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Sailing News Summary for April 25, 2025
Today’s highlight of the day is a visual masterpiece: 10 minutes of Ocean Race drone footage that shows the ocean in all its fury and beauty. Then dive into tradewind-fueled competition at Antigua Sailing Week, Medal race build-up in Hyères, youth triumphs at the RYA Nationals, and FlyingNikka’s foiling return. There’s also cruising market insight and a spotlight on Starboard’s eco leadership.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

Spectacular conditions forecast for Antigua Sailing Week 2025 (6 min read)
The 56th Antigua Sailing Week kicks off with strong tradewinds forecasted to energize nine classes of racers, from family crews to pro teams aboard high-performance yachts like VO65s and the Volvo 70 Pyewacket. Big names such as Dean Barker and Roy Disney join the fray, while the regatta promises tailored courses, fierce competition, and unforgettable parties. Notable entries include everything from 24ft RS Elites to classic maxis like Kialoa III, showcasing a vibrant cross-section of the sailing world. The event begins April 26 with the Round Antigua Race and features five days of racing plus a mid-week Lay Day.

Transat Paprec Day 5 – Galley & Bloch: “We couldn’t have dreamed of much better!” (5 min read)
As the fleet barrels toward La Palma, Laure Galley and Kévin Bloch (DMG MORI Academy) continue to shine after a strong start that saw them lead at Cape Finisterre and now battling closely in second. Martin Le Pape and Mathilde Géron (Demain) currently hold the lead, while others contend with repairs and even surprising submarine sightings. Winds are expected to pick up, pushing the competition into higher gear as they approach Madeira. Galley credits smart routing and synergy with her former coach turned co-skipper for their early success.

Matosinhos-Porto Fly-By completes the route for The Ocean Race Europe and reaffirms joint commitment (5 min read)
The Ocean Race Europe returns to Portugal with a high-profile Fly-By at Matosinhos-Porto on August 20, giving fans front-row seats as IMOCA foilers speed past on Leg 2. The event is a double-points milestone with onshore activities celebrating Portugal’s maritime culture and commitment to ocean awareness. Alongside the racing, the stopover sets the stage for Portugal to host The Ocean Race Summit in 2026, a key moment for uniting sport, science, and sustainability on a global scale.

Is France’s chic Côte d’Azure set to deal a dose of déjà vu when 52 SUPER SERIES 2025 season opens next week? (5 min read)
The 52 SUPER SERIES returns to France’s Côte d’Azur next week with an 11-boat fleet from nine nations ready to launch the 2025 season in Saint-Tropez. With no clear frontrunner and several technical upgrades across the board, the regatta promises tight racing and high drama. Defending champions Quantum Racing reassemble under Terry Hutchinson, while teams like Provezza, Gladiator, and Platoon look strong out of the gate. The season starts April 30 with five days of high-performance monohull action.

Olympic Class / Dinghy Sailing

56th Semaine Olympique Française de Hyères – Day 4 (7 min read)
Day 4 of the 56th Semaine Olympique Française in Hyères brought high tension and shifting winds as competitors in kitesurfing and iQFOiL prepared for Friday’s medal races. Strong performances from Israel and China dominate the women’s iQFOiL, while Australia’s Grae Morris and Singapore’s Max Maeder lead in the men’s iQFOiL and kite events. In the dinghy classes, top sailors across 470, ILCA, Nacra 17, and 49er continue to battle tightly packed leaderboards in challenging conditions. Medal races for all other Olympic classes are set for Saturday.
Results: 56th Semaine Olympique Française de Hyères Day 4 Results

Youth Sailing / Development

Champions emerge at the 2025 RYA Youth National Championships (6 min read)
Over 230 young sailors competed at the 2025 RYA Youth National Championships in Pwllheli, Wales, showcasing the UK’s top youth talent across six classes. Multiple sailors defended titles, including Chris Marsh (ILCA 7) and Alexander Meadway (iQFOiL), while exciting medal race formats capped off a week of varied conditions. The regatta also featured a royal visit from HRH The Princess Royal, underlining the event’s prestige. Tight racing, especially in the 420 and 29er classes, highlighted the next generation’s competitive depth.
Results: https://youthnationals.rya.org.uk/en/default/races/race-resultsall

Cruising

Finding a great yacht deal in 2025: Expert advice on understanding the market (6 min read)
As the yacht market stabilizes after the post-COVID boom, buyers are finding better opportunities, especially among classic, well-maintained bluewater cruisers. Brokers highlight “change of plan” yachts and undervalued older models like the Contessa 32 as strong prospects. Regional price gaps have narrowed due to digital platforms and VAT implications from Brexit, but flexibility and timing still give savvy buyers an edge. Whether shopping locally or globally, acting quickly and building broker relationships are key to landing the right boat.

Sustainability

Removing plastic from the beaches (4 min read)
Starboard, the Olympic windsurfing board supplier, is actively tackling shoreline plastic pollution in Thailand and Myanmar through its Plastic Offset Program (POP). For every board made, the company funds the removal of 1.4kg of plastic waste, while also supporting local communities with jobs, food, education, and medical aid. Italica S.B, which supplies carbon masts for Olympic iQFOiL gear, is also backing the effort. Starboard hopes more watersports companies and World Sailing will join to expand the impact.

Foiling

FlyingNikka in Portofino for the Regate di Primavera (4 min read)
FlyingNikka, the pioneering full-foiling Mini Maxi, kicks off its 2025 season at the Regate di Primavera in Portofino, marking the start of a packed Mediterranean racing calendar. Fresh from winter upgrades and sporting a new Apportal livery, Roberto Lacorte and his elite crew are aiming for top performance in buoy races and upcoming offshore challenges like the 151 Miglia and Loro Piana Giraglia. The season also begins a new technical partnership with Musto, integrating cutting-edge sailing apparel into FlyingNikka’s high-speed program.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

Most Incredible drone shots from The Ocean Race (10 min watch)
This 10-minute video is a full-on adrenaline rush, packed with stunning aerial footage that captures the raw power and beauty of offshore racing like nothing else. The Ocean Race always delivers, but seeing the action from above adds a whole new level of awe. If you’re looking for pure sailing inspiration, this is the one to watch.


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