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Sailing News for October 06, 2025

This week’s racing had everything, from photo finishes to champagne breeze and raw speed. Dylan Fletcher and Team GBR snatched a last second SailGP victory in Cadiz, setting up a fierce Abu Dhabi showdown. In Saint Tropez, perfect 15 knot winds crowned Karel Komarek’s V and other maxi champions in style. New designs made waves too, with J Boats unveiling its nimble J7 and De Antonio’s D60 turning heads as Spain’s latest 60 foot powerhouse. And in Sardinia, the Formula Kite Worlds ended in a spray soaked sprint that showed the future of foiling is fast and fearless.

Sail GP/America’s Cup

DP World Spain Sail Grand Prix Recap (4 min read)
Cádiz threw light winds and big crowds at the SailGP fleet this weekend, making for tricky foiling on the Bay of Cádiz. NorthStar struggled early but clawed back with a solid third-place finish in the final race, ending the event 10th overall. Emirates GBR took the win, followed by the Black Foils and Germany. With Abu Dhabi’s Grand Final up next, NorthStar sits sixth in the season standings and hungry for redemption on faster, steadier water.

Britain Snatch SailGP Control After Fletcher’s Photo-Finish Raid (5 min read)
Dylan Fletcher pulled off a masterclass in Cádiz, stealing victory from New Zealand with a last-gasp inside move that echoed his Olympic gold over Peter Burling. The win makes Britain the first team to take three SailGP events this season, jumping ahead in the championship race. Australia slumped to seventh and dropped to third overall, while Germany and Brazil impressed with podium and race wins. All roads now lead to Abu Dhabi, where the title fight will come down to one final, high-speed showdown.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

New Boat Preview: J/Boats J/7 (6 min read)
J/Boats just launched the J/7, a 23-foot daysailer that packs five decades of design know-how into a small, lively hull. Trailerable behind an SUV and stable enough for families or club fleets, it delivers that classic J/Boats balance of speed and simplicity. With a 46% ballast ratio, roomy cockpit, and optional sprit and kite, the J/7 makes sailing easy, confident, and fun. It’s the J/24’s modern little sibling built for more days on the water.

Maxi Winners Decided in Perfect Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez Finale (6 min read)
The maxis wrapped up a stunning week in Saint-Tropez with champagne breeze and tight finishes across all classes. Karel Komárek’s 100-footer V clinched Maxi 1 glory after three bullets, while Giovanni Lombardi Stronati’s Django 7X edged Vesper by a single point in the Grand Prix class. Twin Soul B, Yoru, and Crazy Diamond took their divisions after flawless sailing in perfect 15-knot conditions. From match races to comeback wins, this year’s Les Voiles finale delivered pure Mediterranean magic.

Olympic Class/Dinghy Sailing

Sunfish Women’s North Americans Carries Tradition (6 min read)
Lake Wawasee brought the breeze and the heart as 33 sailors hit the line for the 2025 Women’s Sunfish North Americans. Dartmouth alum Taylor Eastman sailed steady to take the title and a ticket to St. Croix, while Gretchen Seymour and hometown favorite Susan Tillman Berg rounded out the podium. Add in Vera Bradley tote bags, a trophy that survived Hurricane Katrina, and decades of camaraderie, and you’ve got the perfect mix of grit, grace, and Midwest sailing magic.

Tech & Gear

De Antonio D60: Spain’s Sleek New Luxury Beast (6 min read)
Barcelona-based De Antonio just jumped into the big leagues with the D60, a 60-foot rocket ship disguised as a minimalist day cruiser. Four hidden Mercury V12s give it Formula 1-level punch (fitting, since Carlos Sainz owns hull #1), while hydraulic decks, a tender garage, and a convertible owner’s suite make it pure luxury. Think 45 knots of Mediterranean style and muscle. This isn’t just a boat, it’s a statement parked at 48 knots.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

After six days of wipeouts, wild wind, and pure speed off Sardinia’s Poetto Beach, Jesse Kampman of the Netherlands and Italy’s Riccardo Pianosi claimed the 2025 Formula Kite World titles. Kampman held her nerve after a dramatic crash to seal gold, while Pianosi fended off Singapore’s Max Ma in a 40-knot downwind drag race. With speeds topping 45 knots and Olympic talent stacked across the fleet, this year’s Worlds showed kitefoiling at its most chaotic, beautiful, and blisteringly fast.