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What is Yacht Racing? (Here’s All You Need To Know)

Have you ever watched a yacht race, with its colorful sails gliding across the water in a graceful dance? Have you ever wondered what it takes to participate in yacht racing? This article will take you through all you need to know about yacht racing, from the different types of yachts and races, to sailing clubs and regattas, technical knowledge and skills, safety, and the benefits of yacht racing.

We’ll also explore some of the most popular events and races.

So whether you’re an avid sailor or just curious about this exciting sport, you’ll find all the information you need here.

Table of Contents

Short Answer

Yacht racing is a competitive sport and recreational activity involving sailing yachts .

It is most popular in areas with strong maritime cultures, such as the UK, US and Australia.

Races typically involve a course that boats must follow, which can vary in length depending on the type of race.

Competitors often use advanced sailboat designs, and use tactics and strategy to try to outmaneuver their opponents in order to be the first to cross the finish line.

Types of Yachts Used in Racing

Yacht racing can be done with a wide variety of boats, from dinghies and keelboats to multihulls and offshore racing boats.

Dinghies are small, lightweight boats with a single sail and are often used in competitive racing.

Keelboats, on the other hand, are larger and heavier boats with a fixed keel and two or more sails.

Multihulls, like the popular catamaran, are boats with two or more hulls and are designed with speed and agility in mind.

Finally, offshore racing boats are designed for long-distance racing and are typically larger and more powerful than other types of yachts.

No matter what type of yacht you choose to race, they will all have common features that make them suitable for racing.

All yachts must have a mast, sails, hull and rigging, and will usually feature a deck, compass, and navigation equipment.

Additionally, racing yachts are often fitted with safety features such as life jackets, flares, and emergency radios.

Each type of yacht has its own unique characteristics, and some are better suited for certain types of racing than others.

For example, dinghies are better suited for short-course racing, while offshore racing boats are better for long-distance racing.

Additionally, keelboats and multihulls are often used for more challenging types of racing, such as distance racing or match racing.

No matter what type of yacht you choose for racing, it is important to remember that safety should always be your first priority.

Be sure to check the weather conditions before heading out and make sure that you have the proper safety equipment on board.

Additionally, it is important to get professional instruction or join a sailing club to ensure you have the necessary skills to race safely and enjoyably.

Types of Races

Yacht racing events can take place in a wide variety of forms and formats, from long-distance ocean racing to short-course inshore racing in protected bays and estuaries.

Each type of race requires different skills and equipment, and the type of race you choose to participate in will depend on your sailing experience, budget and the type of boat you have.

Long-distance ocean racing is a popular form of yacht racing, with races often taking place over several days and often involving multiple stages.

These races often have several classes of boat competing, with each boat competing in its own class.

These races may involve sailing around a set course or route, or they may be point-to-point races, where the boats sail from one point to another.

Inshore racing is the most common form of yacht racing, with races typically taking place over a few hours or a single day.

This type of racing is often conducted in protected waters, such as bays and estuaries, and generally involves shorter course lengths than ocean racing.

Inshore races may involve multiple classes of boat, or they may be one-design classes, where all boats are the same model and size.

Multi-hull racing is another popular type of yacht racing and involves boats with two or more hulls.

These boats are generally faster and more agile than monohulls, and races are often held over a short course.

These races can be highly competitive, with teams of experienced sailors vying for position and race victory.

Offshore racing is similar to ocean racing, but often involves much longer distances and more challenging conditions.

Races may take place over several days and multiple stages, and require a high level of experience and skill.

Offshore racing boats are usually specially designed for speed and agility, and may have multiple crew members on board to help manage the boat in challenging conditions.

Sailing Clubs and Regattas

Yacht racing is a popular sport around the world, with sailing clubs and regattas held in many countries.

Sailing clubs are organizations where members can come together to race, learn, and enjoy their shared passion for the sport.

Membership in a sailing club usually includes access to the clubs facilities, equipment, and training classes.

Regattas are large-scale yacht racing events, often hosted by a sailing club.

The regatta can be organized for any type of boat, from dinghys to offshore racing boats, and the races can be held over a series of days.

The goal of the regatta is to crown the winner of the overall race, or the individual class honours.

Sailing clubs and regattas are a great way for sailors of all levels to come together and compete.

They give sailors an opportunity to hone their skills, network, and make friends with other passionate sailors.

Additionally, these events are often open to the public, so they give the general public a chance to see the amazing spectacle of yacht racing up close.

If youre looking for an exciting and fun way to get involved with sailing, look no further than your local sailing club or regatta.

Technical Knowledge and Skills

Yacht racing is a sport that requires a great deal of technical knowledge and skill.

Competitors must be familiar with the physics and dynamics of sailing, including how to read the wind and manipulate their vessel to maximize speed and maneuverability.

They must also be able to understand the principles of navigation, so they can accurately plot a course and adjust it to take advantage of the prevailing wind and current conditions.

Furthermore, competitors must be able to read the weather and use that information to their advantage in the race.

Finally, competitors need to have a good understanding of the rules of the race and how to adhere to them.

Yacht racing is a complex sport with a steep learning curve, and it requires a great deal of experience and practice to master.

Safety is a key element of yacht racing, as it involves operating large vessels in often unpredictable and hazardous conditions.

All racers must be properly equipped with the appropriate safety gear, such as life jackets, flares, and a first aid kit.

It is also essential that all racers are familiar with the rules of the race, and have a good understanding of the safety protocols that must be followed in order to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

All yacht racing events must be properly insured, and there are often medical personnel on standby in case of an emergency.

Before any race, all participants must sign a waiver declaring that they understand the risks involved and accept responsibility for their own safety.

Benefits of Yacht Racing

Yacht racing is a great way to challenge yourself and take part in a thrilling sport.

It offers numerous benefits to those that participate, from improved physical health and mental well-being to an opportunity to travel and explore new places.

Whether youre a beginner or an experienced sailor, yacht racing provides an exciting and rewarding experience.

One of the main benefits of yacht racing is its impact on physical health.

It requires a great deal of strength and endurance, as the sailors must use their arms and legs to control the boats sails and rudder.

Its also a great way to get your heart rate up and improve your cardiovascular health.

Additionally, sailing is a low-impact sport, meaning theres less risk of injury than other more strenuous activities like running or cycling.

Yacht racing also has many mental benefits.

Its a great way to relax and take in the beauty of the ocean, as well as the camaraderie and excitement of competing in a team.

Additionally, it gives sailors the opportunity to put their problem-solving skills to the test, as they must think quickly and strategize in order to succeed.

Yacht racing also requires quick decision-making, which can help to improve mental acuity and develop a more acute awareness of ones surroundings.

Finally, yacht racing is a great way to explore new places and meet new people.

