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Transat Paprec Day 6 – A High-Tension Weekend (4 min read)
Six days in, the Transat Paprec fleet has passed Cape Finisterre and is now stretching south past Madeira with leaders tightly packed and strategy becoming critical. Martin Le Pape and Mathilde Géron (Demain) hold the lead, but with only 50 miles separating the top 15 boats, it’s still wide open. Skippers face unstable winds and must carefully decide how to round La Palma, with two diverging routing options creating a tactical puzzle that could shake up the rankings.

Sled looking to avoid 2024’s late season slide and lift their level of consistency. – 52 SUPER SERIES (5 min read)
After a strong but inconsistent 2024, Takashi Okura’s Sled team is determined to tighten their game for the 2025 52 SUPER SERIES season. With Francesco Bruni rejoining alongside Murray Jones and Andrea Visintini, the championship-winning afterguard is back together. Their focus is on eliminating big mistakes, managing team fatigue, and benefiting from a new foil package and Japan-built sails. Training early in Saint-Tropez, Sled is fully committed to a podium finish by season’s end in Porto Cervo.

WMRT: Ficker Cup sets stage for 60th Anniversary Congressional Cup (4 min read)
Eight top match racing teams are battling it out this weekend at Long Beach Yacht Club’s Ficker Cup, with the top two earning a coveted spot at next week’s 60th Anniversary Congressional Cup. With fierce talent from the US, France, Canada, and Australia, the action in Catalina 37s promises to be tight. Defending Congressional Cup champion Chris Poole and past winner Johnie Berntsson await the Ficker Cup qualifiers for what is shaping up to be a milestone showdown in Long Beach.

56th Semaine Olympique Française de Hyères – Day 5 (6 min read)
Day 5 of the Semaine Olympique Française in Hyères saw light breezes and high drama as iQFOiL and Formula Kite classes wrapped up their Medal Series. Italy’s Riccardo Pianosi and China’s Kun Bi seized gold in the men’s kite and windsurfing events, while Tamar Steinberg (ISR) and Wan Li (CHN) held off challengers to top the women’s podiums. With final Medal Races ahead for ILCA, Nacra, 49er, FX, and 470 classes, standout leaders like Nicholas Halliday (HKG) and Germany’s Diesch and Markfort already have gold secured, while other classes remain wide open.
Results: 56th Semaine Olympique Française de Hyères Day 5 Results

Emma and Luke McEwen win the French Open Skiff event 2025 at Lac du Der (2 min read)
Emma and Luke McEwen claimed a surprise win at the French Open Skiff on Lac du Der in their debut RS500 season, overcoming tricky light and shifty conditions among a 24-boat fleet. The British duo, who recently switched roles in the boat, led a strong RS500 showing that included close racing with Dutch and French crews. The event was praised for its relaxed atmosphere, camaraderie, and beautiful lakeside setting.

How SailGP Became Sailing’s New Global Powerhouse (5 min read)
Born in 2018 from the vision of Larry Ellison and Sir Russell Coutts, SailGP set out to shake up sailing and create a truly global professional circuit. Fast forward to 2025 and it has exploded to 12 teams, a carbon-neutral model, and a reputation for high-speed, high-drama racing. All teams race identical F50 catamarans, keeping the focus on skill rather than tech advantages. With record-breaking audiences, private ownership expanding, mandatory female athletes onboard, and constant innovation, SailGP has quickly become one of sailing’s most exciting success stories.

Mike Buckley: We Have To Find Consistency (2 min read)
After an up-and-down start to the 2024/25 SailGP season, U.S. SailGP Team co-owner and CEO Mike Buckley says the team’s biggest challenge is finding consistency. A podium in Dubai showed what they are capable of, but shaky performances elsewhere highlight how far they still have to go. With the Rio event canceled due to wingsail issues, Buckley is using the downtime to refocus both the racing team and the business side, bringing in Michael Menninger – fresh from America’s Cup campaigns – to strengthen the roster ahead of a big home event in New York.

“As the bow touched down the noise was different… In two seconds my race was over” – Pip Hare’s Vendée disaster (8 min read)
Pip Hare’s 2024 Vendée Globe campaign came to a devastating halt when her IMOCA Medallia dismasted deep in the Southern Ocean. Yet her story was far from over. In an incredible feat of seamanship, Pip constructed a jury rig using her broken deck spreader and safely sailed 800 miles over 13 days to Melbourne. Facing crushing emotional lows, Pip found strength in self-reliance, innovation, and the overwhelming support of the sailing community. Now, with Medallia’s sponsorship ended, she is determined to rebuild and continue her journey at the highest level of ocean racing.

Gold Medal Advice from Will Ryan (5 min watch)
In this short but awesome video, gold medalist Will Ryan breaks down how to maximize speed and teamwork downwind. It is all about staying focused, communicating early, and squeezing every bit of power out of the boat. Will’s energy and positivity are seriously next level.

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