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Sailing News for July 02, 2025

The offshore season is in full swing. The IMOCA fleet crept out of Boulogne in fog for the inaugural Course des Caps while Palma crowned a superyacht Grand Slam champion. Marstrand delivered shifty match racing and para sailing exhibitions, and the TP52 Worlds launched with 25-knot pressure and zero forgiveness. Back on shore, Ed Adams shared tactical gems on headsail poling, and the youth scene saw two fresh champions at the RYA Match Racing Champs.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

A Foggy Start, a Round Already Merciless (5 min read)
The inaugural Course des Caps got off to a ghostly start, with the IMOCA fleet ghosting out of Boulogne-sur-Mer in thick fog and barely-there breeze. With a gnarly current threatening to hit 8 knots near Cherbourg, sailors are already talking anchors, chess-like strategy, and nerve-wracking sail calls. It’s a high-stakes beginning to a 2,000-mile race where every puff of wind counts, and the English Channel is proving it won’t let anyone off easy.

Crucial Points in Tactical Day at GKSS Match Cup Sweden (4 min read)
Shifty breeze and tight matchups made Day 2 in Marstrand all about precision. Sweden’s Björn Hansen stretched his lead with seven wins from eight, while Renée Groeneveld locked in her Nordea Women’s Trophy quarterfinal spot with a clean four-win sweep. With only a few flights left, big names like Chris Poole and Eric Monnin are fighting for survival. Bonus highlight: a para sailing exhibition match with Anna Östling and Pauline Courtois showing off inclusive racing skills in RS Venture boats.

Unstoppable: Gelliceaux Completes a “Grand Slam” with Class Win at Superyacht Cup Palma (4 min read)
The Southern Wind 108 Gelliceaux just pulled off a superyacht racing Grand Slam, winning her class at Palma after already topping St. Barths, Ibiza, and the Giorgio Armani Regatta. In a dramatic showdown with rival Cervo, Gelliceaux nailed a downwind start and clawed back the lead on a six-mile beat to seal the deal. Four regattas, four wins. She’s off cruising for now, but come fall, expect this rocket ship to be back and hungry for more.

TP52 Worlds Kick Off in Cascais with Big Breeze and Big Moves (4 min read)
The TP52 World Championship in Cascais opened with a bang as 25-knot breeze and chunky Atlantic swell gave teams a proper stress test. Platoon Aviation looked sharp in practice, chasing a fourth world title, while defending champs Gladiator ironed out some system glitches. American Magic Quantum is still ramping up, and local hero Alvaro Marinho is keeping things steady on Alkedo. With breeze on the menu all week, expect epic boat handling, fast starts, and zero room for mistakes.

Youth Sailing/Development

Tylecote & Vollmer Crowned at 2025 RYA Harken Youth Match Racing Championships (3 min read)
Jamie Tylecote (Rutland SC) outdueled Fred Salter in a five-race final to claim the overall title at the RYA Harken Youth Match Racing Champs, while 16-year-old Alex Vollmer led a young Oxford SC team to win the Under-19 title at their first ever event. Racing was tight all weekend in Elliott 6Ms, with Saturday’s solid breeze giving way to a shifty, tactical Sunday. Expect to see more of both skippers on the UK match racing scene soon.

Tech & Gear

Best Marine Sealants and Adhesives for Boat Jobs (7 min read)
Picking the right sealant for your boat is more than guesswork. This guide lays out exactly what to use and when, from flexible butyl for easy removal to tough polyurethanes for underwater fittings. It also covers common mistakes, like using permanent adhesive on parts you’ll need to remove later. With expert input and smart product picks, it’s a must-read for anyone sealing, bonding, or just trying to keep water out and sanity in.

A New Angle on Speed: Poling the Headsail (8 min read)
Ed Adams shares timeless insights on using a whisker pole to boost speed without needing a spinnaker. Instead of sailing dead downwind, trim the genoa to leeward and sail faster angles. This technique helps avoid the “dead zone” where the genoa loses power. Key takeaways include adjusting pole position to maintain foot tension, using the pole as a vang with the foreguy, and sailing hotter angles to maintain speed. This approach can give cruising boats a real edge, even against boats flying more canvas.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

The Van Isle 360’s wildest leg didn’t disappoint, serving up big breeze and proper Pacific swell for the blast south from Winter Harbor to Ucluelet. Boats were surfing down waves like dinghies, with wipeouts, broaches, and big grins all around. One skipper called it “champagne sailing with a side of adrenaline.” If you want to see some serious downwind action with epic coastal backdrops, this video is pure gold.