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Sailing News for January 29, 2026

SailGP is back in focus with one month to go until the Sydney Sail Grand Prix returns to the Harbour with a 13-team fleet, twilight racing, and mounting pressure on Tom Slingsby and the Flying Roos to defend at home, while veteran racer Moose McClintock makes a strong case for cleaner, calmer rule use as the key to better racing across all levels. Olympic pathways sharpen with Jim Colley stepping in as Australia’s new 49erFX national coach, and match racing delivers on both ends of the age spectrum as Royal Hospital School claims the RYA Schools title and Marcello Torre stays unbeaten at the Warren Jones in Fremantle. Offshore and cruising sailors get thoughtful perspective on how much modern tech really matters in events like the ARC, paired with a sobering look at what rescue electronics can and cannot do when someone goes overboard, while Craig Wood’s record-setting solo Pacific crossing brings the focus back to preparation, adaptability, and grit. The day wraps with a behind-the-scenes look at Team Malizia’s new IMOCA build as the long game toward the Ocean Race and Vendée Globe quietly begins.

Sail GP/America’s Cup

One Month to Go Until the KPMG Sydney Sail Grand Prix (2 min read)
Sydney Harbour is about to light up again as SailGP returns on February 28 and March 1 for its seventh visit, this time with a 13-team fleet and a new twilight racing slot. Shark Island’s Race Stadium is back, Dockside is stacked with behind-the-scenes access, and BYO boat viewing is firmly on the menu. Tickets are already disappearing fast. Home heroes Tom Slingsby and the Flying Roos will be under serious pressure to defend Aussie pride at sunset.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

Less Confrontation, Better Sport (3 min read)
Sailing legend Moose McClintock argues that racing rules should be used defensively, not as weapons. Drawing on decades of top-level match and team racing, he makes the case that avoiding confrontation often leads to cleaner, safer, and better racing for everyone. From protest hails to PHRF realities, his takeaway is simple: make the other boat react without forcing contact. Sail smart, stay clear, and the sport improves.

Olympic Class/Dinghy Sailing

Australian Sailing Appoints Jim Colley as 49erFX National Coach (3 min read)
Australian Sailing has handed the 49erFX keys to Olympian and longtime coach Jim Colley as the program eyes its next Olympic cycle. Colley brings eight years of elite skiff campaigning, SailGP experience, and a reputation for calm, practical coaching under pressure. Backed by a serious support crew including Victor Kovalenko and Michael Blackburn, the move signals continuity with a fresh edge. Big focus on crossover learning, strong team culture, and sharpening performance where it counts.

Youth Sailing/Development

Royal Hospital School Win 2025 RYA Schools National Match Racing Championship (3 min read)
After a weather-delayed wait, the 2025 RYA Schools National Match Racing Championship finally delivered, and Royal Hospital School’s RHS Falcons were the class of the fleet. Sailing Sonar keelboats on Queen Mary Reservoir, they dominated the round robins and closed out the finals 2–0 under serious pressure. The racing was tight, fast, and unforgiving, with 47 races packed into two days. A clear sign that school match racing in the UK is getting seriously sharp.

Warren Jones Match Racing: Torre Stays Perfect After Day 2 (3 min read)
Marcello Torre is still unbeaten after Day 2 of the Warren Jones International Match Racing Regatta, running the table with 10 straight wins on home waters in Fremantle. Light, shifty breeze early gave way to a classic Fremantle Doctor, and Torre’s experience showed once the pressure was on. Cole Tapper is chasing in second, while Daniel Kemp made the big move up the leaderboard into third. With one round robin left, the fight for the final quarterfinal spots is wide open.

Cruising

Could You Survive the ARC Without Modern Tech? (6 min read)
Forty years after the first ARC, sailors heading west from Gran Canaria weigh how much modern tech really matters. From Starlink-powered floating offices to boats deliberately keeping things old-school, the rally now spans every flavor of offshore mindset. Veterans say they’d manage just fine with sextants and SSB, while younger cruising families admit they probably wouldn’t leave the dock without connectivity. It’s a thoughtful look at how safety, comfort, and expectations have shifted, and what’s been gained and lost along the way.

Tech & Gear

Rescue Tech 2025: Can Electronics Really Save You Overboard? (6 min read)
Falling overboard is still one of sailing’s deadliest scenarios, and even the best tech isn’t a magic fix. This deep dive looks at what actually helps when things go wrong, from AIS MOB beacons and PLBs to smartphone apps and new wearables like the SafeTrx Watch. The hard truth is that rough seas, darkness, and human factors can beat electronics fast. Gear matters, but habits, training, and staying on the boat matter more. Sobering, practical, and worth the read.

Spotlight

Craig Wood’s Biggest Lessons From a Record-Setting Solo Pacific Crossing (6 min read)
Triple amputee Craig Wood just sailed 7,506 miles solo across the Pacific without stopping, and somehow still found time to bake bread and redesign his boat interior mid-ocean. His biggest takeaways are refreshingly practical: know every system on your boat, expect gear to fail, beware chafe, and never test new sails on a 7,000-mile passage. It’s a story about grit, improvisation, and finding joy in small wins when you’re very, very far from land.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

Boris Herrmann and Team Malizia are starting from scratch with Malizia 4, chasing tiny gains that could decide the Ocean Race and Vendée Globe. The new IMOCA is lighter, tighter inside, and designed to be faster in the light and medium stuff where margins are brutal. Built at CDK with sister ships from rival teams, it’s a high-stakes balance of collaboration and secrecy. They’ll know within 15 minutes of sailing if it feels right, but the real verdict comes years later.