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Sailing News for December 29, 2025

Alli Bell made history by winning the Transpac outright as the first woman skipper, proving preparation still beats budgets offshore. The Sydney Hobart delivered classic punishment, with Comanche reclaiming line honours and double-handed teams locked in survival chess. Ashore, youth sailing faces tough scrutiny after tragic accidents, while cruisers dream of Brazil’s coast and sailors sharpen skills with smarter sail trim for the miles ahead.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

A Restless Transpac Chapter (10 min read)
Alli Bell just rewrote Transpac history, becoming the first woman skipper to win the race outright aboard her vintage Cal 40, Restless. The story mixes deep family roots, budget-conscious boat prep, secondhand sails, and seriously sharp crew work over 2,225 miles to Hawaii. No carbon weapons, no pro army, just preparation, trust, and a bit of Pacific luck. It’s a reminder that offshore racing still rewards grit, not just spend. Click it for goosebumps.

Master Lock Comanche wins line honours in Sydney to Hobart race (3 min read)
Comanche is back on top, grabbing line honours in a wild, stop-start Sydney to Hobart after last year’s heartbreak retirement. A tight three-way fight turned into a surprise reset on day two before Comanche nailed an inshore call and stretched away. No records this time, just gritty sailing in ugly conditions. LawConnect limped home second after sail damage, and brutal weather thinned the fleet fast. Classic Hobart drama, served rough.

Sydney Hobart – Double is not nothing (6 min read)
The double-handed fleet is absolutely sending it in this Sydney to Hobart, with a dozen boats still fighting for the Tattersall Cup on IRC. After days of getting thumped uphill, it’s now survival mode meets high-speed chess as tired sailors decide when to send kites, reef early, or just hang on. Borderline, Min River, Toucan, and BNC are locked in a brutal 10-mile dogfight where smart conservatism beats hero mode. Two sailors, zero margin, and no free rest. This is offshore racing stripped bare.

Youth Sailing/Development

After boating tragedies, heightened scrutiny for youth sailing (7 min read)
After two devastating accidents in Biscayne Bay killed three young sailors and seriously injured others, Miami’s youth sailing scene is under intense scrutiny. As hundreds of kids arrive for the Orange Bowl Regatta, parents and coaches are weighing crowded waterways, faster powerboats, and coach training against sailing’s strong safety record. New rules like mandatory lifejackets and tighter vigilance are in play, but big questions remain. Is youth sailing riskier, or is the bay itself the problem?

Cruising

Beyond the Amazon: Why Brazil’s Coastline Captivates Sailors (12 min read)
Brazil’s coast is not just a stopover, it’s a full-blown cruising obsession. From Rio’s jaw-dropping granite skyline to Ilha Grande’s rainforest anchorages, this story shows why sailors keep staying longer than planned. Flat water, steady breezes, endless islands, waterfalls, wildlife, and food boats selling caipirinhas to your cockpit. Add welcoming locals and kid-friendly sailing, and suddenly six months turns into years. This is cruising paradise, with rhythm, rainforests, and very few regrets.

Tech & Gear

Inland gear: the essential kit for navigating canals, lakes and rivers (8 min read)
Inland boating looks mellow, but the gear list says otherwise. Rupert Holmes breaks down why lifejackets, VHF radios, bilge pumps, and even anchors still matter when you’re poking along canals and rivers. Shallow water does not mean low risk, especially around locks, tides, and fouled props. Think of inland cruising as offshore sailing with less swell and more shopping trolleys. Quiet waters, serious prep.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

If your boat feels overpowered, crabby, and slow, this video basically says: stop strangling the mainsheet. Practical Sailor walks through the greatest hits of bad trim, like pinning the boom on centerline, forgetting the outhaul, and treating the traveler like decoration. The fix is a simple step-by-step routine using twist, draft, and that top telltale as your truth serum. Less heel, lighter helm, more speed, instant vibe upgrade.