24 hours of sailing news in 5 minutes.

Sailing News for June 26, 2025

Simple pleasures, high performance, and raw courage define today’s sailing world. The new J/7 offers pure, no-fuss fun on the water. At the other end of the spectrum, Ferrari reveals its wild 100-foot foiler Hypersail, and Wisp shows what happens when classic aesthetics meet cutting-edge craftsmanship. Kieler Woche closes with flying boards, skiff battles, and medal-race fireworks. And in a story of unmatched tenacity, Craig Wood becomes the first triple amputee to solo the Pacific non-stop.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

Simple Pleasures With the J/7 (6 min read)
J Boats is back with the J/7, a 23-foot daysailer that strips out the fuss and delivers pure, easy fun. With clean lines, no frills, and enough cockpit space to host a party, this boat is built for yacht clubs, new sailors, and anyone who just wants to sail without drama. It’s stable, surprisingly quick, and priced to make club fleets do a double take. No wood, no nonsense, and yes, a spinnaker is optional but you’ll probably want one.

Zen and the Art of Ocean Racing (6 min read)
After a 22-year break, the Admiral’s Cup is back and Australia’s TP52 Zen is leading the charge. Skipper Gordon Ketelbey, backed by a dream team that includes Chris Nicholson and Tom Addis, has turned a former Sorcha into a fire-breathing all-rounder. It’s not just about speed. It’s about crew culture, next-gen talent, and a no-compromise push for the podium. With Doyle Sails in the mix and a sleek refit under its belt, Zen is going to the Solent with serious intent.

Peninsula Racing and Team Nika Share Spotlight at 44Cup Marstrand (5 min read)
The 44Cup Marstrand kicked off with breeze, swell, and a three-race workout that saw Peninsula Racing and Team Nika tied at the top. Peninsula stormed out with a 1-2 start, then cooled off with a sixth. Team Nika came alive in race three, snatching a win with a gutsy split downwind. With Aleph Racing close behind and drama on nearly every leg, the Swedish stop is shaping up as a tight, tactical brawl. Even a lost phone couldn’t shake Peninsula’s groove.

Olympic Class/Dinghy Sailing

Kieler Woche Day 6: France Doubles Up, Germany Strikes Gold (6 min read)
Kieler Woche delivered peak Olympic-class drama with breeze-on medal races and some serious shakeups. France walked away with double gold in the 49er and iQFOiL Women, while Germany snagged a thrilling win in iQFOiL Men thanks to Fabian Wolf’s last-race heroics. Italy took ILCA 6 and ILCA 7 titles, and Britain stole 49erFX gold from Germany at the last minute. From flying boards to nail-biting skiff finishes, Kiel lived up to its wild weather legacy and Grand Slam reputation.

Youth Sailing/Development

Stephen Wood Honored with RYA Cymru Wales Impact Award (4 min read)
Stephen Wood just wrapped up over two decades of volunteering at Cardigan Bay Watersports with an RYA Impact Award, and it’s more than deserved. At 83, he’s still championing youth sailing after helping launch the center back in 2003, raising over £350,000 in grants, and mentoring generations of young sailors. From instructing dinghy courses to empowering kids from all backgrounds, Stephen’s legacy is proof that one passionate person really can change lives with a boat and a bit of free time.

Tech & Gear

The Story of a Boat Named Wisp (10 min read)
What do you get when an 80-something sailor wants a high-tech, high-comfort 40-foot daysailer built fast? You get Wisp—a drop-dead gorgeous custom yacht built in under a year by the small but mighty crew at Artisan Boatworks. With over 40 specialists, push-button everything, and the soul of a classic racer-cruiser, this was a Maine boatbuilding masterclass in teamwork and craftsmanship. Think: Herreshoff spirit, 21st-century systems, and one very happy owner.

RS Electric Boats Tests Bidirectional Charging with Pulse 63 (4 min read)
Imagine charging your electric RIB, then selling that juice back to the grid while you grab lunch. That’s exactly what RS Electric Boats and Aqua superPower just demoed with the RS Pulse 63 in Plymouth. This new bidirectional charging tech isn’t just smart. It could cut costs, boost battery life, and help marinas skip pricey grid upgrades. It’s a big leap toward cleaner, smarter harbors and a bold step for electric boating going mainstream.

Foiling

Ferrari’s Wild 100ft Foiling Yacht Hypersail Is Coming (5 min read)
Ferrari is going full throttle into ocean racing with Hypersail, a 100-foot foiling monohull that looks like an AC75 on steroids. Designed by Guillaume Verdier and skippered by Giovanni Soldini, this beast will fly on a keel foil, rudder, and alternating lateral foils. No diesel, just solar, wind, and kinetic power. It’s part Cup boat, part spaceship, and fully bonkers in the best way. Launching in 2026, it’s a rule-breaking moonshot that aims to rewrite what offshore foiling can be.

Spotlight

Ben Willows Appointed CEO of RS Marine Group (5 min read)
RS Marine Group just tapped Ben Willows as their new CEO, and it’s more reunion than resume boost. From ripping around in RS600s to racing RS800s with his son, Ben’s been deep in the RS scene since the ’90s. Now he’s swapping tiller for title, bringing serious youth sailing and nonprofit chops from his UKSA days. With RS’s electric boats, powercats, and dinghy range growing fast, he’s set to steer the whole group into a bold new chapter.

Craig Wood Becomes First Triple Amputee to Sail Solo Across the Pacific (6 min read)
After 90 grueling days and 7,506 miles alone at sea, triple amputee Craig Wood just became the first person in history to sail solo, non-stop, and unsupported across the Pacific. He did it with one arm (after his prosthetic broke mid-voyage), patching sails, fixing engines, and even baking pies while raising funds for veterans. From IED survivor to record-breaker, Craig’s story is raw, inspiring, and proof that limits are meant to be shattered.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

Ever wondered what it’s like to trim downwind on a TP52 at full tilt? Lorenzo Mazza straps on a GoPro and takes you straight into the action aboard Quantum Racing during the 2015 52 Super Series. It’s spray in the face, call the gybe, grind the line intensity from the bowels of a serious race boat. No commentary, no fluff, just pure sailing adrenaline through the eyes of a pro doing his thing at 20 plus knots.