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Sailing News for September 26, 2025

The season is heating up fast. Sydney Harbour’s 18ft skiffs are back with The Kitchen Maker marking 15 seasons of spray and spectacle. In the Med, Ibiza JoySail wrapped its biggest regatta yet while the TP52s battled through three races in Porto Cervo, Sled seizing the overall lead. In Trieste, the Melges 24 Worlds saw Gamecock charge into contention and the Corinthian fleet rally from setbacks. Cruisers will want to check out Nikki Henderson’s ten essential multihull skills and the versatile Sirius 35 DS deck-salon. And in the workshop, air tools show why sanding doesn’t need to be slow torture.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

18ft Skiffs – The Kitchen Maker 18ft Skiff Racing (6 min read)
Sydney Harbour’s most outrageous skiffs are back, and The Kitchen Maker team is front and center for its 15th straight season. Lachlan Steel keeps the helm while sponsor Darren McKavanagh celebrates a journey that started with Flying 11s and grew into championship wins and world-class campaigns. Expect the usual chaos: spray flying, boats flipping, and tight racing that makes the ferry crowd gasp. The season kicks off October 12 with the Spring Championship, building toward the JJ Giltinan Worlds in March.

Where Everyone Wants to Go (5 min read)
Ibiza isn’t just beaches and nightclubs, it’s now home to one of the hottest superyacht regattas on the planet. Ibiza JoySail wrapped its fifth edition with 22 maxis on the line, a huge leap from just four boats when it started. The racing is tight, the after-parties are legendary, and the vibe is intimate by design with the fleet capped to keep things special. Owners, pros, and families all want in, making this late-season showdown the crown jewel of the Med superyacht calendar.

52 Super Series 2025 Porto Cervo by Range Rover – Day 3 (7 min read)
Sardinia finally served up raceable conditions and the TP52 fleet crammed in three high-intensity heats. Takashi Okura’s Sled shrugged off an early penalty to post a 2nd and a 1st, jumping into the overall lead by four points. Phoenix, with Tom Slingsby and Will Ryan calling the shots, stayed hot on their heels as the top scorer of the day. American Magic Quantum Racing still tops the season leaderboard, but their margin is shrinking fast with just four races left. The title fight is officially on.

Melges 24 World Championship 2025 – Day 3 (7 min read)
Light winds made for a tricky single race in Trieste, but Peter McClennen’s Gamecock nailed the start and never looked back, climbing into striking distance of the leaders. Melgina grabbed second, while Corinthian powerhouse Taki IV bounced back from a dismasting with an emotional third. After three races, Sentinel and Strambapapà share the top spot on 15 points, with Dark Horse and Gamecock just behind. The fleet now braces for an early 8:20 am start as organizers push to fit in enough races to activate a discard.

Cruising

10 Essential Multihull Sailing Skills You Need to Know (14 min read)
Thinking of taking your shiny new cat or trimaran offshore? Nikki Henderson lays out the ten must-have skills that will keep your cruising dream alive. From taming twin engines in a marina, to reefing before things get sketchy, to mastering the art of downwind sails and confident anchoring, this guide is pure gold. Multihulls are fast, stable, and fun, but they punish sloppy handling. Get these skills dialed in and you will spend less time stressed and more time enjoying the freedom two hulls bring.

New Boat Preview: Sirius 35 DS (8 min read)
The Sirius 35 DS crams the comfort of a 40-footer into a compact 35-foot hull, and it does it with style. Its split-level deck-salon layout gives sweeping 360-degree views, while below you can choose between two, four, or even six berths. The real party trick? A dedicated workshop and four keel options, from deep fin to lifting, so you can poke into tidal creeks or head offshore with confidence. It is German-built, ocean-rated, and seriously versatile for a cruiser this size.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

Hand sanding takes forever, but a simple compressor with a few air tools makes the job faster and way more satisfying. A mini disc sander sneaks into awkward corners, a belt sander blasts through layers of old paint, and swapping attachments on one hose keeps everything moving smoothly. It is noisy and messy, sure, but the finish is cleaner and the work feels easier. Once you try it, going back to a regular sander will feel like punishment.