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Sailing News for December 04, 2025

Abu Dhabi’s data review shows a tactical SailGP finale with Denmark breaking through and the U.S. thriving in light air while the Kiwis channel Grand Final heartbreak into a 2026 reset. Balmain leads the 18s ARC’s Volvo 65 Nextgen scorches to line honors and Sydney gears up for a huge Hobart warm up. Tech stories highlight Remigo’s upgraded mini outboard and the closure of RYA SafeTrx.

Sail GP/America’s Cup

Data Dive: Abu Dhabi (4 min read)
Abu Dhabi wrapped the 2025 SailGP season with chaos in the fleet races and some spicy data takeaways. Denmark finally bagged its first event win while Grand Final hopefuls mostly stumbled, playing defense more than offense. The U.S. quietly thrived in the new light-air, big-wing setup, racking up overtakes and showing steady ride height control. France? They owned the start line, timing it to perfection despite the glassy conditions. A fittingly weird, tactical finish to a long season.

Black Foils channel Grand Final heartbreak into fuel for 2026 fightback (4 min read)
Peter Burling didn’t sugarcoat it: losing the 2025 Grand Final hurt, especially after the Kiwis executed most of the race they wanted before a top-mark mistake let Emirates GBR slip away. But that sting is turning into motivation. Burling’s proud of the team’s season, bullish on the roster heading into transfer season, and already eyeing a sharp start to 2026. This was their third shot at a SailGP title; now it’s all about converting the next one when they kick off in Perth.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

18ft Skiffs – Balmain 18ft Skiff Team on top (4 min read)
Balmain is quietly putting together its best 18ft Skiff season yet, topping the NSW State Champs after two rock-solid races. Henry Larkings and his crew have been steadily climbing the ranks for years, and now their consistency is finally paying off in a fleet where one bad race can sink a regatta. With past Giltinan lessons fresh in mind, they’re aiming for durability over heroics as the big March championship looms. Next up: a doubleheader on Sydney Harbour that will show whether this rise has real staying power.

Volvo 65 Nextgen by Jajo Claims ARC 2025 Line Honors (4 min read)
The Volvo 65 Nextgen by Jajo scorched across the Atlantic in just over 10 days to take line honors in the 40th ARC, reminding everyone what a purpose-built rocket can do in a cruising fleet. Skipper Jelmer Van Beek praised the steady downwind conditions and a crew that kept the carbon missile rumbling past 20 knots day after day. It’s a big win for a boat with pedigree, formerly Team Brunel, and now bound for a Caribbean season before turning north again. The rest of the ARC fleet is still charging toward a very lively Saint Lucia finish.

Massive Rolex Sydney Hobart warm up (3 min read)
Sydney Harbour is about to unleash a 74-boat offshore armada for the Cabbage Tree Island Race, the biggest tune-up for the Sydney Hobart. Five 100-footers headline the overnight sprint, with LawConnect, Comanche, and Scallywag all flexing ahead of Boxing Day. Double-handers, Hobart defenders like Celestial, and Blue Water Pointscore leaders round out a stacked fleet that could see anything from 15-hour sprints to 48-hour slogs. It’s the perfect night-racing pressure cooker before the Great Race South.

Tech & Gear

More power for Remigo’s pocket rocket (5 min read)
Remigo just juiced up its cult-favorite electric mini outboard with the new One NEO, bumping power from 1 kW to 1.5 kW and adding an optional Bluetooth remote you can pop off the tiller. Same sleek monolithic look, but now your dinghy can hit about 5.5 knots in Boost. It’s lightweight, dunk resistant, and built for people who hate pull-starts and petrol drama. If you want a smarter, cleaner outboard that feels like a design object, this one’s trying hard to be the future.

Boaters beware: RYA SafeTrx vessel tracking safety app will soon close (5 min read)
The UK’s RYA SafeTrx app is shutting down on 31 December, and boaters are calling it a big step backward for safety. The Coastguard will keep search and rescue fully operational, but the app’s tracking and trip-reporting tools are going away, with user data shifting into an MCA database. Many sailors say the loss removes a layer of confidence, especially for solo passages and long crossings. Unless a replacement emerges soon, expect a return to old-school radio calls and shore contacts.

Spotlight

The veil is lifted on Gitana 18, the new Maxi Edmond de Rothschild (5 min read)
Gitana Team just rolled out Gitana 18, a wild new 32m Maxi Edmond de Rothschild that looks like it escaped from a sci-fi movie and an art gallery at the same time. Designed with Verdier, it trades “hybrid” foiling for full-time flight, packing Y-foils, radical new rudders and a shape built to cruise near 40 knots offshore. With 200,000 build hours and tech closer to F1 than traditional sailing, this Ultim is basically a flying laboratory for the future of ocean racing.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

Andrew’s back with another satisfying deep-dive into his scratch-built 12.5m catamaran, this time tackling the cockpit benches from raw foam to sit-test ready. He CNC-cuts panels, vacuum-bags them into composites, trims everything to fit, and glues the pieces together with enough thickened epoxy to make a pastry chef jealous. After fillets, peel ply, and reinforcement from below, the benches are strong enough for their maiden “sit.” Next up: the cabin top and roof frame as this homebuilt cat inches closer to becoming a world-cruising machine.