24 hours of sailing news in 5 minutes.

Sailing News for February 4, 2026

The U.S. SailGP Team continues to build off the water with a new multi-year partnership with Leyton, adding commercial muscle as the season rolls toward Auckland, while one-design racing delivers proof that consistency still wins as Peter McClennen and Gamecock claim the Melges 24 North American Series title and Corinthian teams remain firmly in the mix. Shoreside, the 2026 RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show is shaping up as a must-attend with a speaker lineup heavy on real experience and practical takeaways, while tech and gear focus on solutions that genuinely make sailing easier, from a battery-powered air pump that actually hits pressure to a deep dive on what really makes soft shackles strong. A solid mix of performance, practicality, and smart details that matter once you leave the dock.

Sail GP/America’s Cup

Leyton Named Official Partner of the U.S. SailGP Team (3 min read)
The U.S. SailGP Team just signed a multi-year deal with Leyton, bringing the global advisory firm on as its Official Tax Efficiency Partner. It’s a very SailGP move: global calendar, complex operations, and now someone making the spreadsheets go faster too. Leyton branding will show up on the F50, team channels, and at B2B events across the season. The partnership launches ahead of Auckland as the U.S. team keeps stacking serious commercial momentum.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

McClennen and Berezin crowned 2025 Melges 24 North American Sailing Series Champions (4 min read)
The Melges 24 North American Series wrapped up with Peter McClennen and Gamecock on top after a season that rewarded consistency over flash. Seven events, two wins, and zero weak spots sealed the deal in a brutally competitive fleet. Dan Berezin took Corinthian honors with Surprise, finishing an impressive fourth overall and proving the amateur teams are very much in the fight. With 80-plus teams and a stacked 2026 calendar ahead, the class is humming.

Olympic Class/Dinghy Sailing

Big names, big ideas: RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show speaker line-up confirmed (4 min read)
The 2026 RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show is stacking the deck with two days of sharp talks, real-world tips, and proper inspiration. Expect Olympic foilers, SailGP voices, coaches, meteorologists, and cruising diehards across three packed stages. There’s racing performance, kit setup, weather calls, wellbeing, youth pathways, and even dinghy cruising adventures. Whether you want to go faster, smarter, or just sail more, this lineup makes a strong case for clearing your February calendar.

Tech & Gear

Meridian Zero Air NRG 4000 Air Pump: Can it inflate a dinghy in under 4 minutes? (4 min read)
If hand-pumping makes your back cry, this thing is your new best friend. The Meridian Zero Air NRG 4000 is a cordless, battery-powered pump that hits up to 20psi and actually gets there. It inflated a multi-chamber Aircat tender in under four minutes, switching smartly from high-volume to high-pressure mode along the way. Preset pressure cut-offs, solid build, and proper valve adapters make it feel genuinely useful, not gimmicky. Your chiropractor won’t miss you.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

Mozzy went full mad scientist and broke 55 soft shackles so you don’t have to. Testing seven designs with different knots, tails, and chafe setups, the big takeaway is simple: tiny details matter a lot. Leaving even a 5mm tail on a diamond knot adds hundreds of kilos of strength, while chafe protection massively improves longevity. The strongest options exist, but for most dinghy sailing, smart, simple shackles done right beat bulky overkill every time.