Races often take place in different locations around the world, meaning sailors can get a glimpse into different cultures and explore new destinations.

Additionally, yacht racing provides an opportunity to socialize with other sailors, as well as make connections in the sailing community.

Overall, yacht racing is a great way to challenge yourself and reap the numerous physical, mental, and social benefits that come with it.

With its exciting races and stunning locations, its no wonder that yacht racing has become a popular sport around the world.

Popular Events and Races

Yacht racing is an exciting and popular sport with events and races held all over the world.

From the world-famous Americas Cup to local regattas, there are races and events of all sizes and skill levels.

The Americas Cup is the oldest and most prestigious yacht race in the world, with the first race held in 1851.

Held every 3-4 years in a different location, the Americas Cup pits the worlds best sailors against each other in a battle of boat speed, tactics and teamwork.

The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is another major race, held annually in Australia.

The race begins in Sydney Harbour and ends in the port of Hobart, Tasmania and is known for its unpredictable and challenging conditions.

The Whitbread Round the World Race (now known as The Volvo Ocean Race) is a grueling nine-month, round-the-world yacht race.

This race is one of the most challenging and dangerous races in the world.

In addition to these larger races, there are many smaller local and national regattas and races that offer an opportunity for sailors of all skill levels to compete.

From small dinghy races to larger keelboat and offshore racing events, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved in yacht racing.

Yacht racing is a fun, competitive and rewarding sport and with so many events and races available, there is sure to be something for everyone.

Whether you are a competitive sailor or just looking to have some fun on the water, yacht racing is the perfect sport for you.

Final Thoughts

Yacht racing is an exciting and challenging sport that is enjoyed by many around the world.

With a variety of yacht types, races and events to choose from, there is something for everyone.

To get started, it is important to have a good understanding of the technical skills and knowledge needed, as well as the safety protocols associated with the sport.

With the right preparation and dedication, yacht racing can be an incredibly rewarding experience.

If you’re interested in taking up this exciting sport, make sure you check out your local sailing clubs and regattas to find out what’s on offer.

James Frami

At the age of 15, he and four other friends from his neighborhood constructed their first boat. He has been sailing for almost 30 years and has a wealth of knowledge that he wants to share with others.

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Ferrari Is Building Its First Sailing Yacht for Ocean Racing

Yachtsman giovanni soldini has been named team principal., rachel cormack.

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Ferrari is diving headfirst into the world of yachting.

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Ferrari has competed in Formula 1 every season since the world championship began in 1950. It also made a successful return to endurance racing last year, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time in nearly 60 years. With such racing chops, Ferrari seems well-placed to expand from tracks and circuits to the high seas.

It helps that Soldini is an expert in the field. The Italian has more than 30 years of experience in ocean racing, competing in both solo and crewed events. He even has two round-the-world races under his belt.

“I am thrilled to start this new adventure with Ferrari,” adds Soldini. “We are working on an important and cutting-edge project with an amazing technological potential that brings together different worlds and skills of the highest level.”

Ferrari did not release any details regarding the yacht itself. It may not be surprising if the marque designed a high-speed foiling yacht for the America’s Cup, though. Prominent teams in the prestigious sailing competition have already partnered with powerhouse F1 brands : Alinghi with Red Bull Racing, Luna Rossa with Pirelli, and INEOS with Mercedes-AMG Petronas.

The Prancing Horse clearly has the engineering prowess required to build an AC75 for the America’s Cup. Considered the most complex racing yachts on the water, the 75-foot monohulled foilers “fly” across the water at speeds of up to 50 knots (58 mph). The marque could also be working on an F50 race boat for SailGP . Described as a hot-rod version of Cup racers, the 50-foot catamaran has thinner carbon-fiber “L” foils than the AC75 and is thus faster. It can also soar to 52 knots (60 mph).

That certainly sounds like a Ferrari.

Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the…

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What you Need to Know About Yacht Racing

We talk to Cameron Davies about all things yacht racing.

Cameron runs a fantastic yacht called Expresso Martini, on behalf of First Class Sailing. He and his first mate will take you out on the water, to get a real taste of life at the cutting edge of the racing world, in a safe and fully supported environment.

Giving you an experience and adrenaline rush like no other, combined with the satisfaction of working in a team that’s being tested to its limits.

Tell us a little about yourself

I’m a Yachtmaster Offshore commercially endorsed skipper. That’s what I do for First Class Sailing – race a boat called Espresso Martini. I’ve been sailing for about 40 years. It started in dinghies, gone through sports boats into yachts, partly because dinghies is too physical for me these days. But partly also because you want to go further as your sailing career develops. I was lucky enough to have gone through the youth squad under the great Jim Saltonstall and his coaching experience, and it was absolutely fantastic, brilliant introduction to sailing.

Why Race? What got you into it?

I think there’s a combination of things you know, on the one hand there is nothing else but the wind, right? You’ve got the wind driving you. We’re an island race, we’ve blown along every day one way or another harnessing that to make the boat go as fast as possible on every angle of sail in every possible condition with a crew that may or may not have experience of doing this before.

That’s the buzz, right? You layer on top of that. The need to start, countdown, you know, five minutes, four minutes, one minute.  The heart races, the excitement’s up, the adrenaline’s there, the crew are sharp. There’s lots of people looking from the deck telling you what other boats are doing.

There’s a milling around of a lot of boats. The bigger the boats are, the more intimidating that can be. But you have to go in with a plan for your start. You have to know where you’re going to be. On the longer races, where it might be two days, one day might be two days, five days, whatever it might be, the start is less important.

But still, that’s one of the initial bits of the excitement, is to get there over the start line and get clear and get a good start.

What do people need to know or think about when it comes to yacht racing?

Yacht racing provides the opportunity to sharpen up all of those skills that sailors know they have. So We’re hoisting the mainsail, we’re hoisting the jib, we’re trimming the mainsail, we’re trimming the jib, we’re flying a spinnaker. A spinnaker could be a complicated thing, in waves, in breezy conditions, there’s a lot to manage. We may have to jibe the spinnaker, you’ve got to bring the pole down inside the forestay, trip the spinnaker before you do that, reconnect it after the jibe, on a boat that’s moving from side to side and fore and aft, on a narrow bow.

Because it’s a race boat, it’s quite a platform to encourage you to get your balance right and your coordination of all these various activities right. And when you then go back to perhaps cruising or another form of sailing that you might do, you take all of that with you as a sort of learning.

And it just makes you think, okay, I’ve been now used to pushing a fast boat hard at speed. At speeds that I’m not used to, we’ll get 14, 15, perhaps 18 knots surfing down a wave routinely, and we’ll go up, we’ll go up wind, we’ll go up wind in 8 knots, 10 knots of true wind, we’ll be going up wind at 6, 7 knots, so it’s immediate. You really get a sense of, okay, well, this is what I can do.

