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Sailing News for August 19, 2025

Germany’s SailGP squad nearly made a dream final at home before France stole the spotlight in Sassnitz, where co-owner Sebastian Vettel thrilled fans with a high-speed fly-by. In Palma, the 52 SUPER SERIES is off and running with a stacked fleet and plenty of off-water buzz. Olympic coach Steve Hunt shares how to nail port-tack approaches at the weather mark, while the Junior Pan American Games handed out foiling and dinghy golds across the Americas. Cruising stories span Baltic trailer-sailing simplicity to James Frederick’s hard-won solo lessons, capped by Catalina unveiling its all-new 48. Today’s highlight features Holcim-PRB grinding through light-air battles in The Ocean Race Europe.

Sail GP/America’s Cup

Home Crowd, High Hopes: Germany’s Near Miss at SailGP (7 min read)
Team Germany nearly pulled off a dream finish in front of their home crowd in Sassnitz, sitting on the brink of the final before tricky winds and a messy last race sent them tumbling to fifth. France stole the show, storming back from a training crash and hospital scare to beat Australia and Britain in a nail-biting showdown. The Germans still walked away with hard-fought points, growing confidence, and proof they can hang with the big guns.

F1 Star Sebastian Vettel Joins Germany Deutsche Bank for Epic Sassnitz Fly-By (3 min read)
Four-time Formula 1 champion Sebastian Vettel traded the racetrack for foiling speed in Sassnitz, joining his co-owned Germany SailGP Team for a pre-race fly-by. The F50 ripped across the course in front of thousands of fans, giving Germany’s first-ever SailGP event a proper show. Vettel admitted he’d forgotten just how brutal the G-forces feel on board but called the moment “really special.” A perfect crossover of motorsport star power and sailing spectacle.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

52 SUPER SERIES – Puerto Portals (6 min read)
The Bay of Palma is alive with action as the Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES kicks off. Gladiator and American Magic Quantum Racing grabbed the first practice race wins, setting the tone for a stacked week where nearly every boat is capable of scoring. Tactician Guillermo Parada stressed consistency as the key, while Thai team Vayu made headlines with navigator Elvira Llabrés’ debut on home waters. Add in Rachel Hunter joining the social buzz on Alpha+, and this Mallorca stop has plenty of flair both on and off the racecourse.

Olympic Class/Dinghy Sailing

Port Tacker’s Guide To The Weather Mark (8 min read)
Charging the weather mark on port can make you a hero or a zero, and Steve Hunt explains how to tilt the odds your way. Instead of barging into the three-length zone and hoping for mercy, think “Tim’s Lane” and a smart three-tack approach that keeps you clear of the starboard parade. With clean boat handling and sharp timing, you can turn risk into gain without drawing whistles. Bottom line: better a safe duck than penalty turns and dirty looks.

Youth Sailing/Development

Junior Pan American Games (3 min read)
Light winds set the stage in Asunción, Paraguay, but the young sailors delivered. Team USA struck gold with Makani Andrews winning the Men’s iQFOiL and Hamilton Barclay topping the ILCA 7. The Bahamas’ Eliza Denning shone in ILCA 6, Aruba’s Zara Rozeboom ruled the Women’s iQFOiL, and Brazil’s Lucas Pes Fonseca took Men’s Formula Kite. A stacked medal haul across the Americas, and a big confidence boost for the next generation eyeing the Olympic pathway.

Cruising

My Trailer-Sailer Cruise in the Baltic (6 min read)
Charles Erb packed his family of four into their Cape Cutter 19 Aurora and set off trailer-sailing through the Stockholm archipelago. Think shallow draft exploring, mooring bow to rock with a stern anchor, fishing for dinner, and baking bread in a thermal cooker. With solar panels keeping the lights on and wells topping up water, it was all about simplicity and adventure. Not exactly luxury, but definitely freedom, and proof you don’t need a big yacht to unlock the magic of the Baltic.

What I’ve Learned From Sailing Half Way Around The World Alone (10 min read)
James Frederick is circumnavigating solo on his 30ft Alberg sloop Triteia and halfway in, he’s learned plenty about grit, patience, and self-reliance. From steering 1,000 miles to Hawaii with a drogue after losing his rudder to riding out gales in New Zealand’s Bay of Islands without an engine, his journey has been anything but easy. Still, the payoffs have been huge: manta rays in French Polynesia, epic sunrises, and the satisfaction of solving every problem alone. His takeaway? Courage makes the world bigger.

Catalina Yachts Unveils All-New Catalina 48 (6 min read)
Catalina just rolled out its boldest project yet, the Catalina 48, a flagship cruiser created with Tripp Design. It is the company’s first 48-footer and blends Catalina’s reputation for rugged, family-friendly boats with sleek modern lines and upgraded comfort. Think big cockpit, generous living spaces, and styling that feels both classic and fresh. More than a new model, the 48 signals a shift in Catalina’s future, aiming to redefine American cruising with a touch of luxury.

Spotlight

The Team Comes First (9 min read)
Cameron Appleton’s career has been built on loyalty, teamwork, and a knack for staying one step ahead as a tactician. From his long partnership with Chris Bake’s Team Aqua in the RC44s to America’s Cup battles and today’s grand prix circuits, Appleton has always put the owner’s goals and the team’s success above personal glory. Now a partner at Doyle Sails Newport, he’s blending racing insight with sailmaking craft while staying true to the values instilled by mentors like Sir Peter Blake.

Save the Dates for 2025 RYA Connected Conferences (5 min read)
The RYA Connected Conferences are back this November, giving clubs and class associations across the UK a chance to share ideas, hear from guest speakers, and get practical tools for building stronger organisations. This year’s theme is all about developing the next generation of leaders and empowering more volunteers to step up with confidence. From Belfast to Southampton, seven free regional events are on the calendar, plus online forums in Scotland. Mark your diary and get ready to connect, learn, and recharge your sailing community.

Blurring the Line Between Sport and Entertainment (9 min read)
From IMOCA crashes in The Ocean Race Europe to SailGP’s terrifying beam failures and record-breaking speeds, sailing is serving up plenty of viral moments. But as Mark Jardine argues, the chase for clicks risks tipping the balance between sport, safety, and spectacle. Do scoring gates and 100 km/h headlines add drama or just pressure teams into reckless situations? While social media loves the carnage, the real heart of sailing is still found in fleets like the Flying Fifteens in Weymouth, proving competition doesn’t need sensationalism to shine.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

Light, shifty breeze and bumpy waves are testing Holcim-PRB as they grind through the transition zone off Brittany. The crew swapped sails, dodged traffic separation schemes, and now face the all-important challenge of breaking into fresh pressure first. Get it right and they’ll rocket ahead, get it wrong and they’ll be left wallowing. With competitors just ahead, every knot of boatspeed counts in this knife-edge part of Leg 2.