24 hours of sailing news in 5 minutes.

Sailing News for October 27, 2025

This week’s sailing headlines are pure adrenaline. Three Ocean Fifty trimarans flip in brutal Transat conditions, Aqua Nomis loses her rig just 200 meters from the Middle Sea Race finish, and the Bermuda Gold Cup finals promise fierce duels on Hamilton Harbour. Down under, the 80th Sydney Hobart fleet is confirmed with legends, rookies, and a 121-year-old classic on the line. Add a gale-tossed Dover survival tale, high-stakes youth racing on Lake Garda, and a peek behind SailGP’s shore crew grind, and it’s sailing at its most raw and real.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

Dismasted Just Before the Finish: “We’ll Be Back Stronger Next Year” (2 min read)
Heartbreak at the Rolex Middle Sea Race as the X-Yachts XP 44 Aqua Nomis lost her mast just 200 meters from the finish line after battling rough seas around Sicily. The dramatic moment was caught on video, showing the rig folding in seconds. No injuries, just crushed hopes and a torn deck joint. Skipper Michael Oberweger and crew handled it like pros, promising to rebuild and return stronger next year. Tough break, serious grit.

Championship Titles on the Line at Bermuda Gold Cup (4 min read)
It’s all set for a blockbuster finish in Hamilton Harbour as Ian Williams and Johnie Berntsson face off for the King Edward VII Trophy. Williams, a six-time world champ, is chasing redemption after a mark-rounding blunder, while Berntsson is hunting his fifth Bermuda title. In the women’s event, Denmark’s Lea Vogelius stunned world No. 1 Pauline Courtois 3–0 to reach the final against Sweden’s Anna Östling. Expect tight tacks, bold starts, and a whole lot of drama on the Great Sound.

Three 50ft Trimarans Capsize in First Night of Transat Café L’Or (5 min read)
Chaos hit the Transat Café L’Or as three Ocean Fifty trimarans flipped within hours of each other on the first night of racing. Lazare X Hellio, Koesio, and Inter Invest all capsized in rough Channel conditions with gusts over 30 knots and steep three-meter seas. Every skipper was rescued safely, but the wrecks tell the story of how fine the line is between flying and flipping these high-powered 50-foot multihulls. It’s a brutal reminder that offshore speed always comes with a cost.

Elite Fleet Confirmed for 80th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race (5 min read)
The 80th edition of the Rolex Sydney Hobart is shaping up as a monster, with 142 yachts set to charge south from Sydney on Boxing Day. Six 100-foot maxis lead the pack, including LawConnect, Palm Beach XI (formerly Wild Oats XI), and SHK Scallywag. Past champions Celestial V70 and Love & War are back, along with 11 female skippers, 20 double-handers, and the 121-year-old classic Katwinchar. It’s a stacked fleet full of legends and fresh contenders ready for the Great Race South.

Olympic Class/Dinghy Sailing

29er Eurocup 2025 Final at Fraglia Vela Riva – Day 2 (3 min read)
After two days and seven races on Lake Garda, the qualifying rounds of the 29er Eurocup Final are complete, and the French pair Alexandre Mostini and Raphael Allain are running the show with five race wins. Swiss crews Huber–Berger and Brundler–Stucki sit close behind, while Poland’s Kolka–Zmudinski are climbing fast. Italy’s Bianca Marchesini and Lucia Finato lead the women’s standings inside the top ten. With Gold Fleet racing up next, the fight for the 2025 Eurocup crown is about to get serious.

Cruising

“A Force 8 gale turned the sea off Dover into a ‘cauldron of confusion’ that nearly overwhelmed our Halmatic 30” (6 min read)
What started as a calm night sail from Dover turned into chaos when Tim Butler’s Excalibur, a Halmatic 30, ran into a surprise Force 8 gale. With steep, confused seas tossing them around, the crew fought to keep control as the engine strained and the cockpit filled with water. They barely clawed their way back into port, shaken but safe. The aftermath? Scattered gear, a few empty wine bottles, and a hard-earned list of lessons every cruiser should read twice.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

Ever wondered what happens when the SailGP racing stops? U.S. SailGP Shore Team Manager Josh McKnight explains the daily grind behind those flying F50s. The crew cranes the boats in and out of the water every day to check metal fittings, electronics, and keep everything race-ready. It’s a precision dance of straps, wings, and teamwork that keeps the fleet in top shape before most fans have even had their morning coffee.