And one of the other great things when we’re going upwind is, our tacking angle is really small compared to cruising boats. So we’re tacking at 38 degrees, either side of the wind, it’s phenomenal. And so we make quick progress over the race course, over the ground. And that’s exciting, right? And you know, giving people the experience of that, is wonderful because they enjoy it. And when they then do step back to whatever it is is their normal form of sailing, I think they’ve just developed a confidence around sail handling, around boat trim, around sail trim, around spinnakers if they want to use them, that they wouldn’t have had.

Tell us about the team-building aspect.

I started in dinghy sailing, two man boats, single handed boats, you’re doing everything yourself. There comes a point where the boats get large enough for you not to be able to do that, and you need other people to be able to contribute. But the whole coordination say between helm and mainsheet, if the mainsheet person has not released the main at a time that I need to duck, if I’m helming, duck behind a boat, we’re not moving. We’re going to hit that boat. And if it’s a big drop down behind a boat, if we’re on port tack and we need to give way to a starboard boat and it’s a half a boat length or a full boat length, we need to duck down and it’s breezy,  the main needs to come off, the jib needs to come off too.

So you need a main sheet trimmer, you need a jib sheet trimmer, all to be coordinated with the helm. And you don’t want to be doing this and losing speed. So, you drop down, keep the speed on, come back up, and try and get nice and tight to the stern of the starboard tacker. Come back up onto the wind again, all of that coordination that people need on a boat. That’s three or four people working together to develop ultimately some kind of intuition between you all.

And that comes with time, practice and experience?

Exactly. And again, when you take that back to your boat, you realise that it’s a very manageable thing – actually I can get closer to that vessel than I thought I ever could, and I can do some racing. An example, Round the Island Race – it’s a race for all. So you can do the IRC classes as we do. We’re an IRC one boat. Or you can enter in as a cruising class, cruising racing class, and you can do something at a different level. It’s still a race, right?

Perhaps it’s something you never thought of doing before, but now you can.

Tell us about the racing opportunities at First Class Sailing

First Class Sailing is a London and Southampton based sail training company. We charter Espresso Martini into First Class Sailing, we love working with them, they’re a fantastic set of people. And, they provide people for us to take out for this experience. So, it can be everything from The Fastnet to Round the Island. We can do inshore racing, and we can do smaller offshore races in the Fastnet. The calendar is a full calendar, there’s no end of weekends to take part in through the summer.

What is the racing like in the Solent?

It offers everything really. And it offers a ruggedness, and yet without it being too wild. So, you’ve got the protection of the Hearst Narrows, so the seas can’t quite get that big, but they can get big enough.

And you’ve got wind against tide, you’ve got quite a ferocious tide at times. The racing will start this year with the Knab Tower Race, 23rd of March, so it’s a 35 mile race from Cowes. Out to the east, round the Knab Tower and back. The following day is a race out to the west, slightly shorter, 25 miles.

And you’ve got the south west facing western Solent, and the kind of south east facing eastern Solent – and a lot of water between the two. So it covers a lot of wind directions that you can Well, basically there’s not a wind direction. that doesn’t allow you to set a course, if that makes sense.

Tell us about the process someone new to sailing might go through.

We start the season March, April, depending really where Easter lies. It will start with the Winter Series racing, that’s usually run by Warsash or one of the other clubs.

That will involve day sailing, Sunday racing, and two weekends, full weekends, Saturday and Sunday, which are within that programme, but also independent of it. So you could just do those four days over two weekends. It does not include racing over Easter. Easter’s something separate. That builds you in then to the, really the start of the offshore racing season.

So that takes us through April. That’s a great way of coming into it. So that’s inshore sailing. generally flatter waters, sharp responses are required, lots of boats around, shorter race courses, more upwind, downwind legs. So, you’re sailing upwind, set spinnaker, come downwind, get the spinnaker down, go upwind again.

They do mix it up. If the wind’s in a different direction or awkward at a direction for that, they will set courses Around the Cans can be entirely interesting. You’ve got tide to contend with, boats to contend with a lot going on. So people can come into that and it provides a great starting point to sort of really feel confidence, just moving on a boat that’s moving quickly. And quick tacks, tacking when other boats force you to tack, you hope you see them, right? 99 percent of the time you will, 1 percent of the time you might miss them and you’ll get a late time.

There’s different jobs to be done on the boat. There’s myself, skipper and first mate. So we will run the boat. We can cover a lot of the tasks, and be taking people on to shadow us so that we can step away from the jobs that we do at the start.

So, for example, My my first mate will probably do the foredeck. The bow work is quite an important bit of what we do, and I will probably do the helm. I’ll quickly hand over that as, I’ll hand over that as quickly as possible to anybody who wants to take the helm. It’s a big wheel, it’s a very responsive boat.

I might not give them the starting responsibility straight away, but they can come out of the dock in Southampton water or into the Solent, wherever it is, and we’ll hand over skills to people as quickly as we can and give them the confidence that they will only get by making a few mistakes.

Let’s talk a little bit about your boat, Espresso Martini.

She’s a Farr 40. You’ll find plenty of images online of the design. It was a boat designed in the 90s, continued to be built through the 90s and the early 2000s. It’s probably one of the best race boats that’s ever been built. Not now the fastest. Modern designs have got a little bit better. But it’s still one of the best and one of the most solid boats out there. So when you get a race boat, you have to be able to put on a lot of tension on the rig. What we’re trying to do,  is get as much drive out of the wind on every angle of sail that we can. And in order to do that, we need the rig tensions to be tight. We need the wind to hit us and drive us, not spill out because the rig flexes. So we’re looking to get that drive all the way through what we’re doing. To support that, those kind of loads, inside the boat, it’s got an aluminium space frame.  It gives us a lot of confidence for driving it hard in wind, in waves, upwind, downwind. It’s an eight bunk boat, so we can sleep eight people on it, so we will go offshore with eight people. We can take more than that when we’re racing, up to twelve. A nice number to sail with is about ten people on board. The extra numbers help with the work on the boat.  We need to be able to balance the boat by sitting people on the rail. That weight matters. That helps us to go upwind and faster.

Why should somebody consider racing with First Class Sailing?

So I’ve mentioned the Warsash Spring Series and so forth. There’s the RORC, the Royal Ocean Racing Club offshore, and there’s the Junior Offshore Group as well. These are fantastic environments to get involved in sailing. There’s a lot of support and structure and a really good community that takes part in this. And it’s a really nice way to get your confidence up to get out there, to get out, get the early training in within the Solent and then stretch out a little bit further. We go into the Channel, we go to Alderney, we go to Cherbourg, we go to San Marlo, we go down the coast to Plymouth and back. We go to Weymouth. There’s a myriad of sailing events out there. And when we get there, we tie up with some mates, we have a beer. We have a bite to eat. It’s lovely.

