Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
24 hours of sailing news in 5 minutes.
Sailing News for January 21, 2026
The 2026 sailing season is already delivering extremes, with SailGP opening in wild Perth conditions where Emirates GBR picked up straight from last year, Artemis stunned on debut and familiar names and surprise guests added plenty of colour, while Sydney Harbour produced classic 18ft Skiff drama as the Australian title was decided on the final run with history made by Emma Rankin. Offshore racing took a far more sobering turn during the RORC Transatlantic Race following the loss of a crew member mid ocean, a stark reminder of the risks that sit behind the sport’s biggest challenges, while the future of dinghy sailing looks busy and bright as RS Games 2026 entries surged past 100 sailors in just 48 hours. Ashore, practical seamanship gets a win with a smart DIY fix for a seized windscreen wiper motor, and the day finishes in full nerd mode with a deep dive into the cost, complexity and sheer speed of modern foiling Moths versus the simpler Switch.
Sail GP/America’s Cup
5 Things You Missed at the Perth Sail Grand Prix (6 min read)
The 2026 Rolex SailGP Championship kicked off in Perth with chaos, big breeze, and plenty of storylines. Emirates GBR picked up right where they left off, winning the Final, while the U.S. SailGP Team quietly stacked points with a solid P5. Sweden’s Artemis shocked everyone on debut, Glenn Ashby parachuted into the Aussie boat and delivered, and an NBA champ climbed aboard an F50 just because. Add some sneaky French start tactics, and Perth delivered properly.
Inshore & Offshore Racing
18ft Skiffs – Australian Champs – Day 3 (5 min read)
The Australian 18ft Skiff Championship came down to pure drama on Sydney Harbour, with the title decided on the final run of the final race. Balmain’s young crew snatched victory in dying breeze, forcing a tie on points and winning the championship on countback. Yandoo looked set to seal it before getting rolled late, while Shaw and Partners were left watching nervously. Add Emma Rankin making history as the first female skipper to win a race, and Day 3 delivered classic skiff chaos.
Crew casualty in Transatlantic Race (3 min read)
Tragedy struck during the 12th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race after a serious onboard accident aboard Walross 4 led to the loss of a crew member mid-ocean. The incident occurred roughly 1,500 miles into the crossing, with rescue coordination handed to MRCC Delgada and a nearby commercial ship diverting to assist. Despite a rapid response, the sailor could not be saved. Racing continues, but the offshore community pauses to reflect on just how unforgiving the ocean can be.
Youth Sailing/Development
RS Games 2026 entries open: 14 nations, 100+ sailors sign up in first 48 hours (5 min read)
The RS Games 2026 are already shaping up to be huge, with over 100 sailors from 14 countries signing up in the first 48 hours. Heading overseas for the first time, the quadrennial RS mega-event lands in Travemünde, Germany as part of Travemünder Woche. Expect 12 RS classes, world and European titles, and plenty of boat-swapping opportunities. Racing, parties, beach launches, and festival vibes for 10 full days. If you sail RS, this one’s hard to ignore.
Tech & Gear
Boat windscreen wiper motor repair: how one boat owner fixed the seized motor (5 min read)
When a 20 year old windscreen wiper finally seized on his Degero DS331, Richard Stone skipped the expensive replacement and went full hands-on. The culprit was a salt-seized shaft buried deep in the drive assembly, not the motor itself. Armed with vinegar, fine sandpaper, grease, and a rotary tool, he dismantled, cleaned, and rebuilt the unit on board. A little ingenuity later, the wiper was back in action and visibility restored. Perfect proof that patient DIY can beat marine markup.
Sailing Highlight of the Day
Max Ray breaks down the madness that is the modern foiling Moth. Built by hand at Maguire Boats, his carbon weapon costs $70–80k AUD, hits 31 knots, and packs more control lines than a small yacht. The Moth’s open rules mean endless tweaking, titanium everywhere, and serious wallet damage. Prefer simpler and cheaper? The one-design Switch costs half as much, rigs in 15 minutes, and still flies. Fast, nerdy, and wildly addictive.