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Sailing News for July 09, 2025

American Magic Quantum Racing clinched the TP52 World Championship in Cascais by a single point, with Sara Stone becoming the first female navigator to win the event. Over in New York, SailGP drew its largest U.S. crowd ever and locked in a return for 2026. Josh Ku made history by foil-paddling 92 kilometers from Bali to G-Land, and the Transpac fleet is navigating chaos mid-Pacific. We’ve also got a floating boat lift that’s changing dock life, monk seal conservation tips, and a spotlight on America One Racing’s Olympic push.

Sail GP/America’s Cup

Record-Breaking: New York Becomes Most Attended U.S. SailGP Event (3 min read)
The Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix just set a new record with over 10,000 ticketed fans packing the waterfront for a weekend of high-speed racing. DJ Khaled showed up as “Chief Hype Officer,” France returned to the fleet with Kylian Mbappé in their corner, and CBS pulled in more than a million viewers. From LA to SF to NYC, SailGP’s U.S. series was pure spectacle. The league’s already locked in a New York return for 2026, so mark your calendars.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

American Magic Quantum Racing Win Rolex TP52 World Title (5 min read)
American Magic Quantum Racing edged out France’s Paprec by a single point to win the 2025 TP52 World Championship in Cascais. It was a nail-biter of a finale, with gusts, holes, and tactical chaos on the last day. Young gun Harry Melges IV made history as the youngest helm to take the title, and Sara Stone became the first female navigator to win the event. Grit, brains, and just enough luck got them across the line first.

Youth Sailing/Development

On Board with Challenge Wales (4 min read)
When Challenge Wales needed crew for a delivery sail, RYA’s Hester Walker jumped aboard for a five day voyage from Pembrokeshire to Cumbria. Between battling seasickness, spotting dolphins, and befriending a stowaway pigeon named Jeff, she got a hands-on look at the charity’s work helping young people build skills and confidence through sailing. It was a week of teamwork, new friends, and strong coffee. Jeff made it home, and so did Hester, just in time for a full weekend back on the job.

Sustainability

Sailors Urged to Help Protect the Mediterranean Monk Seal in Greece (4 min read)
Greece is home to nearly half the world’s Mediterranean monk seals, and sailors cruising the Ionian or Aegean are being asked to help protect them. These shy, endangered seals need quiet caves to raise their pups, but boat traffic and curious tourists are putting them at serious risk. SealGreece is making it easier than ever to avoid disturbing them, with updated charts, AR tools, and reporting sites. Bottom line: no selfies, no cave visits, and definitely no seal-chasing.

Tech & Gear

The Floating Boat Lift: Dock Your Boat Like a Pro (3 min read)
Say goodbye to antifouling, oil leaks, and clunky dock gear. This slick new boat lift from AMS Waterfront Systems raises your ride out of the water with a solar-powered, water-hydraulic system. No shore power, no permits, no mess. It floats, it’s portable, and it’s gentle on nature. Bonus: there’s even a manual version you can crank by hand if you’re feeling heroic. It’s like a magic trick for your hull, and your lake will thank you.

Foiling

Aussie Surfer Josh Ku Completes World-First Foil Crossing from Bali to G-Land (4 min read)
Aussie waterman Josh Ku just pulled off a world-first by stand-up paddle foiling 92 km across open ocean from Bali to G-Land. It took him 4.5 hours, a custom Amos Shapes Cypher board, and a serious dose of grit. After landing, he swapped boards and scored barrels at Money Trees like a total legend. The feat will be featured in a doc premiering this September, but for now, it’s enough to say: this guy just turned the Bali Strait into a foiler’s playground.

Spotlight

America One Racing Mid-Year Report: Eyes on the Podium (6 min read)
America One Racing is all-in for LA 2028 and it shows. From skiff medals in Europe to a bronze at the Wingfoil World Cup, their athletes are already stacking results. The team is blending elite coaching, cutting-edge sport science, and a foiling pipeline that’s pumping out national champs. With a nose-to-the-grindstone mindset and no distractions, A1R is skipping politics and going straight for performance. If you’re tracking future Olympians, this squad is the one to watch.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

All Transpac 2025 fleets are underway and navigating a brutal mid-Pacific wind hole. Four boats have already retired, two with gear failures and two due to medical issues, including one mayday call heard by Ava aboard Convexity². This episode dives into her first offshore experience, the eerie silence of open ocean, and a few wild onboard moments from the fleet. Light winds, broken kit, and sea shanty remixes are just another week racing 2,225 miles to Hawaii.