The focus of First Class Sailing is first and foremost to have fun.

Yacht racing can be physically demanding. It can be lovely reaching along with a spinnaker up in a flat sea, but it can also be tough going upwind in a strong blow. You may be pleased to know that most of First Class Sailing’s racing is in the summer. Whatever the conditions and the experience, it’s always worth it and a sense of satisfaction and personal achievement is fantastic.

First Class Sailing yacht skippers are very experienced. They have many thousands of miles under their belts, and they love imparting their knowledge. They’re well used to sailing with both novices and experienced sailors alike.

Find out more about our upcoming race – Round the Island Yacht Race . Besides a Farr 40, we also have spaces on a Challenger 72.

The post What you Need to Know About Yacht Racing appeared first on Sailing Blog .

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The Yacht Racing Podcast

A podcast about the international yacht racing scene featuring exclusive interviews with the sport's top sailors and influencers. Hosted by British sailing journalist Justin Chisholm – editor of the Yacht Racing Life website.

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Inside The Wild World Of Super-Maxi Yacht Racing

The world’s fastest and most advanced sailing seafarers head to the Caribbean to compete in the yachting world equivalent of F1.

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I hit the tarmac in Sint Maarten in the Netherlands Antilles revved up to partake in the yachting world equivalent of Formula One for the weekend. Hopping onto a screaming machine taming the forces of nature to barrel along billionaire style. For it was the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta and I was going racing aboard a super-maxi yacht .

Held annually this is one of the highlights of the yacht racing world’s calendar, drawing the best boats and crews from all over the world to pit their machinery and knowhow against each other during a long weekend of hard racing, hard partying and camaraderie—all on one of the most welcoming islands in the Caribbean.

The super-maxis are the ultimate racers of the yacht world and are governed by a set of rules which describe them as monohulls of more than 100 feet in length, with a keel and no limit on the number or type of “appendages.” Pure bucket-list stuff, where if you have to ask what it costs you clearly have no idea what you are getting into. At the end of ancient maps, uncharted waters were simply marked with mystical creatures and the notation, “here be dragons.” Well that is where I was headed. And fast.

Installed at the newly-opened Morgan Resort & Spa in this Dutch West Indies idyll, I inhaled deeply of the view; and pondered what a view it was, out over turquoise waters and clear blue skies gusting 25-plus knots of wind. For things were about to go super-maxi off the beaches of Sint Maarten, in the form of a ride aboard one of the most legendary racing yachts on the water today—Leopard 3.

At a touch over 100 feet, this carbon fiber/Nomex-hulled missile can shoot through the water at over 40 knots when at full tilt downwind. Fully rigged with over 15,000 square feet of thermo-formed carbon composite sails on her 154-foot carbon fiber mast and rigging, she is an extreme machine that has won everything from the Rolex Maxi Cup to Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, set trans-Atlantic speed records, and carried her racing crew of 20-plus souls to victory across the globe.

Designed by the legendary Farr Yacht Designs based out of Annapolis in Maryland, she is wide—22 feet at the widest point of her beam—and perfectly suited for fast offshore racing with more than a few tricks up her sleeve. Her “appendages” include a keel that cants up to 40 degrees, stabilizing her as if 200 extra crew members were sitting on the rail, and twin asymmetric lifting dagger-boards located either side of the mast to perfectly balance the sail forces when racing at full tilt.

The days of ex-NFL linebackers with 22-inch biceps grinding the winches of racing yachts are mostly behind the likes of Leopard 3, which features hydraulic winches, but the combination of almost military discipline and ballet-like choreography among its professional racing team are a delight to behold. The Captain and tactician calling the moves with precision timing, and an otherworldly sense of the wind down to the second, divining increases and decreases in invisible forces as if Merlin himself were aboard as the team trims sail to maximize speed at all moments.

The real key to the deployment of this technological wizardry is the team which employs it. As with Formula One, two things are necessary in spades—enormous amounts of money, and enormous amounts of skill and experience on the team. One begets the other, but it also pays for the eye-watering expenses of maintaining the boat and crew in peak condition with every carbon sail, titanium nut and bolt, and carbon fiber piece in optimal race-ready condition. Like life, things wear out, break, and go amiss.

I’ve been on boats that have snapped masts, lost sails, hell, almost sank. And for mere mortals if this happens you go bankrupt. But in the world of billionaire yacht-racing, you just Fedex a new carbon fiber mast half way around the world overnight, and have it fitted to keep you racing the next day. I saw Larry Ellison do this at Antigua Race Week one year when his yacht Sayonara snapped its mast—and it says everything you need to know about sailing super-Maxi style.

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Inside Roger Penske's luxury yacht podium: A glimpse into the racing mogul's opulent lifestyle

R oger Penske, the founder and chairman of Penske Corporation, is notably known for owning Team Penske , which competes in the NASCAR Cup and IndyCar Series. Being a billionaire owner, the Shaker Heights, Ohio native lives a luxurious life and owns many prized possessions. One of them is his swanky vessel called the Podium, a luxurious Feadship yacht.

A former racer turned businessman, Penske has an estimated real-time net worth of $4 billion, as per Forbes. Apart from owning successful racing teams, the 87-year-old also owns the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home to the esteemed Indy 500 event held during the Memorial Day weekend.

From owning auto racing organizations to private jets, he upped his luxury quotient with the sea cruiser, Podium, which has an estimated value of $120 million. This yacht was recently spotted in Newport, Rhode Island by a local news page that shared a sneak peek of it on Facebook.

This 72-meter-long cruiser was made by a Dutch company called Feadship, acclaimed as one of the most famous yacht builders in the world. Redman Whiteley Dixon, a British design studio, designed this magnificent yacht that can accommodate 12 passengers in six cabins, as well as 14 crew members in seven dedicated cabins.

Podium requires an annual running cost of $5-10 million. It has a comfortable cruising speed of 14 knots and a top speed of 18 knots (approx 21 mph). This high-end yacht can go over a distance of over 4,500 nautical miles, perfect for long sea voyages.

Apart from his opulent lifestyle and jaw-dropping luxuries , his racing team has claimed numerous victories and championship titles.

Team Penske's achievements in almost six decades

Roger Penske's auto racing organization competes in the NASCAR Series, IndyCar Series, IMSA Sports Car Championships, and FIA World Endurance Championships. Furthermore, his outfit has also participated in Can-Am, Trans Am, Australia's V8 Supercar championship, and Formula 1.

