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Sailing News for September 11, 2025

SailGP roars back in Saint-Tropez as the U.S. team returns with a freshly rebuilt F50 and new high-speed rudders that could redefine the game. Offshore, La Solitaire du Figaro descended into anchor-dropping chaos off Dieppe, while the Rolex NYYC Invitational Cup shuffled its leaderboard. In Portimão, the iQFOiL U23 Worlds heated up as new leaders emerged, and Manly’s 16-foot skiffs launched their season with young guns stealing the spotlight. Cruisers got practical wisdom on sailing into their later years plus a double catamaran review, while the National Sailing Hall of Fame prepares to induct Ken Read and Greg Fisher.

Sail GP/America’s Cup

CONFIRMED: U.S. SailGP Team On Track For Return In Saint-Tropez (3 min read)
The U.S. SailGP Team is officially back in the game after last month’s crash sidelined their F50 in Germany. Thanks to a speedy rebuild at SailGP Technologies and some heavy lifting by the shore crew, the boat is patched up and ready for the Côte d’Azur. Mike Buckley says the team is fired up to pick up where they left off, and they’ll be lining up on Friday in Saint-Tropez. Expect some sparks when the Americans hit the water again.

Turbocharged: SailGP unleashes new rudders for Saint-Tropez (4 min read)
SailGP just rolled out thinner, longer rudders that push the cavitation limit from 51 mph to 66 mph. That means tighter control, bigger foiling windows, and wilder maneuvers without risking constant breakages. On top of that, new foil-protection software is coming soon to automatically ease daggerboard loads in extreme maneuvers. With Saint-Tropez as the testbed, the F50s are set to fly faster and harder than ever, making this weekend’s racing even more spectacular.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec – All that for this… (5 min read)
Chaos erupted off Dieppe when the leading trio in La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec hit the mark just as the wind vanished. With tide pushing hard, Victor Le Pape, Jules Ducelier, and Alexis Loison literally dropped anchor to hold position, only to watch rivals sail past into better breeze. Positions flipped, tempers frayed, and the fleet compressed again. It’s a brutal reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in this race, and with stronger winds on the horizon, the real battles are only just beginning.

Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup Day 2 (6 min read)
Day 2 in Newport delivered a shake-up at the Invitational Cup. Japan bounced back from a rough opener with a fourth and a dramatic race win, proving last night’s long debrief paid off. Royal Canadian YC were the day’s big winners, scoring a steady 10 points to close in on leaders San Diego YC, while Royal Cork kept climbing with a second to cap their best day yet. With lighter winds ahead and no throwouts in the series, every point will count from here on.

Olympic Class/Dinghy Sailing

iQFOiL U23 World Championships at Portimão – Day 3 (6 min read)
Day 3 in Portimão swapped blasting breezes for trickier 10–13 knot shifts, forcing sailors to think harder than they pumped. Grae Morris still leads the men but had a mixed day, while Italy’s Leonardo Tomasini surged into second with a clutch win and Britain’s Duncan Monaghan climbed into third. In the women’s fleet, Nela Sadílkova jumped from fifth to first after a storybook day capped by a race win. With the Gold fleet now set, the title fight is wide open and getting spicy.

Youth Sailing/Development

Season Opener at Manly 16′ Skiff Club (4 min read)
Manly’s skiff season opened in style with sunshine, fresh sails, and a few classic false starts. Daniel Turner’s crew looked sharp but jumped early, which handed the 16s win to rising star Joel Beashel on IMEI, already the youngest national champion in class history. In the 13s, Ash Napper and Theo Franklin started strong with a comfortable victory. With a swelling fleet, new sponsors, and the all-women crew on Queens of Buckingham building momentum, Manly is set for a blockbuster season.

Cruising

Never stop sailing! Practical ways to make it easier as you age (9 min read)
Gilbert Park has logged 50 years afloat and isn’t stopping now—he’s just tweaking the game. From grab handles and thinner dock lines to photochromic glasses, hearing aids, and even shock-absorbing helm seats, he’s proof that smart upgrades can outpace arthritis and fading eyesight. His approach mixes medical know-how with salty pragmatism: automate what you can, label everything, and don’t be afraid to trade boats for comfort. It’s aging on your own terms, with plenty of sea time still ahead.

Double catamaran review: Fountaine Pajot 41 and Fountaine Pajot 44 tested (9 min read)
Rupert Holmes hopped aboard FP’s latest sisterships to see what three extra feet really buys you. Both cats feel rock-solid upwind, tick along at 7–10 knots in 20+ knots of breeze, and pack in seriously livable space. The 41 is a big step up from earlier models, but the 44 edges ahead with faster averages, bigger en suite cabins, and a social-friendly flybridge. Add in hybrid propulsion options and heaps of clever stowage, and you’ve got two refined cats that make passagemaking feel like glamping at sea.

Spotlight

Hall of Famers Incoming (8 min read)
The National Sailing Hall of Fame is adding two heavyweights this fall: Ken Read and Greg Fisher. Read’s résumé spans J/24 Worlds, Etchells dominance, America’s Cups, Volvo Ocean Races, and now leading North Sails. Fisher, a master of one-design dinghies and keelboats, has 25 championships plus a coaching legacy at College of Charleston. Both started with Shore Sails, both became sailmakers, and both now spend more time teaching than chasing trophies. Two legends, two different paths, one well-earned honor.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

Day 1 in Newport delivered plenty of drama as the Invitational Cup got rolling. One team was caught just a meter over the line after a last-second wind shift, while others found their groove early and banked solid results. Italy started strong and left the dock smiling, reminding everyone that a good opening day can set the tone for the week. With the intensity already ramping up on the start lines, the stage is set for a fiercely contested regatta.