More sailing news

The Notice of Race for the 2020 Rolex Sydney Hobart, the 76th Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, encouraging entrants in the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s famous blue-ribbon event, has been released.

Just over a fortnight after the lockdown ended, the sailors and their teams are now busy catching up on lost time. Many IMOCAs have been relaunched after their winter refits, which took longer than planned. There have been more and more measurement checks and trips to check out the changes made during the winter. Other sailors have to wait a while before heading back out to sea. We look at what has been happening at the end of the refit season.

The second in the current series of The Ocean Race Summits will stream online live from The Hague and feature top experts and leaders from across a wide range of fields coming together to share solutions to accelerate the restoration of ocean health.

World Sailing has cancelled the 2020 Offshore World Championship, due to be held alongside October’s Rolex Middle Sea Race in Valletta, Malta, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the 52 SUPER SERIES racing fleet of TP52 grand-prix racing yachts returned today from Cape Town, South Africa, aboard the cargo ship BBC Dolphin in Valencia, Spain, circuit organisers have put plans in place to run the prestigious Rolex TP52 World Championship at the ever-popular Mallorcan venue of Puerto Portals from 15-19 September. Time and circumstances have conspired against July’s Valencia regatta, which has had to be cancelled.

Four-time Olympic sailor, Mark Mansfield, a professional sailor, is part of the Key Yachting/ J/UK team representing J/Boats in Ireland. Mark contributed a good perspective on how sailing can take place while enjoying with family and friends.

The horizon is starting to look clearer for those aiming to compete in the 2020 Vendée Globe. On 4th July, they are due to start the Vendée-Arctic-les Sables d’Olonne, a 3600-mile solo ocean race around a big triangle reaching up to the limits of the Arctic Circle. This race with its brand new course organised by the IMOCA class in conjunction with the Sea to See company, and supported by Vendée and the town of Les Sables d’Olonne, is a real prologue for the Vendée Globe.

The Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image of the Century will reward the best sailing images taken since 1 January 2000 as part of a unique event designed to celebrate sailing photography and its authors.

Preparations for the start of the next Vendée Globe are going ahead in an uncertain context in terms of public health and the economy. The Vendée Council and the SAEM Vendée are doing their utmost in conjunction with all the partners, skippers from the IMOCA class, their sponsors and public authorities to ensure arrangements for this ninth edition of the Vendée Globe go smoothly.

The Royal Ocean Racing Club announce further cancellations and changes to some of its key events as the season progresses and the COVID-19 pandemic continues throughout April. The decision comes after continued close monitoring of Government and medical advice, and in line with guidance from World Sailing and the RYA. The RORC's intention is to adapt its race programme and courses as necessary in order to get members and competitors on the water as soon as it is possible and appropriate.