Team Penske has won the NTT IndyCar Series title 17 times, and the 2024 Indy 500 race marked its 20th triumph. In NASCAR's national series, this team has won the last two Cup Series titles, and four in total. Brad Keselowski claimed the team's maiden Cup title in 2012, followed by Joey Logano in 2018 and 2022. Ryan Blaney won the Cup Series title last year. Moreover, Penske's drivers have made it to the victory lane of the esteemed Daytona 500 race a total of three times. Additionally, the team has two championships in NASCAR's Xfinity Series.

Currently, all three of its full-time drivers in the Cup Series have booked their berth in the playoffs. NASCAR will resume its high-octane racing at Richmond Raceway on August 11 after a two-week Paris Olympics hiatus.

Bayesian Yacht: A Masterpiece of Luxury and Engineering

The Bayesian yacht, a symbol of nautical elegance and engineering brilliance, has long been celebrated in the world of superyachts. Built by the renowned Italian shipbuilder Perini Navi, this 56-meter vessel was first launched in …

Written by: Kevin Lee

Published on: August 20, 2024

The Bayesian yacht, a symbol of nautical elegance and engineering brilliance, has long been celebrated in the world of superyachts. Built by the renowned Italian shipbuilder Perini Navi, this 56-meter vessel was first launched in 2008 under the name Salute. The name itself, translating to “health” in Italian, seemed to promise a voyage of luxury and well-being. However, what truly set this yacht apart was not just its name, but its sheer opulence, advanced design, and the remarkable story it carried.

The Birth of Bayesian: An Engineering Marvel

Originally costing an estimated £14 million, the Bayesian yacht was a testament to the pinnacle of yacht design and craftsmanship. Perini Navi, one of the world’s leading yacht makers, crafted this vessel with a focus on both performance and luxury. Under the expert design of yacht architect Ron Holland, the Bayesian boasted the world’s tallest aluminum mast, standing over 72 meters above the deck. This engineering feat allowed the yacht to carry nearly 3,000 square meters of sail, making it a sight to behold on the open seas.

The yacht’s towering mast was not just for show; it was a technical challenge that required innovative solutions to ensure stability and safety. A former captain of the Bayesian highlighted the achievement of taming this massive structure, ensuring that it behaved dynamically during both sailing and motoring. This balance between design and function made the Bayesian a unique vessel in the world of superyachts.

A Floating Palace: The Luxurious Interiors

The interiors of the Bayesian yacht were designed by the acclaimed Rémi Tessier, a name synonymous with luxury and sophistication. Tessier, who has also designed suites for Claridge’s hotel in London and yachts for Swiss billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli, infused the Bayesian with a sense of pure and natural elegance. Drawing inspiration from Japanese design principles, Tessier utilized whitened sycamore and teak surfaces in the communal areas, creating a serene and calming environment for guests.

In the private cabins, materials such as stainless steel, ebony, and leather were carefully chosen to create a luxurious yet familiar atmosphere. The yacht could comfortably accommodate up to twelve guests in six beautifully appointed cabins, each attended by a staff of ten, dedicated to catering to every whim of the guests. The design emphasized outdoor living, with ample spaces for al fresco entertaining and relaxing on deck.

The Ultimate Playground: Onboard Amenities and Water Toys

For those fortunate enough to embark on a journey aboard the Bayesian, the yacht offered a plethora of amenities designed for both relaxation and adventure. The lower deck was divided into three distinct sections: crew accommodation towards the bow, guest staterooms in the middle, and the owner’s cabin at the aft. This layout ensured that guests enjoyed privacy and comfort throughout their stay.

The real fun, however, was found at the aft of the yacht, where a garage housed a collection of water toys and crafts. From jet skis and wakeboards to sea kayaks and banana boats, the Bayesian was equipped to offer endless entertainment on the water. A tender was also available to transport guests to secluded bays and ports, allowing them to explore the surrounding areas in style.

A Tragic End: The Sinking of the Bayesian

Despite its luxurious beginnings, the story of the Bayesian yacht took a tragic turn. In 2020, the yacht was refitted and no longer listed for private hire. By this time, it had been renamed Bayesian, a name that would become synonymous with one of the most harrowing maritime incidents in recent history.

In August 2024, during a celebratory voyage off the coast of Sicily, the Bayesian was caught in a sudden and severe storm. High winds, reportedly reaching up to 200km/h, battered the yacht, causing the massive aluminum mast to topple over the side. The force of the wind and the weight of the mast pushed the yacht beyond its down-flooding angle, causing seawater to flood the deck. Within minutes, the Bayesian capsized and sank.

A nearby vessel, the Sir Robert BP, witnessed the tragedy unfold. The crew of the Sir Robert BP reported seeing the Bayesian go flat on the water before disappearing beneath the waves. Despite their efforts to help, only 15 people were rescued from the sinking yacht, including a one-year-old baby who was heroically saved by her mother, Charlotte Golunski.

The Aftermath: A Somber Legacy

The sinking of the Bayesian yacht left a profound impact on the yachting community and beyond. Among those feared dead were tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his daughter Hannah, who were aboard the yacht celebrating Lynch’s recent legal victory in the United States. The tragedy underscored the unpredictable and often dangerous nature of the sea, even for vessels as advanced and well-crafted as the Bayesian.

The wreckage of the Bayesian was eventually discovered by divers, but the loss of life and the yacht itself marked a somber end to what was once a symbol of luxury and achievement. The images of the yacht, once proudly displayed in the homes of its owner, now serve as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the unpredictability of nature.

Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of the Bayesian Yacht

The Bayesian yacht, with its towering mast and luxurious interiors, will always be remembered as a masterpiece of nautical engineering and design. It stood as a symbol of opulence, craftsmanship, and the heights that human ingenuity can reach. Yet, its tragic end also serves as a reminder of the forces of nature and the risks inherent in venturing into the open sea.

For those who had the privilege of experiencing the Bayesian, it was more than just a yacht; it was a floating palace, a testament to the art of yacht-making, and a vessel that carried with it the dreams and aspirations of its owners and guests. Though the Bayesian now rests at the bottom of the Mediterranean, its legacy will continue to inspire and remind us of the delicate balance between luxury and nature.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What was the original name of the Bayesian yacht? The Bayesian yacht was originally named Salute when it was launched in 2008 by Perini Navi. The name was later changed to Bayesian.

2. Who designed the Bayesian yacht? The design of the Bayesian yacht was a collaboration between Ron Holland, who designed the yacht’s structure, and Rémi Tessier, who created its luxurious interiors.

3. What made the Bayesian yacht unique? The Bayesian yacht was unique for its 72-meter aluminum mast, the tallest in the world, and its luxurious interiors inspired by Japanese design. It was a perfect blend of engineering excellence and opulent living.

