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Sailing News for September 15, 2025

The ROCKWOOL France Sail Grand Prix in Saint-Tropez delivered four chaotic races before storms canceled day two, leaving Emirates GBR with the win and New Zealand on top of the season. Offshore, the Ocean Race Europe fleet is charging into Montenegro’s Boka Bay with Biotherm under siege and less than 100 miles to go. In Italy, the Windsurfer Europeans wrapped up with 180 sailors, beach parties, and champions from France and Italy. The Royal Yachting Association celebrates 150 years of shaping British boating, while Yachting World hails the Dragonfly 36 trimaran as “the most fun cruising yacht yet.” And if you’ve ever wondered what happens after racing, the U.S. SailGP Team shows the Lego-like teardown of their F50s.

Sail GP/America’s Cup

Highlights: ROCKWOOL France Sail Grand Prix, Saint-Tropez (6 min read)
One day, four wild races, and Saint-Tropez delivered everything from photo-finish starts to full-tilt drama. Brazil came back from boat damage to win race one, New Zealand stole race two with a slick move, Red Bull Italy claimed their first SailGP victory in race three, and Emirates GBR closed the day on top in race four. Day two was canceled for storms, locking in Dylan Fletcher’s British squad as event winners. The leaderboard just got shaken up with New Zealand now leading the season.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

Ocean Race Europe Fleet Charges Into Adriatic for Final Showdown (5 min read)
The Ocean Race Europe fleet is storming north into Montenegro’s Boka Bay for a nail-biting finish after 1,600 miles from Genoa. Biotherm still leads, but Holcim–PRB and Malizia are breathing down their necks, with Paprec Arkéa and Allagrande Mapei scrambling for podium scraps. The light, shifty Adriatic winds have crews grinding through every sail change and tactical gamble. With less than 100 miles to go, this first-ever Ocean Race leg in the Adriatic is shaping up to be a photo finish.

Game On at the NYYC Invitational Cup (4 min read)
Twenty amateur teams are lining up in Newport for the ninth Rolex NYYC Invitational Cup, racing identical IC37s in light to moderate September breeze. San Diego Yacht Club arrives as the defending champ with a stacked crew and a fresh helm, but Corinthian YC is back after a breakout runner-up finish in 2023 and a string of team-racing wins. The host club wants the trophy back too, with Hannah Swett leading their charge. Up to 12 races are on tap, with live coverage streaming from September 10.

Olympic Class/Dinghy Sailing

Windsurfer Europeans Wrap Up in Punta Ala (6 min read)
More than 180 sailors from 16 nations lit up the Gulf of Follonica for the Windsurfer Class European Championship 2025. After storms, light air, and long days, the fleet still crammed in eight races plus a last-minute Long Distance showdown with 150 boards blasting off the line. Italy and France dominated the medals, with Andrea Marchesi, Alessandro Torzoni, Cyril Dardashti, and Frédéric Gautier taking titles in their divisions, and Valeria Zullo crowned women’s champion. From freestyle shows to beach parties, it was pure Windsurfer spirit all week.

Cruising

Royal Yachting Association at 150: From Gentlemen Racers to Global Boating Powerhouse (7 min read)
The Royal Yachting Association started in 1875 as an exclusive club for “gentlemen sailors” and grew into one of the most influential boating bodies in the world. Over 150 years it has shaped racing rules, opened doors for women, built Olympic champions, and made sailing accessible for kids, cruisers and people with disabilities. From training Yachtmasters to launching Sailability, the RYA has touched nearly every corner of British boating. Its legacy is simple: more people on the water, with the skills to enjoy it safely.

Foiling

Dragonfly 36 Review: The Most Fun Cruising Yacht Yet (10 min read)
The new Dragonfly 36 is a trimaran that feels more like a rocket with a living room attached. Toby Hodges clocked over 20 knots in flat water, carving fjords like a dinghy but with the comfort of a cruiser. Its folding “Swing Wing” floats let it tuck into a marina berth, while inverted bows and clever engineering keep it stable even when you’re pushing hard. The interior is compact but smart, and the grin factor is basically priceless. This is pure joy under sail.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

Ever wondered what happens after the racing stops? The U.S. SailGP Team strips their 50-foot foilers down like giant Lego sets, packing hulls, beams, pods and foils into tight 40ft containers or onto trucks for the next stop. Each sailor has their own zone to check, while the tech crew wrangles electronics, hydraulics and foils. With back-to-back events, the biggest battle isn’t the wind, it’s fatigue—long nights, heavy lifts, then straight into rebuilding at the next venue.