Table of contents for May 2026 in Sailing Today

As a cruising sailor, it’s hard to avoid falling in love with Brittany. This rugged outpost of Atlantic France with its dramatic tidal ranges and fierce currents commands respect, yet beyond its reputation lies a gentler side: relaxed, welcoming, and quietly captivating. Spend a little time here and you will quickly understand the Breton philosophy of life: ‘l’Aise Breizh’ taking it easy, the Breton way. After three demanding days crossing the Bay of Biscay aboard our yacht Stravanza, we reach Belle Ile, our first Breton landfall. True to its name, the island greets us with instant charm. In the harbour of Sauzon, pastel-coloured houses frame the waterfront, alongside a small church, cosy cafes, a proper boulangerie and a perfectly placed lighthouse at the entrance. Brittany in miniature. It is love…

Last night was Zoom forum evening for the members of my online Sea Chest club. We get together towards the end of each month and you never know what will come up for discussion. Basically, it’s a Q&A session with seafaring questions arriving via email beforehand. I try to give an initial answer, then I throw it open for others to chip in and we’re treated to enlightening comments from all over the world. I’ve been getting myself set up to ‘chair’ a seminar at the Cruising Association about affordable cruising. This has been on my mind, so I set the ball rolling by noting that while a boat can be acquired for very little money at the moment, it would be a masterly understatement to say that buying her…

Confession time here; I tested the Excess 13 catamaran on a fine day in April 2025. The punctilious amongst you will note that April 2025 is almost a year ago. The vagaries of publishing and the almost overwhelming number of boats launched in 2025/26 meant that it is only now the review is being published. Even worse, it is only now that I am writing up the review. This isn’t strictly true; I actually wrote the review six months ago but somehow managed to delete it. When I came to check over the article, I found only the notes I had written at the time of the test. This is good because it has all the key facts about the boat. What it lacks is that all important element of…

Over three days in February, 21 young sailors were invited to the legacy Olympic venue in Weymouth, with the hope of being selected to join the British Youth America’s Cup Team. The individuals, all aged between 18-25, had been carefully chosen from an initial pool of 158 applicants to take part in the Athena Pathway Trials – the entry point to an intensive programme designed to uncover and nurture the next generation of America’s Cup talent. It was, quite literally, the stuff of dreams – an immense opportunity that’s come about thanks to an unprecedented integration that’s shaping sailing’s most prestigious event in a new way. Under the new America’s Cup Partnership Agreement (recently forged between five ‘founding teams’ to govern the competition as a sustainable long-term entity) the Youth…

“A good quality rash vest is an essential piece of kit for everyone on board ” Sometimes, when people dream of going cruising long-term, one of the big lures is the promise of a life drenched in sunshine. However, when you switch to sailing full-time, this attitude towards sunbeams quickly changes from holiday mode, slathering yourself in oil and frying on the deck, to one of sun management: using sunscreen, hats and covering up, raising the bimini and avoiding a future with skin like a handbag. So, what brings about this transformation? Surely time spent soaking up all that lovely vitamin D is one of the things we’re striving for when we imagine what our boat lives will look like, projecting visions of ourselves lounging on tropical beaches? In our…

Mini adventurers enjoy happy ending to epic race People said they were crazy and maybe they are but the competitors in the inaugural Mini Globe Race were delirious with happiness after successfully completing what must be one of the most challenging races on the planet. The Mini Globe is a singlehanded round the world race carried out in 19’ yachts, home made out of plywood. A fleet of 15 sailors, 13 men and 2 women from eight countries set out from the National Sailing Academy in Antigua on 23 September 2025 and shaped a course west-about with the aim of encircling the globe. Remarkably, 11 of the 15 competitors stayed the course and On 7 March Swiss sailor Renaud Stitelmann sailing Capucinette crossed the finish line. Stitelmann (pictured right) won…

“They don’t want all the other rubbish that goes with Olympic campaigning” What happens to Olympic sailors when they finish competing at the top level? It’s a topic that particularly interests Brett Morris. As well as being a great sailor in his own right – recently finishing second at the OK National Championships in Australia – Brett is father to 22-year-old Grae Morris, who won Olympic silver on the men’s iQFOiL windsurfer at Paris 2024. Grae is a hot prospect for Olympic gold at Los Angeles 2028, but one day when he decides to stop Olympic campaigning, Brett has every confidence that his son will stay active in the sport. In the UK, and most countries for that matter, Olympic sailors go all out for their full-time campaign and when…

Copenhagen is a lovely city but it was hot and crowded in late June, so it was a relief to cast off from the Tuborg marina and head out to sea. My partner Aleko and I had spent the previous day sightseeing and provisioning while skipper Leo was at work. Leo and his girlfriend Pernille have been living on their Hallberg Rassy 352 Dory Man since 2018, including a two year voyage to the Mediterranean and Atlantic islands. Now Leo was taking a break between jobs but Pernille had only three weeks holiday. So Leo invited his father and I to join him and the ship’s dog Kai for the leg out to the east coast of Sweden. How could any sailor resist the country with more islands than anywhere…

