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Sailing News for June 11, 2025

Brazil notched its first SailGP race win as Martine Grael reflected on a milestone moment in New York. New galleries offer fresh views from the event, while the Star Class Europeans opened with 70 boats in Viareggio. Inshore racing wrapped at the Loro Piana Giraglia, and the Vintage Yacht Regatta marked 50 years. The Ovni 490 impressed in tech news, and Jaro’s minimalist speed and a row-sail trip in the San Juans led today’s standout cruising stories.

Sail GP/America’s Cup

Gallery: New York SailGP from a Fresh Perspective (2 min read)
Catch the high-octane action from Super Sunday at the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix through a new lens. This photo gallery captures dramatic moments and dynamic angles as the U.S. SailGP Team posted scores of 12-7-8 on Day Two. From spray-filled turns to skyline backdrops, it’s a visual ride through one of the tour’s most iconic venues.

Brazil Takes First SailGP Win: Grael Reflects on Breakthrough Performance (3 min read)
Martine Grael described Brazil’s first SailGP race win in New York as “amazing” as the new team begins to hit its stride. The breakthrough came in the fourth fleet race, with smart strategy and sharper race awareness helping them pass Spain to take the lead. Though they narrowly missed out on the event final, Grael was upbeat, citing big performance improvements. With Europe next, the team is optimistic and gaining momentum.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

Loro Piana Giraglia 2025: Inshore Series Wraps Ahead of Offshore Showdown (3 min read)
The final inshore race at the Loro Piana Giraglia 2025 brought close finishes and big performances. Jethou took Group A honors in the Maxi class, while Cippa Lippa X pulled off a late move to win Group B. In the ORC and IRC fleets, Give Me Five, Flying Dolphin, and Tenghér all secured wins. With calm conditions forecast, attention now shifts to the offshore classic, a 241-nautical mile challenge between Saint-Tropez, the Giraglia rock, and Genoa.

Vintage Yacht Regatta Marks 50 Years of Tradition (2 min read)
The 50th Vintage Yacht Regatta will return to Shorncliffe from July 18 to 20, hosted by the Queensland Cruising Yacht Club. Known fondly as The Gaffers, the event brings together generations of wooden boat enthusiasts for racing, heritage and celebration. Open to eligible timber vessels, the regatta will feature triangular-course sailing for yachts and navigation trials for motorboats. From Alan Payne designs to Herreshoff classics, the weekend honours craftsmanship and seafaring tradition, with views from the headland and festivities at the clubhouse.

Star Class Europeans Begin in Viareggio (3 min read)
The 2025 Star Class European Championship opened in style in Viareggio, Italy, as 70 world-class teams gathered for a week of elite racing. Hosted by Club Nautico Versilia and Società Velica Viareggina, the regatta runs through June 14 and features seven scheduled races starting Wednesday. The opening ceremony featured the La Spezia Naval Band and remarks from Star Class President Paul Cayard, who praised Viareggio’s racecourse and deep sailing roots. With perfect early summer conditions and a stacked international fleet, this year’s championship is shaping up to deliver a classic week of Star racing.

Olympic Class/Dinghy Sailing

2024–25 College Sailing All-America Teams Announced (2 min read)
Seventy-one sailors earned spots on the 2024–25 ICSA All-America Teams, highlighting a strong season for Yale (10 honorees), Stanford (9) and Tulane (7). Stanford’s Vanessa Lahrkamp stood out as the only sailor to make both the Open and Women’s Skipper lists. The All-America committee, representing ICSA’s regional conferences, evaluated performances across Open and Women’s categories for skipper and crew. Full lists of honorees include top names like Jack Egan (Yale), Stephan Baker (Yale), Ava Anderson (Tulane), and Ellie Harned (Stanford).

Tech & Gear

Ovni 490: Aluminium Pilothouse Cruiser Debuts Strong (4 min read)
The new Ovni 490 is a 50-foot all-aluminium cruiser designed for long-distance sailing with comfort and protection in mind. With five boats already sold off plan, it features a raised pilothouse, panoramic views, and smart use of interior space. Options include twin diesel or full electric propulsion, generous storage, watertight bulkheads, and a layout built for serious bluewater cruising. This model shows how Ovni continues to evolve its go-anywhere design philosophy.

Spotlight

Row Hard, Sail Harder: A Micro-Cruise in the San Juans (7 min read)
With light summer winds and strong tides, Sean Grealish turned a four-day trip around Lummi Island into a gritty blend of rowing and sailing aboard his 16-foot wooden boat Lazydog. From blisters on Rosario Strait to champagne sailing past Sucia Island, he recounts quiet anchorages, bioluminescent nights, and campfire stories with fellow adventurers. Clocking 44 nautical miles without auxiliary power, his solo voyage celebrates the grit and grace of micro-cruising in the Pacific Northwest.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

Ahead of the Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta in Chicago, the team aboard Casting Couch, a J/70 skippered by Cate Muller Terhune, runs through a quick windward leeward lap in a mic’d up practice session. With crew Allan Terhune, Nick Turney and Steve Hunt, the audio captures real-time communication on sail trim, weight movement and tactical calls. The video offers a short but sharp look at how experienced sailors prepare for racing, giving viewers valuable insight into coordination and strategy on a high-performance one design keelboat.