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Flying boats, double points and a lightning pit stop set stage for Portuguese Ocean Race thriller (3 min read)
Porto’s Cruise Terminal will host a pivotal three-hour Fly-By stop on Aug. 20 during The Ocean Race Europe’s second leg from Portsmouth to Cartagena, where mixed-gender IMOCA 60s and VO65s will score half the leg’s double points. The August 10–Montenegro race also highlights ocean health campaigns, and marks Portugal’s return to the continental offshore showcase.

56th Semaine Olympique Française de Hyères – Day 3 (5 min read)
Hyères Day 3 unleashed true “Mistral magic,” gusting over 25 knots and forcing epic, survival-style racing across ten Olympic fleets. Denmark’s Anna Munch and Belgium’s Emma Plasschaert traded wins in the ILCA 6 before the fleet was called in, while Hong Kong’s Nicholas Halliday held firm through three punishing ILCA 7 heats. Israel dominated women’s iQFOiL, and Grae Morris did likewise in the men’s. Italy’s Ugolini & Giubilei extended their Nacra 17 lead, and Germany’s Diesch & Markfort won the lone 470 race. Results: 56th Semaine Olympique Française de Hyères Day 3 Results

Hyères Demands Patience Before the Mistral with Sunset Finish – International 49er Class Association (5 min read)
Light southerly sea breezes finally filled in around 16:00, allowing Nacra 17s to squeeze in three races at sunset. Italy’s Ugolini & Giubilei won two of three to extend their lead, while Farese & Zöchling held second and Gimson & Burnett surged to fourth. In 49erFX, Belgium’s Maenhaut & Geerts won twice despite a 22nd-place, building a nine-point buffer. Meanwhile, SOF marked World Earth Day with 18 eco-buoys, bike logistics, coach-boat meters and national-park partnerships.

US Sailing Announces 66 Athletes as the First Ever US Sailing Youth National Team  (2 min read)
US Sailing has unveiled its first Youth National Team of 66 sailors aged 19 and under in six Olympic classes, 29er, i420, Nacra 15, ILCA 6, iQFOiL and Formula Kite, from Hawaii to the east coast. Team members will attend spring and summer training camps tailored to each class and compete internationally this summer to earn one of 16 spots at the Youth Sailing World Championships in Vilamoura, Portugal, in December.

Why the RS Zest is the Ultimate Choice for Sailing Training  (2 min read)
The RS Zest is a roto-moulded trainer dinghy built for safety and simplicity with a centre mainsheet, bright high-visibility sail, secure mast gate lip, lift & lock rudder and pivoting centreboard, plus grab handles for capsize recovery, a spacious cockpit and optional jib or rowing kit for versatile learning.

A life transformed: From single mum to Commodore and inclusive sailing champion (4 min read)
When Laura Cowan sought quality time with her son, a chance crewing gig led her to Prestwick Sailing Club. Now Commodore and RYA Scotland Regional Development Officer, she built youth, women’s and adaptive sailing programmes, teaching everything from basic knots to British Sign Language, and secured her club’s nomination for RYA Young People Club of the Year. At 57, she’s proving it’s never too late to chase your dreams!

Community Sailing in Pistakee: The Best Kept Secret in the US (3 min read)
Founded in 1897 on Illinois’ Chain O’Lakes, Pistakee Yacht Club launched a nonprofit sailing school in 2012 to broaden access. Its week-long camps, KinderSail and adult courses are joined by in-school STEM classes and a new adaptive program in June and July. Using Flying Scots, a Rhodes 19 and a Precision 18 with lifts and noise-cancelling headphones, CSS@P serves local nonprofits and aims to open adaptive sessions to the public soon.

SailGP 101: The Evolution Of The F50 (3 min read)
SailGP’s F50 catamarans began as modified AC50 America’s Cup foilers and have evolved through rapid innovation. Carbon fiber hulls mated with modular wing sails in three sizes, electric and hydraulic controls powered by lithium-ion batteries, and 125 onboard sensors feeding 35 000 data points per second deliver unrivalled performance. Season Five’s switch to titanium T-foils raises cavitation thresholds, adds sacrificial tips for safety, and ensures every upgrade is rolled out fleet-wide to keep racing tightly matched and blisteringly fast.

Steve Hunt Coaching the Fundamentals of Racing Sailboats!  
Steve Hunt, professional sailor and coach of the Point Loma High School champions, shows why you should almost always start at the favored end of the line. It puts you closest to the windward mark and ahead of the fleet. Then look for darker patches or chop to sail in the strongest breeze, avoid wind shadows by tacking out of disturbed air, and mind the current which can be as important as a few degrees of pin bias. Finally, keep your route simple by heading straight toward the nearest upwind mark through the least crowded gate.

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