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Sailing News for November 27, 2025

Emirates GBR have defended their Impact League crown, sweeping all categories and rolling into Abu Dhabi with a real chance at the unprecedented SailGP double. Meanwhile, chaos hit the Grand Final build-up as Peter Burling sliced a finger during prep, forcing lineup reshuffles across the fleet and adding even more uncertainty to a $2M showdown already featuring new wings and updated foils. In cruising, Rupert Holmes shares hilarious-but-useful tricks for keeping every bug and rogue rat off your boat. Tech-wise, new MCA guidance reinforces the golden rules of lithium battery safety. Plus, Bob Hughes earns Seahorse Sailor of the Month, and NorthStar’s wing trimmer drops the most in-depth F50 wing breakdown online.

Sail GP/America’s Cup

Doing the Double: Emirates GBR Defend Impact League Crown (4 min read)
Emirates GBR just pulled off the repeat, winning the SailGP Impact League for the second year in a row with a season packed full of real-world action. They topped all four focus areas, from climate education to zero waste, and backed it up with on-water training for underrepresented youth sailors. Brazil made a huge splash in their debut season under Martine Grael, while NorthStar impressed with hands-on climate work in Canada. GBR now heads into Abu Dhabi with a shot at doing the unprecedented double: Championship and Impact League in the same year.

SailGP: Burling Injured Ahead of Grand Final as Teams Shuffle the Deck (5 min read)
Peter Burling is sidelined from Thursday practice after slicing his finger while checking a daggerboard, putting Liv Mackay temporarily in the driver’s seat for the Black Foils. With the $2 million Abu Dhabi Grand Final days away, teams are shaking up rosters and testing new talent. Harry Melges IV steps in for the US squad, Canada brings match-race legend Ian Williams onboard, and Phil Robertson jumps to Italy after a dramatic reshuffle. SailGP is also rolling out fresh kit, including a new 27.5m wingsail and updated foils, setting the stage for a wild and unpredictable finale.

Cruising

Insects to Rats: Practical Tips and Ingenious Tricks to Bug-Proof Your Boat (8 min read)
Fruit flies, cockroaches, wasps, mosquitoes and even the odd acrobatic rat all get a moment in the spotlight in this wonderfully chaotic tour of boat-based pest control. Rupert Holmes shares real-world wins and close calls, from fly-spray fogging a saloon to discovering cockroaches hitchhiking home in a sail bag. The big themes are simple: act fast, seal every gap, avoid cardboard and don’t underestimate a determined rodent. Funny, a bit wild and genuinely useful for anyone cruising warm waters.

Tech & Gear

Lithium Battery Fires: The 10-Point Safety Checklist Every Boat Owner Needs (7 min read)
Lithium power is transforming cruising, but the fires it can cause are no joke. The MCA has dropped new guidance after several high-profile incidents, including an AC40 blaze traced to impact damage and multiple yacht losses linked to thermal runaway. The takeaway is simple: lithium is brilliant if you install it properly. Stick to LiFePO₄, use a real BMS, ventilate well and get a qualified marine electrician involved. The tech is here to stay, but so is the need to treat it with respect.

Spotlight

Seahorse Sailor of the Month: Bob Hughes (3 min read)
Bob Hughes just picked up Seahorse’s Sailor of the Month award, and it’s hard to argue with the choice. He’s spent nearly four decades tearing up one-design classes and now dominates the Great Lakes with his TP52 Heartbreaker. Voters called him everything from “King of the Great Lakes” to a sailor who wins Mac races and still finds time to grow new fleets and get kids on the water. A lean, pro-am program with big results and an owner-driver who clearly loves the sport.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

NorthStar’s wing trimmer Paul Campbell-James delivers a full masterclass on the SailGP F50 wing, and it’s absolute candy for tech heads. He breaks down every control from camber to twist to wing-sheeting, explains how the giant composite structure is built, inspected and swapped between sizes, and even shares wild stories about structural failures and near-misses. It’s a rare, inside-the-shed look at the hardware that lets an F50 hit 100 km/h. If you’ve ever wondered why wings beat soft sails, this is your deep dive.