether their off-water work translates to race-day execution.

Where will the next America’s Cup be held? Not Auckland (4 min read)
New Zealand will not host the 38th America’s Cup, a decision that has sparked mixed emotions across the country. While some support the financial prudence of skipping the high-cost event, many feel the nation is being denied the rewards of its unparalleled Cup legacy. With lower-cost alternatives like The Ocean Race and SailGP stepping in, Auckland remains a key venue in global sailing. The article also explores the broader impact on New Zealand’s marine industry and national identity.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

Team France Retains eSailing Nations Cup Offshore After Tense Finish (3 min read)
France clinched its second consecutive eSailing Nations Cup Offshore title with a nail-biting win in Leg 3, as teammates BlackPanther and Catherine Rogard battled down to the wire. The victory capped a consistent campaign, with Italy and Switzerland also taking leg wins in earlier stages. Despite fierce competition and challenging conditions across global virtual courses, France’s tactical precision and team cohesion prevailed. The event continues to raise the level of international eSailing.

Transat Paprec Day 19 – Edge of glory, hours from the finish (3 min read)
Transat Paprec Set for Historic Finish in Saint Barthélemy
With fewer than 24 hours to go, the 2024 Transat Paprec is building toward a dramatic climax as the top 12 boats remain tightly bunched, potentially finishing within just four hours of each other. Shifting conditions have played havoc with strategy, with northern teams gaining briefly before being trapped in calm again. The final leg into Saint Barthélemy promises a high-stakes battle under easing trade winds, with the fleet on edge and ready to strike. A live stream will cover the finish, expected overnight local time.

Olympic Class/Dinghy Sailing

World Sailing Olympic Rankings (2 min read)
World Sailing has released its latest Olympic class rankings, reflecting results from the past 12 months and factoring in performances from the recent French Olympic Week. While the rankings offer a snapshot of form heading into the 2028 cycle, they lag slightly behind real-world developments following the Paris 2024 Games. Several athletes have retired or shifted classes, meaning some reshuffling is still to come. The LA 2028 Olympic sailing program remains unchanged with ten medal events scheduled for July 21 – August 6.

iQFOiL Youth & Junior International Games in Torbole, Italy – Day 3 (3 min read)
Stable winds finally allowed full racing on Day 3 at Lake Garda, with 30 starts completed across U17 and U19 fleets. The Netherlands dominated the U17 boys’ fleet, while Turkey’s Rüya Ugurlu remains undefeated in the U17 girls. In the U19 fleets, Italy’s Medea Falcioni continued her near-perfect form, maintaining her lead despite technically still being U17. Gold and Silver fleet racing begins Friday ahead of Saturday’s medal series finale.

Sustainability

Hannah Mills to Share Emirates GBR’s Renewable Energy Success at World Sailing Session (2 min read)
Olympic champion and Emirates GBR SailGP strategist Hannah Mills OBE will speak at World Sailing’s upcoming Sustainability Session on May 14, highlighting the team’s innovative renewable energy project. Their mobile installation of solar panels and micro wind turbines has allowed the team to operate off-grid during events, cutting CO2 emissions significantly. The session aims to inspire other sailing organizations to adopt similar sustainable practices. Mills hopes their blueprint will accelerate change across the sport.

Tech & Gear

Troubleshooting Marine Electronics Aboard | Cruising World (5 min read)
When electronics fail offshore, knowing how to troubleshoot can make the difference between inconvenience and danger. Jamie Gifford shares stories from real-life breakdowns aboard Totem, highlighting the importance of multimeters, thermal cameras, and basic wiring skills. With the right tools and knowledge, even major failures like GPS dropouts or fried radar can be solved in the field. Prepare ahead so your gear doesn’t own you when it matters most.

Sailing Highlight of the Day


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