4. What led to the sinking of the Bayesian yacht? The Bayesian yacht sank after being caught in a severe storm off the coast of Sicily. High winds caused the mast to topple, which led to the yacht taking on water, capsizing, and sinking quickly.

5. How many people were rescued from the sinking Bayesian yacht? Fifteen people were rescued from the sinking Bayesian yacht, including a one-year-old baby. However, several others, including the yacht’s owner, Mike Lynch, are feared dead.

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Inside the luxury £30m yacht that sank in Italy with billionaire Mike Lynch on board

The bayesian yacht that sank off the coast of sicily on monday was once one of the most luxurious vessels in the world.

Joshua Nair

The luxurious yacht that sank off the coast of Sicily on Monday was once a multi-award winner for its sharp interior design.

In the early hours of Monday (19 August) morning, the sailing ship known as the Bayesian capsized and sank when a storm hit the coast of Sicily.

At the time, it was carrying 12 passengers along with 10 crew members.

It has been confirmed this morning that five of the six missing bodies have been recovered, including that of British billionaire Mike Lynch, 69 .

Chef Recaldo Thomas has also been confirmed dead, as only 15 of the 22 passengers made it onto a lifeboat before being discovered by a fellow ship.

The 184 feet (56 metre) superyacht was sold to Dutch real estate developer John Groenewoud for almost $40 million (£30.4 million), before being bought by Lynch's wife, Angela Bescares, who survived on Monday, for around £27 million in 2014.

Previously called Salute, the vessel was British -flagged and boasted the tallest aluminium mast in the world when it was built in 2008, which stood at 72 metres, winning it the award of 'best exterior styling' at the 2009 World Superyacht Awards, according to The Telegraph.

The stunning interior included a number of sleek, luxurious furnishings created by Remi Tessier, a yacht design specialist.

This also earned the vessel a number of awards, having received acclaim through its masterfully designed master bedroom, three double and two twin bedrooms, which accommodated 12 guests.

The superyacht had dark wood furnishings that were complimented by beige sofas and a deck that featured a large canvas to keep guests cool while at sea in the summer.

There were more intricate details onboard too, with thin brown pillars and intricate terracotta sculptures adding some Japanese culture to the ship's styling.

The Bayesian went on to win best interior at the International Superyacht Society Awards in 2008, while also being voted as one of the best large sailing yachts at the 2009 World Superyacht Awards.

Currently owned by Revtom, a company that lists Bacares as its legal owner, the yacht's name comes from a statistical model called 'Bayesian', which helps financial investors calculate risk.

This was Lynch's Ph.D. subject, which would help him to build his multi-billion pound empire in the future.

Operated by Camper & Nicholsons, the superyacht had twin 965 break horsepower engines, which has a range of 3,600 nautical miles at around 14-17 mph.

Following the tragic accident involving those onboard the Bayesian on Monday, a number of people linked to those who have gone missing have offered words of hope and support in the search for their bodies.

A friend of Lynch, Brent Hoberman, told Sky News they were 'all hoping for a miracle'.

"We knew it was unlikely but you still hold out hope," he said. "It's just so unbelievably tragic for him to go through what he went through over the last 12 years, defending his name and not really living a full life, to now for his death to be confirmed is obviously incredibly sad."

Topics:  Travel , UK News , World News , Bayesian yacht

Joshua Nair is a journalist at LADbible. Born in Malaysia and raised in Dubai, he has always been interested in writing about a range of subjects, from sports to trending pop culture news. After graduating from Oxford Brookes University with a BA in Media, Journalism and Publishing, he got a job freelance writing for SPORTbible while working in marketing before landing a full-time role at LADbible. Unfortunately, he's unhealthily obsessed with Manchester United, which takes its toll on his mental and physical health. Daily.

@ joshnair10

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A superyacht captain shares 3 things people who want to charter a luxury vessel should know

• Vacationing on a superyacht may sound like it's all Champagne and sunbathing.
• But before boarding a luxury vessel, superyacht captain Kelly Gordon advises keeping certain things in mind.
• Yachting is a summer pastime with risks and nuances for clients and crew.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez soaking up the sun. Travis Barker and Kourtney Kardashian's wedding . Beyoncé's carefree jump into the ocean.

One of these images is likely what comes to mind when you hear the word "superyacht," a phrase generally used to describe a yacht over 80 feet in length.

While ultra-luxurious vessels are associated with all things carefree, tragic events such as the sinking of the Bayesian superyacht off the coast of Sicily on Monday is a reminder that yachting is a pastime with unique risks and nuances. It's unclear what the protocols were on the Bayesian.

For those keen on the idea of chartering a superyacht, captain Kelly Gordon, 42, told Business Insider there are a number of important factors to consider before hopping on board.

Gordon fell in love with yachting after she stepped aboard a yacht for the first time in her mid-20s.

Hellbent on reaching captain level, Gordon quickly worked her way up the chain of command. She's spent most of her time sailing the Bahamas and the Caribbean and is now based in Florida, where she works as a captain on a 108-foot-long privately owned vessel.

Gordon, who has over 12,600 followers on Instagram , shares three factors to keep in mind before boarding a chartered superyacht.

Think of the process of chartering a superyacht as buying a house

One of the most important things to do when chartering a superyacht is to work with a charter broker, Gordon says.

"The charter manager's job is to No. 1: find you a safe boat," Gordon said, adding that in her experience, "Not all programs put safety as high up on the list as it should be."

She also likes to equate charter brokers to Realtors in that they take on the role of finding you the best option for your taste.

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"You find one that you gel with really well and has a good reputation, and then you discuss with them what your budget is, where you want to go, what your activity levels are, what your personalities are like," Gordon said.

Pairing clients with a crew that aligns with their characteristics is a huge part of a charter broker's job, Gordon said.

"If you think about it, you're living with that crew for 24/7, around the clock," she said. "You're not going put someone that just wants to sit and read books all day with a crew that's extremely active."

Find a crew that is competent and prioritizes safety

Charter brokers also help match clients with a competent crew that prioritizes safety.

"I don't know that many people realize just how much their life is in our hands when we cast those lines and we go to sea," Gordon said.

Part of that is having a safety briefing, which Gordon carries out every time she welcomes clients onto a chartered vessel before leaving a dock.

A thorough safety briefing includes informing clients about the location of safety equipment and lifejackets and the procedures for events such as a fire, a person falling overboard, or the boat sinking.

"You should have a safety briefing, and if you don't get one, you should ask for one," Gordon said.

The process, she added, can be different on privately owned yachts, where passengers may be familiar with the vessel.

The Bayesian is a private yacht owned by tech tycoon Mike Lynch; it's not yet known what kind of safety protocols staff and guests were trained on.

