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Sailing News for January 14, 2026

SailGP heads into 2026 with momentum building fast, locking in a long-term technical partnership with Doyle Sails and selling out the Perth season opener before racing even begins. Offshore focus stretches west as the RORC Transatlantic fleet settles into full trade-wind mode, while cruising and design stories underline a clear trend toward faster, more comfortable multihulls. Across racing and cruising alike, preparation, scale, and smart engineering are setting the pace.

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Sail GP/America’s Cup

SailGP and Doyle Sails sign multi-season partnership extension through 2030 (4 min read)
SailGP and Doyle Sails are locked in together through 2030, extending one of the league’s most important behind-the-scenes partnerships. Doyle has powered every F50 since day one, supplying identical jibs for all 13 teams and helping fine-tune the full aero package, wings included. This isn’t just branding, it’s deep tech collaboration at 100 km/h. Same boats, same sails, zero excuses.

SailGP season opener in Perth sells out ahead of debut weekend (3 min read)
The 2026 season of SailGP hasn’t even started yet and Perth is already maxed out. The Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix is officially sold out, giving Western Australia first dibs on the expanded 13-team fleet and SailGP’s first-ever Indian Ocean showdown. Expect flying F50s, full grandstand vibes, and an Après Sail party on the beach with Sneaky Sound System. Strong winds, big crowds, and a statement start to the season.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

2026 RORC Transatlantic Race – Day 3 (4 min read)
Three days in, the RORC Transatlantic Race has fully committed to the classic southern dive before the long westward burn to Antigua. The MOD70s Argo and Zoulou are already ripping into the trades at 30-plus knots, while Baltic 111 Raven dropped a monster 550-mile day by sailing high and fast on the foils. Behind them, IRC leader Palanad 4 is keeping it tidy, Swan 128s are charging, and the fleet has settled into full Atlantic mode. Big breeze, big miles, game on.

Youth Sailing/Development

Get Expert Help To Understand New Child Safety Laws (3 min read)
Queensland’s blue card rules have changed, and if you work or volunteer with kids, this matters. The Queensland Government is rolling out in-person roadshows and online webinars to explain who needs a blue card, who doesn’t, and what organisations must do to stay compliant. Expect real-world examples, practical guidance, and plenty of Q&A. Boring topic, important consequences. Definitely worth a click.

Cruising

Premieres 2026: The Multihull Comfort Concept (4 min read)
Multihulls are officially done pretending they’re spartan. The new Lagoon 38, Excess 13, and Dragonfly 36 crank comfort to yacht-show maximum while still going properly fast. Think doubled interior volume, sliding salon doors that erase the cockpit, rainwater collection, and trimarans hitting 23 knots without spilling your coffee. Heel is optional, space is not. If 2026 has a design theme, it’s fast, flat, and wildly comfortable.

40 years of the ARC: The evolution of a transatlantic icon (8 min read)
The Atlantic Rally for Cruisers turns 40, and it’s gone from a bold idea on a Canary Islands pontoon to the world’s most famous ocean crossing for everyday sailors. Founded by Jimmy Cornell, the ARC pioneered safety checks, fleet camaraderie, and the idea that crossing oceans doesn’t have to be lonely or extreme. Boats are bigger, multihulls are everywhere, and tech has changed everything. But the core appeal remains the same: shared adventure, nervous excitement, and the simple urge to go sailing west.

Tech & Gear

How to patch flowcoat to protect a corroded stern tube (4 min read)
If your stern tube coating has worn through and started going green, don’t panic. Boat maintenance guru Vyv Cox says it’s a straightforward DIY fix with careful prep, fresh glass, and resin. Strip back to clean metal, rough up the surrounding flowcoat, glass it over, and finish with paint rather than worrying about perfect gelcoat. The real pro tip? Stop the hose vibrating in the first place, or you’ll be fixing it again.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

What if your mast doubled as a chimney? That question led Sailing Yacht Zero and Carbo-Link to build something nobody had before: a hollow carbon mast that passively ventilates the boat. Heated by the sun, the mast draws warm air up and out, cutting the need for powered airflow and saving energy. It required inventing new manufacturing tech, including a 96-metre autoclave. Wild idea, serious engineering, very cool result.

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