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Sailing News for January 06, 2026

Los Gallos head into SailGP 2026 unchanged and motivated after missing the Grand Final by just three points, while onboard footage reminded everyone how brutal F50 racing really is. Practical seamanship took focus with spinnaker control advice, club racing and superyacht performance shared the spotlight, and foiling chaos arrived early at the Moth Nationals where speed and decision making ruled from day one.

Sail GP/America’s Cup

SailGP Team Guide: Everything You Need To Know About Los Gallos (5 min read)
Los Gallos head into the 2026 SailGP season with unfinished business and zero changes to the lineup. Champions in Season 4, Diego Botín’s crew dominated early in 2025 with big wins in San Francisco and New York, only to fall just three points short of the Grand Final. Same sailors, same systems, and plenty of motivation after missing Abu Dhabi by a whisker. Expect fast starts, ruthless consistency, and a team very much in win-now mode.

Inshore & Offshore Racing

How to avoid spinnaker broaching (6 min read)
Spinnakers are brilliant until they decide to wrestle the helm out of your hands. David Harding breaks down why broaches happen and how to stay just shy of that heart-stopping round-up. The short version: ease early, depower the main, keep the pole and sheets working for you, and talk constantly between helm and trimmer. Get it right and the kite stays fast, fun, and upright instead of loud, flappy, and sideways.

2025 Boat of the Year Best Club Racer: Saffier 24 Lite (6 min read)
The Saffier 24 Lite just won Best Club Racer, and it’s easy to see why. At 1,300 pounds, all-composite, and ridiculously good-looking, it’s built for Wednesday night wins without leaving the cockpit cushions. Think self-tacking jib, simple sail handling, electric drive, and zero wood anywhere. Yes, it’s pricey, but this is pure harbor candy that sails as good as it looks. Twilight fleets, take note.

The Power and the Glory (7 min read)
Superyachts may spend most of their lives cruising gently, but when the racing circuit rolls into town, the gloves come off. Doyle Sails boss Mike Sanderson explains how a handful of high-profile regattas are quietly reshaping superyacht design, making these giants faster, nicer to sail, and better all-round boats. ORCsy rules reward smart design, racing keeps designers honest, and when these beasts are pushed hard, the spectacle is hard to beat. Power, polish, and proper sailing, finally unleashed.

Sailing and swimming at triSearch 12ft Skiff Interdominion Championship (4 min read)
Light, shifty Sydney Harbour conditions turned the 12ft Skiff Interdominion into part regatta, part swimming carnival. Capsizes were everywhere, one crew went overboard, and quick reactions kept things safe as chaos unfolded. Sail Inc. leads after three races, with Sydney Flying Squadron boats stacked close behind and the Kiwis right in the mix. Tricky starts, gear calls, and wild wind shifts. Classic skiff racing, never dull, always dramatic.

Tech & Gear

Which life jacket is right for me? (5 min read)
Life jackets are no longer the stiff, sweaty punishment you remember. Modern inflatables are light, ergonomic, and designed for specific sports, from offshore sailing to SUP and even dogs. Fit matters more than weight, and buoyancy choice can be the difference between floating and flipping face-up when it counts. The big takeaway: if it’s comfortable, you’ll actually wear it. And that’s the whole point.

Spotlight

2026 Australian International Moth Open Nationals – Day 1 (4 min read)
Day one at McCrae delivered classic “looks easy, absolutely isn’t” Moth racing. Sunshine, building breeze, and savage 30-degree shifts turned the course into a decision-making minefield as foilers ripped along at over 30 knots. Jack Ferguson stole the headlines with three wins from four and a top speed of 31.1 knots. Add junior talent, vintage wisdom from Snubby Moore, and plenty of blown opportunities, and this regatta is officially on.

Sailing Highlight of the Day

This is SailGP with the gloves off and the cameras strapped on. From wing failures and near-misses to boats blasting past mark roundings at 90–100 km/h, these POV clips are pure adrenaline. You get the skipper’s-eye view of split-second decisions, big penalties, and even bigger consequences when things go wrong. Chaotic, loud, and slightly terrifying in the best possible way. If you want to feel how wild F50 racing really is, this delivers.