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Sailing News Summary for June 04, 2025

Endurance athlete Mathieu Blanchard will co-skipper the 2025 Transat Café L’OR with Conrad Colman, bridging the worlds of trail running and offshore sailing. In Australia, Wild Thing 100 gears up for a Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race record attempt with new sails and youth outreach in mind. At the Southern Wind Rendezvous, Sorceress edged Ammonite in a light-air thriller. The 49er, FX and Nacra Euros kicked off in Thessaloniki, and Hannah Diamond spotlighted the 29er as a youth sailing game-changer. In cruising, sailors recount crossing the Atlantic with everything from Great Danes to Himalayan cats. And in tech, a full Melges 30 retrofit gives a sportboat a new lease on life.

Sail GP/America’s Cup

Gallery: U.S. SailGP Team in NYC – Season Four Highlights (2 min read)
Ahead of the 2025 Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix, the U.S. SailGP Team reflects on key moments from Season Four with a striking image gallery from last year’s NYC event. Set between Ellis Island and Governors Island, the photos capture the thrill of racing beneath the Manhattan skyline. Notable visitors included Olympian Lindsey Vonn and NFL star Nate Burleson, while Chairman Ryan McKillen tossed the first pitch at a Yankees game.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

Ultra-Trail Runner to Co-Skipper IMOCA in 2025 Transat Café L’OR (4 min read)
Endurance athlete Mathieu Blanchard will join veteran skipper Conrad Colman aboard MS Amlin for the 2025 Transat Café L’OR, marking a unique collaboration between trail running and offshore sailing. The transatlantic race from Le Havre to Martinique will be Blanchard’s sailing debut, followed by his participation in the 134 km TransMartinique trail run. The partnership reflects shared values of resilience, adaptability and pushing limits on land and at sea. Training is underway as both prepare for this ambitious dual challenge.

Wild Thing 100 Targets Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race Record (4 min read)
Grant Wharington’s Wild Thing 100 is prepped for a record run in the 1250-nautical mile Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race starting October 11. The maxi has been fully upgraded with a taller mast, larger sail area and a new set of sails by Kiwi watch captain Rodney Keenan. After testing the new configuration on a delivery sail to Sydney, the team will stay in New Zealand for the Coastal Classic before returning for the Sydney Hobart. Wharington hopes the campaign inspires more youth engagement in offshore sailing.

Southern Wind Rendezvous Wraps with Tight Racing and Style in Porto Cervo (3 min read)
The 2025 Southern Wind Rendezvous and Trophy concluded with a picturesque 15-mile finale off Porto Cervo. In light breezes, SW96 Sorceress edged out Ammonite by just 16 seconds in a tactical showdown, while SW108 Gelliceaux topped the Corinthian Class. RP-Nauta 100 Morgana impressed in the Superyacht Class, placing third overall. Giorgio Armani’s Sorvind sailed flawlessly, giving guests a true taste of Mediterranean yachting. The event ended with toasts in Piazza Azzurra and a promise to return in 2026.

Olympic Class/Dinghy Sailing

World’s Coolest Boats: Hannah Diamond Picks the 29er Dinghy (3 min read)
Olympian and SailGP athlete Hannah Diamond credits the 29er dinghy with reigniting her love for sailing and shaping her career. A single winter sail in the high-performance youth skiff steered her toward the Nacra 17, SailGP and even the Women’s America’s Cup. Designed for speed and skill progression, the 29er hits up to 19 knots and remains a critical gateway for young sailors entering elite racing paths.

49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 Euros Kick Off in Light Air (4 min read)
Day one of the 2025 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 European Championships in Thessaloniki featured tricky light air racing with standout performances from Austria’s Prettner and Flachberger in the 49er and Italy’s Ugolini and Giubilei in the Nacra 17. Poland’s Melzacka and Jankowiak lead the 49erFX fleet after battling chop and shifting breeze. Israel celebrated its first ever 49er race win, while Olympic medalist Charline Picon survived a catamaran sinking near Tahiti. Racing resumes with FX and Nacra 17 first up on day two.

Cruising

What It’s Like Sailing Across the Atlantic With Pets (5 min read)
From a 160-pound Great Dane to a small Maltese, cruisers in the 2024 ARC shared their experiences crossing the Atlantic with pets. While planning, paperwork and health regulations add complexity, sailors agree that pets offer comfort, companionship and comic relief offshore. Whether it’s Snow the Dane, Buoy the Chihuahua or Cappuccino the Himalayan cat, each four-legged crew member brings personality and perspective to life at sea. Cruising with pets takes work, but for many it is well worth it.

Tech & Gear

Melges 30 “Still 2 Crazy” Gets Full Deck and Rigging Overhaul (5 min read)
The classic Melges 30 Still 2 Crazy received a major refit led by Jon Shampain and Robert Plant, with a focus on optimizing deck layout and running rigging. Upgrades include a new 2-to-1 runner system with Harken Performa winches, floating jib leads, revised mainsheet and traveler setups, and a retractable bobstay for Code Zero use. Marlow lines with heat- and chafe-resistant covers round out the high-performance retrofit. The project blends modern tech with a deep respect for the original sportboat’s DNA.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

In this concise and super practical video, Laser/ILCA coach and sailor breaks down the five most common tacking mistakes that are quietly costing racers boat lengths upwind. From overusing the tiller to poor prep and sluggish transitions between hiking sides, each tip is paired with clear visuals and pro-level comparisons like how Olympic gold medalist Tom Burton nails his tacks. Whether you’re racing or just trying to sail more efficiently, this is four minutes well spent.