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Sailing News for February 05, 2026

SailGP’s return to Auckland delivered exactly what it promised, with packed waterfront crowds, new high-speed foils on the tightest course of the season, and Australia holding their nerve to take the win as the 2025 season roared into life. Offshore and inshore racing get some long-needed certainty as ORC confirms its 2026 rule updates, fixing a narrow design quirk without upsetting the wider fleet and allowing certificates to roll forward with confidence. Cruising sailors score a rare victory on the Clyde as a proposed £100 annual boating fee is shelved after strong pushback from clubs, businesses, and politicians, while sustainability efforts earn recognition as World Sailing is commended by the IOC for cutting support boat emissions through smarter planning and tracking. The day rounds out with a look at the standout boats from boot Düsseldorf 2026, where performance-focused designs stole the show, and a quietly compelling training vlog following Vilma Bobeck and Ebba Berntsson on their path to silver at the 49erFX Worlds.

Sail GP/America’s Cup

2025 Auckland Sail Grand Prix: packed crowds, new foils, Aussie dominance (5 min read)
The 2025 ITM Auckland Sail Grand Prix kicked off the season in style, with 25,000 fans lining the waterfront for SailGP’s biggest crowd yet. New high-speed T-Foils debuted on the tightest course on the calendar, and the racing was properly spicy. Australia stayed ice-cold under pressure, grabbing their first win of the season after a dramatic final. Home heroes, injuries, collisions, and heartbreak included. Auckland delivered again.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

All systems go for ORC in 2026 (4 min read)
ORC has locked in its 2026 rule tweaks after a January EGM gave unanimous approval to a refined VPP update and an extended age allowance. The changes target a very specific quirk affecting a handful of modern hull shapes, without shaking up the rest of the fleet. After a year of noise, CFD crunching, and some pointed questions post-2025 Worlds, the fix is in. Certificates can now roll out, and racing moves on.

Cruising

Scottish sailors breathe easy as Clyde £100 boating fee plan is shelved (5 min read)
After months of pushback, Peel Ports has hit pause on a proposed £100 annual conservancy fee for leisure boats sailing the Clyde. Sailors, marinas, and marine businesses called the plan unfair, hard to enforce, and bad for safety and tourism. Politicians got involved, tempers flared, and the backlash worked. Fees are off the table for now, though the door isn’t fully closed. Clyde sailors are calling it a big win.

Sustainability

World Sailing earns IOC climate nod for cutting support fleet emissions (4 min read)
World Sailing picked up a “Highly Commended” shoutout at the 2025 IOC Climate Action Awards for tackling one of sailing’s dirtiest secrets: support boats. Using smart tracking at Paris 2024, they monitored 285 vessels and proved emissions could drop by around 20 percent with better driving, planning, and gear choices. The model now rolls out to future World Sailing events and LA28. Less fuel burn, same racing chaos. That’s a win.

Tech & Gear

The best of boot 2026: 5 new yachts redefining performance (5 min read)
Boot Düsseldorf 2026 made one thing clear: fast is fashionable again. From the all-new Beneteau First 60 pushing performance cruising into big-boat territory, to a seriously capable aluminium Pure 42 explorer, this lineup leans hard into sailing feel, not just dock appeal. Add a spicy Saffier daysailer, a refined Hallberg-Rassy 370, and a simple, smart J/7, and you’ve got a show full of boats built to be sailed, not just shown.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

This behind-the-scenes vlog drops in on Swedish duo Vilma Bobeck and Ebba Berntsson just days before the 2026 49erFX Worlds in Cagliari. It’s less polish, more reality. Short training blocks, sharp conversations, and a brand-new partnership figuring things out fast. Vilma brings the experience, Ebba brings the hunger, and somehow it clicks. A few days later they walk away with silver. Honest, calm, and quietly intense. Worth your time if you like elite sailing without the hype.