Make sure there's a member of the crew on watch 24/7

"A lot of charter guests think when they go to sleep, the crew goes to sleep," Gordon said.

But that shouldn't be the case, she added. "You want to be on a boat knowing that someone's up, because if the weather changes or the anchor starts to drag, you need somebody that's up and ready to go and get everybody else to handle it."

Among the biggest weather risks are tornados, which can be extremely difficult to predict and prepare for whether you're on land or at sea.

"I'm from the Midwest, where tornados pop up," Gordon said. "It's hard to see a tornado coming, and if you do see it coming, the tornado goes where it wants to go."

Most often, that leaves people near the weather event with just minutes to ready themselves, which is even trickier "in the middle of the night."

While rapid changes in weather are tough to contend with, Gordon recommends researching the areas you are sailing in beforehand, like you would when visiting a new country.

"It's no different than if you're going on vacation on land," she said. "You want to know where you're going. Don't put that just all on the crew."

While the research doesn't have to be as extensive as the crew should be doing, it's important to still be "responsible for your own self as well as your family and your guests."

Watch: Why it costs $1 million a day to run one of the world's biggest cruise ships

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Live updates: Seven dead in 56m superyacht Bayesian sinking tragedy

Seven people have died in the Bayesian sinking disaster. These include the six missing people who were inside the yacht when it sank, as well as a seventh person who was located shortly after the disaster. The seventh person is understood to be the yacht's chef, Recaldo Thomas. The other six are:

• British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, once dubbed 'Britain's Bill Gates'
• Lynch's 18-year-old daughter, Hannah
• Morgan Stanley's chairman, Jonathan Bloomer
• Judy Bloomer, wife of Morgan Stanley chairman
• Chris Morvillo, a lawyer working for London-based law firm Clifford Chance
• Neda Morvillo, an American jewellery designer and Chris' wife

It is understood that the yacht was being used to celebrate Lynch's recent victory in a 13-year £8 billion fraud acquittal.

No one remembers the mast snapping before 56m superyacht Bayesian sunk, says crew

No one recalls seeing the mast snap on board the 56-metre Perini Navi sailing yacht Bayesian which sank off the Italian island of Sicily on 19 August. The eyewitness account of a crewmember on board the vessel, which was obtained by BOAT International , said that the boat was struck by a freak weather event which led to the yacht heeling at around 20 degrees to starboard. As crewmembers were securing items, the heeling angle began to increase rapidly until the yacht started taking on water and sank rapidly.

The crewmembers who were up on deck were able to evacuate the yacht with minor injuries. The yacht is understood to have sunk in just twelve minutes, and it is believed that a "major ingress" of water from the top down would have caused the sinking, according to a captain who wishes to remain anonymous. This is based on the fact that no breaches have been reported in the yacht's hull, and the fact that the yacht should have been able to remain afloat with two flooded compartments.

"Very difficult to understand what could have overwhelmed a vessel of that size" says captain of sistership

The captain of the sistership to the sunken 56-metre Perini Navi sailing yacht Bayesian has said it is "very difficult to understand what could have overwhelmed a vessel of that size" and called the 56-metre Perini Navi series "bulletproof".

David Hutchinson, captain of Rosehearty , said he had taken the yacht around the world multiple times and he had "total faith in the boat".  "We've been to Antarctica and Chile, and we've had her in 70 knots of wind," he says, and the vessel had never put them in a situation that felt unmanageable.

However, Hutchinson noted there were differences between Bayesian and Rosehearty ; notably, Bayesian's  74-metre mast, which would have been heavier and added increased windage. The yacht's layout was also different, with guest accommodation on Bayesian located further forward.

Live updates

• During a news conference on Saturday morning (24 August), prosecutors confirmed they are in the early stages of investigating a "crime hypothesis" of culpable shipwreck and manslaughter. Authorities also said the yacht likely sunk because of a downburst (powerful wind that descends from a thunderstorm), rather than a waterspout.
• A search and rescue for six missing people has concluded. The final missing person is understood to be Hannah Lynch. 
• According to Reuters, six bodies have now been found in the sunken yacht. These include Mike Lynch, a British technology entrepreneur who co-founded Autonomy Corporation and founded Invoke Capital, although Italian authorities have not confirmed this.  
• One person was found immediately after the yacht sunk, and this is understood to be the yacht's chef. 
• Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, and a one-year-old are among the fifteen people rescued along with Bayesian' s captain, James Cutfield.
• Another sailing vessel in the area, the 42-metre Sir Robert Baden Powell ,  stepped in to offer assistance in the initial rescue.
• Divers have been able to reach Bayesian' s sunken hull, which lies at 45 metres of depth about half a mile from the coast. The yacht had the largest aluminium masts of any sailing yacht on the water.
• Eyewitnesses in the area reported "hurricane" conditions off the coast but local weather websites did not indicate any severe squall, which suggests that the weather event was not forecast.
• At around 5am local time on 19 August, Bayesian was hit by bad weather and sunk.  The sailing yacht was anchored or idle at the time of the incident.

Built in Italy by renowned builder Perini Navi and delivered in 2008, the yacht's naval architecture was developed by Ron Holland Design while the interior design is by Rémi Tessier . She was formerly known as Salute and was last refitted in 2016. She was listed for sale earlier this year, according to BOATPro . The yacht had accommodation for nine guests and 12 crew.

BOAT International will update the story as it develops.

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August 2024

In the August 2024 issue of Yachting World magazine: News Few finish a tempestuous Round The Island Race European rules are eased for cruising to France and Greece Olympic sailing…

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Best performance yachts: Our pick of the top options

• Toby Hodges
• March 10, 2023

Toby Hodges takes a look at all the nominees and the winner of the performance yachts 2022 category in the European Yacht of the Year Awards

The European Yacht of the Year awards is the most thorough and impartial awards programme – the winners here are widely considered the best yachts of the year . As such the boats nominated by the jury in the performance yachts category can be considered the best of the best.

This year’s shortlist had the full range. From the more conventional definitive style of performance cruiser to the contemporary French interpretation of a lightweight planing cruiser – and even a new brand of sports  catamarans  for the thrill seekers.

Three Italian pure performance yachts and two very different yachts built in Slovenia made for a varied and exciting Performance Yachts category.

Best performance yachts

Winner best performance yachts 2023 – beneteau first 36.

Where once we could assume a cruiser-racer was a fairly standard format design, over the last decade it’s been much more the sexy, perormance yachts the Italian yards specialise in. But as French yards like Pogo and JPK have proven, there’s growing enthusiasm for lightweight planing yachts – and the First 36 is the first real production yacht in that spirit.

Here’s a yacht that puts the focus firmly back into sailing. The First 36 has been kept inviting and approachable – unlike many yachts that can plane, the look is modest, not aggressive. It’s uncomplicated, unfussy and the result is a pleasure for all to sail. It’s more about what you can’t see, the design and engineering, which should ensure longterm demand.

