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Sailing News for October 08, 2025

This week’s edition celebrates milestones, mastery, and a touch of nostalgia. Dylan Fletcher’s Emirates GBR took victory in Cadiz, while data from the event shows Germany and Brazil hot on their heels. Offshore, the Rolex Middle Sea Race looms large, and 18ft legend John Woody Winning marks 50 years of passion and persistence on Sydney Harbour. Cruising fans get a taste of the future with the most exciting 2025 boat designs, and Melges Performance Sailboats begins a new era under the Terhune family. Finally, Tom Cunliffe waves farewell with a timeless tale of seamanship and stars.

Sail GP/America’s Cup

Data Dive: Cádiz (4 min read)
Cádiz delivered wild stats and high speeds as Emirates GBR claimed their third SailGP win of the season. Germany stayed lightning-fast off the line, Denmark hit a blistering 61.8 km/h top speed, and Brazil quietly dominated the flight metrics with 90% airborne time. The U.S. showed progress in starts, Spain glided smoothest with just 25 maneuvers, and the Black Foils kept their Mark One magic alive. Proof that in SailGP, the numbers can tell a different story than the scoreboard.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

John ‘Woody’ Winning: 50 Years in the 18s (6 min read)
Half a century after first stepping into an 18ft skiff, John “Woody” Winning is still shaping Australia’s most iconic racing class. From his 1975 debut in Travelodge to world titles with Yandoo and decades leading the 18 Footers League, Woody has done it all: racer, president, historian, and livestream pioneer. His passion kept the class alive through tough times and into the digital age. Now 71, post hip surgery, he’s still itching to get back on Sydney Harbour. A true legend of the 18s.

46th Rolex Middle Sea Race: Accomplishment at Its Best (5 min read)
The Rolex Middle Sea Race returns this October, serving up 606 nautical miles of Mediterranean mayhem around Sicily. Forget leisurely cruising; this is a punishing test of endurance, teamwork and grit. From Stromboli’s volcanic glow to Etna’s looming shadow, sailors battle shifting winds, brutal calms and long, cold nights. Defending champ Red Bandit faces Black Jack 100 and a stacked international fleet. Winning earns a trophy and a Rolex, but finishing is the real prize in one of offshore sailing’s toughest races.

Cruising

2025 Boat Designs That Will Revolutionize Sailing (6 min read)
The 2025 lineup is a dream dock walk. Think pocket cruisers that can cross oceans, carbon racers with yacht-club interiors, and hybrids that sail silent under solar power. Highlights include the J/7 for easy weekend fun, the Grand Soleil 52 for performance purists, and Balance’s new carbon cats for speed with sustainability. Electric propulsion, smart layouts and light-filled salons are now the norm. Whether you crave bluewater miles or sunset sails, the future of cruising looks fast, clean and seriously stylish.

Spotlight

Melges Performance Sailboats Sold to Terhune Family (5 min read)
Big shake-up in small-town Zenda: Cate Muller-Terhune and Allan Terhune Jr. have bought Melges Performance Sailboats, taking the helm of one of America’s most iconic racing brands. The champion sailing duo plans to honor the Melges legacy while pushing the company into a new era of innovation and community focus. Production stays in Wisconsin, with Andy Burdick and Harry Melges III still onboard. A new chapter begins for the red, white, and fast.

Final Great Seamanship: Tom Cunliffe Bids Farewell (7 min read)
After 21 years and countless sea tales, Tom Cunliffe signs off his legendary Great Seamanship column with one last voyage, back to the Vikings. He revisits Bjarni Herjolfson, the Norse sailor who accidentally became the first European to sight America, guiding his knarr across the North Atlantic using only the Pole Star and pure instinct. It’s a fitting finale: a seaman saluting another who trusted skill, courage, and a stick marked with starlight.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

Dylan Fletcher’s Emirates GBR snagged their third SailGP win of the season in a nail-biting Cádiz finale that had everyone on the edge of their seats. The Brits held off New Zealand and Germany in a wild three-boat final where one slip meant game over. Germany proved their Geneva win was no fluke, Brazil bagged their first race win, and Spain kept their Grand Final hopes alive. Next stop: Abu Dhabi, with $2 million and bragging rights up for grabs.