NORTH BASSENTHWAITE WEEK 1-9 August, Bassenthwaite SC, Bassenthwaite Lake, Cumbria OVERVIEW: Known as Bass Week, this popular regatta in the North West offers nine days of racing with a holiday vibe in the beautiful Lake District. Fantastic sailing in a fabulous family environment complete with camping available on site and a full social programme for all ages. Fleet plus Fast, Medium and Slow Handicap racing, including series prizes and standalone races. Catering from the clubhouse with commanding views across the Lake in this stunning location. INSIDER TIP: Entries for Bass Week 2026 were due to open on 1 April -not an April fool joke! WEBSITE: bassweek.org.uk LORD BIRKETT MEMORIAL TROPHY 4-5 July, Ullswater YC, Pooley Bridge, Cumbria OVERVIEW: Ullswater Yacht Club’s iconic Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy returns for its 64th…

Poppy Luxton (19) from Restronguet SC in Cornwall, won the Youth Sailor of the Year category at the British Yachting Awards last year. It was her drive and consistency, with six race wins from the opening series in the ILCA 6 female fleet at the RYA Youth Nationals, and her overall victory in the medal race, which saw her not only claim the event title but also the hearts of the voters. It is interesting to learn that Luxton’s introduction to sailing was purely down to a fun day out with her friend at a club taster session where she said she was able to really find out what the sport of sailing was about. “That was the start of it all because I was out there capsizing, and having…

Who hasn’t dreamed of designing a boat for themselves? Asking a naval architect to sit down and conjure the lines of a vessel perfectly tailored to your wishes must be one of the greatest extravagances available to a keen sailor. Despite the proliferation of semi-custom design from established boatbuilders, there are still powerful reasons to plough your own furrow. Yes, it carries a higher price tag than buying a series yacht, but you get something unique – and built to a much higher spec inside and out. “Using a big-name yacht designer brings a mix of practical, financial, and prestige advantages that go beyond just aesthetics,” says Anders Berg of renowned studio Dixon Yacht Design. “They bring proven expertise to a project and this will be reflected in the higher…

BALANCE 502 Over the last few years Balance Catamarans has quietly built up a fearsome reputation for producing performance bluewater cruising catamarans from the South African based yard. The 502 is the latest boat off the production line and promises to be a polished performer, having already made her debut at the Miami Boat Show. This is a relatively lightweight cruiser which utilises carbonfibre reinforced foam core hulls in addition to carbonfibre substructure. Marry that to a powerful 1,544sq ft sail plan and you have a boat that is capable of prolonged bursts of high speed on passage. Despite this reputation for speed, the Balance range of boats feature a high standard of fit out and it is this blend of speed and luxury which makes them such appealing bluewater…

The South Coast & Green Tech Boat Show 2026 returns to MDL’s iconic Ocean Village Marina in Southampton, bringing together leading global power, sail and electric brands alongside innovative eco-friendly products and marine accessories. Guided by Raymarine, the three-day event takes place from 8-10 May. Following last year’s expansion, the show’s extended waterside area will welcome its largest display yet, with 120 boats showcased throughout the marina. Visitors can also explore a wide range of onshore exhibitors, alongside essential services including marine equipment, finance and insurance. With its open-air waterside setting and relaxed atmosphere, the show offers a chance to step aboard a wide range of boats and speak directly with manufacturers and industry experts. The event caters for experienced boat owners, newcomers to boating and anyone interested in marine…

Leopard Catamarans has a slightly unusual history that the poet Robert Frost would identify with. It was Frost who wrote the immortal lines Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference. This definitely applies to the South African boatbuilder Robertson and Caine who, until the late 1990s, was getting along quite happily as a medium sized boat builder when its work came to the attention of sailing holiday operator The Moorings. This company felt Robinson and Caine could make catamarans purpose built for its charter fleet. The result turbocharged the business and, in a matter of years, it became one of the biggest boatbuilders in the world and found itself on rather a different road. If it…

NAUTICAT 331 | AMBASSADOR The Nauticat 331, an evolution of the renowned Nauticat 33, is a highly regarded motorsailer known for its excellent build quality, comfortable interior, and clever use of space. The broker says the new incarnation is much improved on the original, with fin and skeg giving more manoeuvrability, and an aft chine for increased stability. Overall the Nautical 331 is a steady, capable long-distance cruiser with a strong reputation for reliability and durability. Ambassador is a good example and is well equipped for passage-making. She has a spacious saloon with a large dinette for up to six people which converts into a large double berth, plus fore and aft cabins both with double berths and plenty of stowage space. She also has a light and airy wheelhouse…