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Sailing News for September 03, 2025

The Cup is officially heading to Naples in 2027, giving Italy its long awaited home stage. Offshore, Allagrande Mapei delivered a dream win into Genova in The Ocean Race Europe, while Magnetic Island Race Week kept everyone smiling in postcard conditions. The Finn Gold Cup opened in Cascais with epic waves, and Royal Geelong juniors shone at the Cadet Worlds in the Czech Republic. On the gear front, the Roto Hydra offers a family boat for under €13k and SEA.AI launched a new collision avoidance system at Cannes. Plus a preview of the Southampton Boat Show and SailGP drama in Sassnitz for our highlight.

Sail GP/America’s Cup

Naples Italy Confirmed for the 38th America’s Cup (5 min read)
The Cup is heading to Naples in 2027, marking the first time the Louis Vuitton Cup and America’s Cup Match will be raced off Italy’s shores. Expect passion, pageantry, and plenty of red, white, and green as Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli finally gets a true home stage. The regatta hub will be in Bagnoli, with racing in the Gulf of Naples framed by castles, cliffs, and light Mediterranean breezes. For Italy, it is as much about regeneration and pride as it is about lifting the oldest trophy in sport.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

Everyone a winner in Magnetic Island Race Week Round the Island Race (6 min read)
Day 4 at SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week delivered the crowd favorite Around the Island Race, 21 nautical miles of light breeze, spinnakers, and postcard scenery. From Freya’s local knowledge win in Division 4 to Ponyo edging Hobart champ Quest by just 5 seconds, the results were as varied as the boats. Multihulls, cruisers, and keelboats all had their glory moments, proving Maggie’s magic works for everyone. With one race to go, the regatta is still wide open and spirits are high.

The Ocean Race Europe: Day 4 – Popular win for Italian home team – Podium decided (5 min read)
Italy’s Allagrande Mapei delivered the home crowd dream, winning Leg 4 of The Ocean Race Europe into Genova after 600 miles of light-air drama and bursts of 30-knot foiling. Ambrogio Beccaria’s crew crossed first in 2 days, 8 hours, chased by Paprec Arkéa just 51 minutes back. Biotherm will round out the podium, ending their winning streak but keeping the overall lead. For the Italian team, it was a popular and emotional victory in front of their own fans.

Olympic Class/Dinghy Sailing

Epic conditions herald opening of 2025 Finn Gold Cup in Cascais (5 min read)
Cascais rolled out the red carpet for the Finn Gold Cup with sunshine, 15 knot breeze and rolling Atlantic waves, and sailors are calling it epic already. More than 80 competitors from 20 nations are set to battle for one of dinghy sailing’s most iconic trophies, with last year’s champ Oskari Muhonen swooping in last minute to defend his title. Forecasts promise light stuff early before cranking up later in the week, meaning this fleet will need fitness, finesse and plenty of grit. Proper Finn sailing.

Youth Sailing/Development

International Cadet World Championship, Lake Lipno, Czech Republic (4 min read)
Royal Geelong Yacht Club’s juniors lit up the Cadet Worlds in the Czech Republic, with Jack Benyan and Louis Davis nabbing third overall in a stacked 79-boat fleet. Benyan also scooped the Wilson and Ellis trophies as best helm under 16 and under 15, proving he’s one to watch. Teammates backed it up with top-12 finishes and even the youngest crew in the regatta cracked the leaderboard. From podium glory to promising debuts, RGYC’s next generation showed serious depth and talent.

Tech & Gear

A family boat for 12,900 euros (5 min read)
Meet the Roto Hydra 530, a 5.3 meter dayboat that skips fiberglass and lamination entirely in favor of rotomoulded polyethylene, the same stuff used for fuel tanks and kayaks. It is light, tough, and cheap enough to tempt both families and rental fleets. With a 90 HP outboard it hits 33 knots, but even a 40 HP will keep you cruising happily. Add in room for 10, a bow sunpad, and recycling at end of life, and you have one of the most practical budget speedsters afloat.

SEA.AI Unveils Watchkeeper Collision-Avoidance System (4 min read)
SEA.AI just rolled out Watchkeeper at Cannes, an AI-powered “second set of eyes” for sailors and powerboaters. Using 4K low-light optics, optional thermal imaging, and a database of millions of marine objects, it can spot everything from buoys to unlit boats before you do. Starting at $5,800, it is far cheaper than most high-end safety systems and designed to be plug-and-play for both cruising yachts and faster powerboats. A serious safety boost for anyone who sails after sunset.

Spotlight

Southampton Boat Show 2025: everything you need to know (6 min read)
Britain’s biggest boating festival is back from 19–28 September with a new layout, six themed zones, and more than 300 boats in the marina. Expect everything from jet ski stunts and try-a-boat sessions to wooden boatbuilding demos, expert talks with legends like Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, and live music in The Shipyard. Power fans get their own hub featuring the record-breaking Thunder Child II, while cruisers can soak up insider tips on offshore passages, pets at sea, and European sailing. It is basically ten days of all things afloat.

Applications open for Nominated and Independent Director role on RYA Northern Ireland board (4 min read)
RYA Northern Ireland is looking for fresh faces to join its board as Nominated or Independent Directors, with roles ranging from chair to portfolio-free directors. Whether you are a club-nominated sailor or an outsider with skills in PR, fundraising, or strategy, this is a chance to shape the future of sailing in Northern Ireland. The goal is to broaden perspectives, champion diversity, and keep the sport thriving. Applications are open now for anyone ready to make a real impact.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

Sassnitz served up snakes and ladders as France, Emirates GBR and Australia’s Flying Roos battled patchy breeze and brutal foiling drop offs. GBR looked hot off the line but lost their edge when the wind gods pulled the plug, letting Quentin Delapierre and the French slip through with cool heads and sharp maneuvers. The final leg was pure tension with France just keeping the foils flying long enough to seal a hard fought win. A clutch victory and proof that calm beats chaos in light air SailGP.