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Sailing News for March 20, 2026

The next generation of America’s Cup sailors is coming into focus as Athena Pathway narrows its youth squad to 13 serious contenders, signaling a more structured and competitive pipeline toward AC38, while grassroots development is also gaining traction with mixed crews finding success and momentum in local skiff fleets. Racing action stayed sharp on multiple fronts, with Germany’s Black Knight continuing its breakthrough run in the 18ft skiff scene and the Globe40 tightening into a winner-takes-all finale after Credit Mutuel held off a late Atlantic charge to win into Recife. Fleet building is also underway in Greece with new RS21s aimed at lowering barriers and boosting club racing. Away from the racecourse, the sport balanced tradition and progress, from a quiet tribute to master boatbuilder Jimmy Furey’s lifetime of craftsmanship to cutting-edge projects like Royal Huisman’s 81m schooner and experimental cats pushing design boundaries. Add in efforts to reduce underwater noise for marine life, and it’s clear sailing’s future is being shaped both on and off the water.

Sail GP/America’s Cup

Athena Pathway advances core squad of 13 for AC38 Youth Team (3 min read)
The road to the Youth America’s Cup just got real. Athena Pathway has trimmed 158 applicants down to a tight squad of 13, all fighting for a shot at AC38 and beyond. The goal is clear: fast-track a team that can actually compete, not just participate. Two of these sailors could even land spots racing alongside Hannah Mills as early as May. It’s a serious pipeline now, and if you’re young and chasing the Cup, this is one to watch.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

RS21 Fleet Building in the Aegean: Six delivered to the Yacht Club of Greece (2 min read)
Six shiny new RS21s just landed at the Yacht Club of Greece, marking the country’s first club-owned fleet of these punchy keelboats. The plan is simple: get more people on the water with better training, tighter racing, and less barrier to entry. The RS21’s mix of performance and versatility makes it perfect for everything from learn-to-sail to proper club battles. Feels like a smart move to shake things up in the Aegean and maybe spark a few future race teams too.

18ft Skiffs – German record breaker (3 min read)
Germany just cracked one of sailing’s toughest scenes. Black Knight, skippered by Heinrich von Bayern, became the first German team ever to win a race at the JJ Giltinan Worlds on Sydney Harbour, and they did it in classic 18-footer chaos. After a tight early scrap, they took control mid-race and never let go, blasting to the finish with serious pace and clean crew work. It’s the payoff from years of steady progress, and suddenly, a German overall win doesn’t sound so far-fetched.

Back in Action for GL52 Pensacola Cup 2026 (2 min read)
The GL52 fleet is back on Pensacola Bay, and this time they’re chasing the “Kraken” Cup, a custom trophy that sounds as serious as the racing. Three top teams are lining up in what’s expected to be a tricky, patience-testing regatta. Adding to the mix, the ClubSwan28s are making their US debut with five boats joining the action. Between tight racing, shifty conditions, and a solid social scene onshore, this one feels like a proper early-season showdown.

Credit Mutuel Wins Globe40 Leg 5 After Atlantic Duel (3 min read)
After nearly 6,000 miles from Chile to Brazil, Credit Mutuel took the Leg 5 win in the Globe40, but it wasn’t exactly a cruise. They built a huge lead early after their main rival had to stop for repairs, then watched it almost disappear as Belgium Ocean Racing clawed back to within 12 miles. A messy encounter with fishing gear killed the comeback, and the French crew held on to Recife. Now both teams are tied on points, so the final leg is basically a winner-takes-all showdown.

Youth Sailing/Development

We get a lot of Joy out of Skiff Sailing! (3 min read)
A mixed crew of Olympic pathway sailors just snagged their first win in Manly’s skiff fleet, and it sounds like they had a blast doing it. The setup is simple but effective: give developing sailors access to a boat, plug them into a strong local fleet, and let them race without the hassle of global travel. The result? Better skills, tighter racing, and a genuine sense of community. Bonus point: mixed-gender crews are becoming the norm, not the exception, which is exactly where the sport should be heading.

Cruising

Jimmy Furey: Celebrating the Irish Boatbuilder Whose Craft Shaped Generations of Wooden Boats (4 min read)
Jimmy Furey spent over 50 years quietly building wooden boats in a tiny shed on the River Shannon, turning out everything from racing dinghies to workboats with almost obsessive care. He worked mostly alone, charged very little, and somehow created boats that are still sailing decades later. His hands were legendary, his tools spanned generations, and his approach felt closer to art than trade. No big brand, no ego, just pure craftsmanship. The kind of builder the sport doesn’t produce many of anymore.

10 Things First-Time Charterers Wish They Knew (5 min read)
Chartering a boat sounds like pure freedom… until reality hits. This guide breaks down the stuff first-timers always learn the hard way, from overpacking itineraries to underestimating paperwork and boat choice. You might not sail as much as you think, your first day will feel like a full-time job, and yes, your crew can absolutely drive you nuts in close quarters. The upside? Plan it right, stay flexible, and you’ll trade stress for sunsets pretty quickly.

Hull turned on Royal Huisman’s 81m custom sailing yacht (3 min read)
Big milestone for one seriously big sailing yacht. Royal Huisman just flipped the 81m Project 412 hull upright, giving the first real look at its full scale, and it’s massive. This flybridge schooner is built for global cruising, with a sleek chine hull and a high-tech carbon rig in the works. Now the focus shifts to systems and interior fit-out, where these projects really come to life. Not your average backyard build… more like floating architecture with sails.

Sustainability

Quieter props for the sake of the whales (3 min read)
Ship propellers are way louder than you think, and they’re messing with whales in a big way. The main culprit is cavitation, where tiny bubbles implode and blast noise through the ocean, drowning out communication. Researchers in Kiel are trying to redesign props so those bubbles collapse more gently, cutting noise without hurting performance. Ocean noise has doubled in a decade, and whales can now only hear each other at a fraction of the distance. Fixing props might not sound flashy, but it could make a real difference underwater.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

This Tortue 147 catamaran is less “new boat” and more floating idea lab. Built in aluminum with eco materials and packed with wild features, it’s got everything from a suspended cockpit to a drone-launch hatch in the saloon floor. The layout is totally unconventional, with engines forward, massive solar capacity, and living spaces that feel more like a modern loft than a yacht. It’s not chasing speed records, but for creativity and pure personality, this thing is on another level.