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Sailing News for August 08, 2025

SailGP makes its German debut in Sassnitz with 12 F50s, a packed shoreline, and Black Foils as the team to beat. The Transpac delivers big adventure but exposes a growing insurance crisis for offshore racers. In Quiberon Bay, the RS Aero Worlds crown champions from five nations in a truly inclusive regatta, while the RYA honours Sandra Hartley for two decades of inspiring young sailors. Plus, meet Jazz Turner as she plans a circumnavigation against the odds, revisit the radical Wallygator II, and relive the highs and heartbreaks of the Fastnet centenary.

Sail GP/America’s Cup

Sassnitz awaits: Race times and race map confirmed (3 min read)
SailGP is about to light up the Baltic as the league makes its German debut in Sassnitz on August 16–17. Twelve F50s will battle through qualifying before the top three face off in a winner-takes-all final. Fans get a prime view from the 1.8km breakwater plus big screens, commentary, and plenty of shoreside action. Fresh from a win in Portsmouth, Pete Burling’s Black Foils are the ones to beat, but home team Germany will be pushing hard with the crowd behind them.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

Racing with no AAA on speed dial (6 min read)
This year’s Transpac wasn’t just a test of skill and stamina, it was a battle to even make the start line. Skippers like Chip Merlin of the Bill Lee 68 Merlin struggled to get insurance, with some entrants pulling out entirely when full coverage proved impossible or unaffordable. Merlin managed only partial cover before sending his boat 2,000 miles into the Pacific, underscoring how thin the line is between adventure and disaster. The race delivered thrills, but also a stark reminder that bold sailing dreams often hinge on an invisible lifeline: insurance.

Olympic Class/Dinghy Sailing

RS Aero World & Youth World Championship, Quiberon – Overall (6 min read)
Quiberon Bay delivered breeze, sunshine and tight racing for 170 sailors from 17 nations at the RS Aero Worlds and Youth Worlds. France’s Raphael Olsthoorn swept the RS Aero 5 overall and youth titles, while Ukraine’s Sofiia Naumenko dominated the RS Aero 6 with a 25-point cushion. Britain’s Peter Barton reclaimed the RS Aero 7 crown and Canada’s Ben Flower held off Nick Craig to repeat in the RS Aero 9. With ages ranging from 13 to 71 and gender parity in the biggest fleet, it was a true celebration of dinghy sailing.

Youth Sailing/Development

RYA Awards spotlight: Rochdale school leader’s legacy recognised (4 min read)
Retiring headteacher Sandra Hartley has been honoured with an RYA Impact Award for weaving sailing into the heart of Greenbank Primary School’s outdoor education programme. Over nearly 20 years, she’s delivered more than 120,000 outdoor learning days, with Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club as a hub for turning Year 3 beginners into confident Stage 3 sailors. Her legacy is a thriving school fleet, a sustainable sailing pathway, and generations of pupils who discovered resilience, joy, and a love for the water.

Spotlight

Next stop: The world – Jazz Turner’s new WorldStar circumnavigation plans (5 min read)
Fresh off a solo, non-stop record sail around the UK and Ireland in her 27ft Albin Vega, wheelchair-using sailor Jazz Turner now has her sights on the 2026 WorldStar Race. She’s hunting for a 35–40ft long-keeled yacht and sponsorship to tackle the non-stop, unassisted circumnavigation. With Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and a knack for turning “no” into “yes,” Jazz is aiming to prove grit and skill matter more than limitations. Expect determination, clever boat mods, and a story worth cheering for.

World’s Coolest Yachts: Wallygator II (3 min read)
When Wallygator II hit the water in 1994, it was like a UFO landing in the IOR era. This 105ft, all-carbon, double-masted speed machine could blast along at 25 knots when most boats were crawling at 10. Designed by Luca Brenta and Luca Bassani, she packed a lightweight honeycomb interior and a full hydraulic setup that was 20 years ahead of its time. Painted green and dripping with style, she didn’t just break speed limits, she rewrote the rulebook.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

The centenary Fastnet had it all, with over 400 boats tackling the 695-mile course from Cowes to Cherbourg in a mix of light-air tactics and bruising offshore legs. Crews spoke of perfect starts, nail-biting duels, and the magic of rounding the Rock, while underdogs clawed their way up the fleet. For some it was a family legacy, for others a first taste of ocean racing glory, but everyone agreed you keep pushing because in the Fastnet anything can happen right up to the finish.