24 hours of sailing news in 5 minutes.

Sailing News for July 21, 2025

Peter Burling and Team New Zealand won a tense SailGP showdown in Portsmouth, edging past home favorites Emirates GBR. Spain nosedived out of contention and Switzerland earned a breakthrough first podium. Offshore, a 36-foot Beneteau stunned by finishing second over the line in the Transpac, punching well above its size. Cruisers plot their hurricane hideouts, Doyle Sails finds fresh momentum, and Ian Williams opens up about winning, foiling, and life beyond the America’s Cup.

Sail GP/America’s Cup

Watch Spain’s Wild Nosedive Shake Up Portsmouth (2 min read)
Spain went from clawing back to crashing out in Portsmouth, with a dramatic nosedive in Race 6 that wrecked their fairings and wrecked their scorecard. Diego Botin’s crew was already playing catch-up after a pre-start penalty, but things really fell apart when the F50 launched too high and slammed down hard. They limped in last and tumbled to eighth overall. It’s a rough look for the defending champs, and a big twist in the SailGP leaderboard.

Kiwis Crush British Hopes with Nail-Biting Win in Portsmouth (3 min read)
Peter Burling and the New Zealand SailGP team spoiled the British home crowd’s party with a razor-thin win over Dylan Fletcher’s Emirates GBR in the Portsmouth finale. Despite GBR leading the weekend, the Kiwis clinched their third win of the event and now top the championship leaderboard with 54 points. Switzerland reached their first final but were sidelined by technical issues, while France claimed Race 6 after a chaotic restart caused by a spectator boat drifting onto the course. It was classic SailGP with speed, drama, and heartbreak.

Switzerland Scores First-Ever SailGP Podium in Portsmouth (3 min read)
Switzerland cracked the top three at SailGP for the first time, finishing third overall in Portsmouth after a breakout weekend. The team placed 5-1-2-6-8-3-4 in fleet racing to earn a spot in the final against GBR and New Zealand. A strong start had them in the mix before a hydraulic failure forced them to retire. Still, this is a major milestone for the young team, which has been steadily improving all season. Confidence is high heading into Sassnitz and their home event in Geneva this fall.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

Transpac Shock: 36-Foot Beneteau Finishes Second Over the Line (5 min read)
In a fleet packed with maxis, a 36-foot production Beneteau just stole the spotlight. Rahan, a custom First 36 SE sailed doublehanded by Charles-Etienne Devanneaux and Frédéric Courouble, finished second over the line in the 2025 Transpac, beating boats twice her size. Averaging over 10 knots with top speeds over 20, she proved that smart design and relentless sailing can punch way above their weight. Small boat, huge performance, and a serious flex for the new First 36 SE.

Cruising

The Best Hurricane Holes in the Caribbean (And Why They Matter) (9 min read)
When the tropics start brewing, cruisers head for cover. Float’s Jens Brambusch breaks down seven of the best hurricane-season hideouts, from boatyard-heavy Trinidad and lively Grenada to the jungle calm of Guatemala’s Rio Dulce. Luperon stands out for its unbeatable cruiser community, while Curaçao and Panama offer solid protection with some serious off-season charm. Each spot has its pros and quirks, but one thing’s clear: hurricane season is all about finding a place you won’t mind calling home for a while.

Tech & Gear

How to Bend Acrylic and Replace Curved Saloon Windows (8 min read)
Andy Pag tackled a DIY window refit on his Lagoon 410 and lived to tell the tale. After warping acrylic in barbecues, botching it in kilns, and nearly giving up, he finally nailed the curve using a custom-built former and a pro-grade oven. The result? Crisp new saloon windows and a crash course in heat, patience, and plastic wizardry. If you’re thinking about replacing crazed acrylic, this guide is gold. Just don’t skip the mineral oil and felt.

Doyle Sails Finds Its Groove After Joining NTG (6 min read)
A year after joining North Technology Group, Doyle Sails is back to doing what it does best: making fast sails and pushing boundaries. With business management off their backs, Mike Sanderson and crew are focused on innovation, from racing the refitted Callisto at the Admiral’s Cup to advancing their Hybrid sail tech. New robotic production tools, fresh capital, and a still-fierce underdog spirit are keeping Doyle sharp. The result? Less stress, more speed, and sails that are winning big.

Spotlight

Ian Williams on Ditching Law, Winning Big, and Missing the America’s Cup (5 min read)
Shirley Robertson chats with Ian Williams, eight-time match racing world champ, about his leap from law to sailing and the strategy that keeps him winning. Williams shares how focusing on his own plays changed everything, why understanding why you win matters, and how the shift to foiling left his America’s Cup dreams behind. Now he’s helping shape Britain’s AC team as a pre-start coach. Smart, honest, and full of insight, this one’s worth a listen.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

Alex Thomson’s solo circumnavigation had it all: busted foils, a fishing boat crash before the start, near disaster in the Southern Ocean, and a finish just 16 hours off the win. He sailed 73 days alone, slept in 20-minute chunks, and still managed to crack jokes on camera. It’s fast, raw, and brutally honest. If you want to feel what it’s like to race around the planet completely solo, watch this.