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Sailing News for August 12, 2025

The 2027 America’s Cup is officially on with Grant Dalton and Ben Ainslie set to reveal the full protocol. The Ocean Race Europe’s Kiel start saw Holcim PRB and Allagrande Mapei collide at speed, triggering damage, protests, and a frantic repair race before Portsmouth. Cruisers spot two orcas off the Isles of Scilly, thankfully not the yacht-bumping kind, and Explorer Chartbooks celebrates 30 years guiding Bahamas voyagers. A sharp take asks whether U.S. sailing will ever fully embrace foiling. Plus, a dramatic 75-foot grounding in Hawaii tops this week’s video highlight.

Sail GP/America’s Cup

America’s Cup: Protocol signing confirmed – formal announcement to come (1 min read)
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and the Royal Yacht Squadron have agreed on the protocol for the 2027 America’s Cup, with a full reveal coming soon. Grant Dalton and Ben Ainslie will lead the announcement, confirming details that match last week’s reports. For Cup fans, it is the official green light for the next chapter of sailing’s most famous trophy hunt and the countdown to 2027 starts now.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

What led to the Ocean Race yachts crash? (8 min read)
The Ocean Race Europe kicked off in Kiel with seven foiling Imocas blasting toward the first gate at over 20 knots… until Holcim PRB broached a mile in, keel set wrong, and Allagrande Mapei plowed right into them. The collision shredded sails, punched holes in hulls, and triggered protests from both teams. Now it’s a full-speed repair scramble, borrowing parts from rivals and racing the clock to make next Sunday’s Portsmouth start. Offshore sailing’s Formula 1 just had its Monaco pile-up.

The Ocean Race Europe – Paul Meilhat in control (5 min read)
Paul Meilhat’s Biotherm came out of Kiel looking sharp and fast, grabbing the first scoring gate and leading the IMOCA pack into the North Sea. A month of prep in northern Europe is paying off with clean boat handling and tight teamwork, holding Paprec Arkéa and Malizia at bay through a wet, bumpy coastal slog. Now the course opens up, the breeze is set to ease, and tactical choices could flip the leaderboard. Biotherm is ahead for now, but the North Sea loves a plot twist.

Cruising

Orcas sighted in UK waters are ‘not from yacht-damaging pod’ (5 min read)
Two female orcas made a surprise appearance near the Isles of Scilly, thrilling a seabird survey crew. They are not part of the infamous rudder-busting Iberian pod. Identified as C001 and C002 from the elusive Vega pod, these 30-something giants have been seen before in Portugal and Gibraltar but keep their movements mysterious. Experts say warming seas are pushing more marine life north, from dolphins to humpbacks to booming octopus numbers. Sailors can relax because these ladies cruise, not crash.

Explorer Chartbooks Mark 30 Years Guiding Bahamas Cruisers (4 min read)
For 30 years, Monty and Sara Lewis’s Explorer Chartbooks have been the go-to guides for navigating the Bahamas’ maze of reefs and cays. What started in the late ’80s as hand-drawn maps and local tips has grown into three meticulously updated volumes covering the Near, Far, and Exumas regions. The new editions drop this September, packed with fresh hydrographic data, marina updates, and cruising intel. For anyone dreaming of turquoise anchorages, these charts are still the gold standard for getting there safely.

Two shows, one city: Twice the opportunity to step onboard with Ancasta this September (6 min read)
This September, yacht shoppers get a double treat in Southampton. Ancasta will showcase a lineup of new and pre-owned sail and powerboats at the Southampton International Boat Show and their boutique Autumn Show at Swanwick Marina. Expect UK premieres like the Lagoon 38 and Prestige F5.7, bluewater stars like the Contest 55CS, and luxury offerings from Sanlorenzo and Bluegame. Whether you want a family cruiser, a performance RIB, or an owner’s-suite catamaran, it is two boat shows, one city, and plenty of temptation.

Foiling

Are we eternally slow boaters? (3 min read)
A reader asks if the U.S. will ever catch up on foiling, or if we’re destined to lag like we did with multihulls. The Curmudgeon says interest is there, but cost, skill, safety, and tricky performance in light or heavy chop slow adoption. The foiling WASZP made an appearance at the 2025 U.S. Singlehanded Championship, giving sailors a taste of the buzzier side of the sport. The U.S. is moving the needle, but with a country this big, change doesn’t happen overnight.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

A 75-foot Atlantis Adventures shuttle boat got caught by a heavy set near Kewalo Basin, surfed sideways into the jetty and ran aground. Two crew stayed aboard until high tide, when the vessel drifted and later struck a seawall before salvage crews moved in. The Coast Guard, Ocean Safety and multiple agencies kept watch as 12-foot surf complicated the rescue. No one was hurt, no fuel spilled, and the boat, normally used to ferry submarine tour guests, now faces a costly recovery.