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Sailing News for December 16, 2025

Chris Draper has been pulled back into SailGP by the chance to reunite with Nathan Outteridge at the new Artemis team. Offshore the all female IDEC Sport crew pushes on after a Jules Verne setback. Winter dinghy racing delivers capsizes and sportsmanship while Italy strikes early at the Youth Sailing World Championships. Today’s highlight breaks down a simple tactical move that quietly wins races.

Sail GP/America’s Cup

“A massive draw”: Why Chris Draper couldn’t turn down Artemis SailGP (4 min read)
Chris Draper was ready to lean fully into coaching after Paris 2024 and the Women’s America’s Cup, then SailGP pulled him straight back in. A strong season with the BONDS Flying Roos reopened the door, and the chance to reunite with Artemis driver Nathan Outteridge sealed it. Draper calls sailing with Outteridge a true lightbulb moment at the highest level. Artemis is new, hungry, and stacked with familiar faces, and Draper thinks they can climb fast. All eyes on Perth.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

The Record Attempt Hits a Snag (3 min read)
The all-female crew of IDEC Sport was flying toward Cape Town when a stubborn mainsail hook jammed solid, locking them out of full power. Stopping to fix it would mean quitting the Jules Verne Trophy attempt, so they climbed the mast, improvised, argued, sweated, and ultimately chose the harder option: keep going. The record may be slipping away, but the mission isn’t. This is grit, teamwork, and big-boat problem solving at 30 knots, and they’re still charging south.

Olympic Class/Dinghy Sailing

Capsizes, sportsmanship, and a winter showdown at the I14 Perry Pot (3 min read)
Seven International 14s braved a breezy, low-tide Itchenor for Perry Pot Round 4, and it was full-send winter racing from the first start. Glen and Ed dominated the first two races under heavy pressure from Martin and Harry, with capsizes, groundings, and swims shaking up the order behind. The finale turned into a proper match race after an early capsize, complete with rare on-water sportsmanship. One weekend left, and the Perry Pot is still very much alive.

Youth Sailing/Development

Italy strikes early on Day 1 at the Youth Sailing World Championships (4 min read)
Light air limited racing on Day 1 in Vilamoura, but Italy wasted zero time making noise. Alessandro Cirinei and Marina Murri bossed the ILCA 6 fleets, while Italy also grabbed the early edge in the 29er. The Nacra 15 delivered instant drama, with multiple teams sailing the wrong mark and champions clawing back fast. Ukraine, France, and Australia are right in the mix, and with more breeze forecast, this regatta is wide open already.

Tech & Gear

How a top-end engine rebuild got me cruising on my dreamboat (12 min read)
Drew finally finds his unicorn boat, a vintage Chaparral 2550 SX, and immediately discovers the V8 has other plans. A blown head gasket, water in a cylinder, and ominous popping noises force a full DIY top-end rebuild on the Mercruiser 454. What follows is equal parts grease, patience, and problem solving, including a snapped head bolt scare. The reward is a smooth-running engine, a renamed boat called Soul Rebel, and a summer of cruising earned the hard way.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

Steve Hunt breaks down one of the rare “can’t lose” moments in sailboat racing, and it’s all about leading on the long tack. If you’re near the layline and a port-tack pack is coming, tacking first and dragging them out is pure gold. Get lifted and you lay. Get headed and you gain leverage. Do nothing and it’s still fine. It’s clean, low stress, geometry-driven racing, and the kind of move that quietly wins races.