The small, fiddly heads compartment and lack of tiller options are perhaps the only real detraction from an otherwise brilliant collaboration by Seascape and Beneteau, from concept to build quality.

It was their goal to keep this area of the market relevant and prove a mainstream brand can do it, rather than only niche specialist yards. To create a mass produced yacht at this weight and to this foam-cored quality and one that can bring so much fun is a feather in the cap of the First brand.

Grand Soleil 40

The Grand Soleil 40 is an archetypal Med cruiser-racer, and an absolute delight to sail – a feature I’ve learned that Matteo Polli designs tend to share (he also drew the Ecoracer). We sailed the race set up with ORC keel (an IRC version is available too) and six winches, an extended bowsprit and a taller mast. It was one of my most memorable trials of the season in 10-12 knots, with the deep and forward positioned rudder giving plenty of control and lovely direct steering.

The three cabin interior can have one or two heads and different galley options, the cabins are a good size with modest stowage, and it’s all tastefully styled by masters Nauta.

Italia yachts 12.98

At 5ft longer and from the board of Cossutti (who Polli once worked under), the Italia Yachts 12.98 is another cruiser-racer in the same grain as the GS40, but with a markedly different looking white interior. We sailed the ‘Bellissima’ cruising version, which 80% of customers have opted for.

Italia’s yard is now in Fano and its one-shot infused vinylester build looks impressive. However, the deck lacks some refinement and practical stowage, while the three cabin interior isn’t voluminous by today’s standards.

This is a slippery yacht that has a lovely, light feel on the single rudder – the interior styling will be the deal breaker for most.

Solaris Yachts on the other hand has perfected its recipe, tripling its yard size to cater to demand for its sexy Acebal-designed performance yachts.

The Solaris 50 we tested in 2015 and which won this award was arguably the turning point that propelled the brand’s popularity. The owner of the new 50 we tested previously had the original 50 and a 58 and confirms this replacement has nearly the same space as the 58, yet is faster, more powerful and stable than its predecessor (we easily matched 7-8 knot winds under gennaker).

It heels onto its chine and accelerates well, while twin rudders provide ample control. The design prioritises helming experience but the yard needs to come up with a better helm seat option. The interior is well executed, especially the spacious forward owner’s cabin.

The Elan E6 is a big 47-footer, high and beamy and one that leans more towards spirited cruising with generous accommodation over racing. That said, extensive options allow you to tailor it either way, including foam cored furniture and a taller carbon mast for those looking for extra oomph.

It’s a fine collaboration between Humphreys Yacht Design, Gurit, Pininfarina and Elan, while an impressive standard spec includes a carbon sprit and six winches.

The E6 is fun to sail at various angles and gives a nice, sporty feel on the helm – it likes to heel but has plenty of grip and tracks well.

The cockpit is deep and comfortable, with good optional protection and there’s ample deck stowage. A really smart three (or four) cabin interior shows a high standard of construction, finish and styling. It is bulky and you pay for the size in weight, but it looks good and Elan knows how to build a great boat for the price.

Best performance yachts 2022

Winner best performance yachts 2022 – jpk 39fc.

Along with fellow Brittany yard Pogo, JPK has redefined the modern performance cruiser: stiff, stable and efficient to the max. For the keen sailor who wants to get the utmost enjoyment out of hands-on cruising, the JPK 39 is a superb design (and to my eye, an appealing one too), while the yard has done a nice job with the vacuum-infused construction and interior fit-out. The two-cabin version we sailed had plenty of stowage too.

It looks different, behaves beautifully and stands up to its canvas, is designed to sail efficiently with a loaded displacement, and has a deck set-up to encourage you to trim it to your heart’s content. My only slight negative is the unnerving mess the cockpit can become as there are so many control lines.

This lightweight blast will best suit experienced sailors and those comfortable with short-handed sailing. And it guarantees smiles.

Photo: Andreas Lindlahr/European Yacht of the Year

One such sports catamaran is the IC36, an exciting first offering from a new Czech brand that’s packed with fresh thinking. The first turbo version of this cruising catamaran (Independence) is built using a carbon fibre crossbeam, bowsprit, boards and rudders, epoxy hulls, plus a custom Pauger rotating mast, which all serve to keep weight below three tonnes.

It provided some spirited sailing, particularly when fetching at a measured pace of 10-13.5 knots with the code 0. The direct feel of tiller steering while seated in the low rotating bucket seats was a highlight.

The finish quality in the hulls is first class and there is somehow space for up to eight berths. The coachroof features a retractable bimini and removable vinyl side panels and solar panels, while the cockpit table, which includes an exterior galley, is also removable.

In fact the IC36 can be dismantled to 2.55m beam to make it legally trailable. It has so many options and ideas – too many perhaps – all reflected in the price.

Monohull enthusiasts will share our congratulations to J-Boats for its elegant new flagship. The J/45 won the hearts of the jury and made for a long drawn out decision against the JPK. In the end the two yachts will appeal to different sailors and tastes.

J has stayed true to its roots, yet still managed to bring a current, classy new offering. The unmistakable Alan Johnstone lines have been paired with a contemporary, warm European interior designed by Isabelle Racopeau, while much focus has been paid to the joinerwork and the invisible quality. We saw the two cabin version, which has an excellent technical cabin in place of the second aft cabin.

The J/45 is designed to still perform when loaded with cruising gear. True to J’s reputation, it was a witch upwind and could outpoint anything else during our trials. The compromise is that it won’t plane easily like a JPK or Pogo.

The Solaris 40 is another looker from Soto Acebal and the blue steel metallic hull colour of the test boat made the powerful hull shape really stand out.

We liked the recessed traveller, direct steering to the twin rudders, neat folding helm seats, clutches integrated into the coamings and the easy access to the side decks. However, the jury found the cockpit with its short benches and deck design a little too flat and minimalist.

The interior is smart and contemporary, again offered with two or three cabins with two heads it makes good use of the space.

One of the yachts I was looking forward to sailing most was the Pogo 44, and the only one shortlisted that I didn’t manage to! A collision with the photographer’s RIB shortly before my scheduled trial put it out of action.

However, my colleague Rupert Holmes did a full Pogo 44 test and report on it for Yachting World and describes the 44 as designed to thrill and unlike any other pure cruising yacht of its size. The stability from the beamy hull and deep lifting keel combines brilliantly with the ability to sail fast easily and in comfort. However some jury members didn’t like having to rely on an autopilot to use winches.

The interior is like a loft apartment, with so much natural light – it’s minimalist yet comfortable, spacious and practical for cruising.

If you enjoyed this….

Yachting World is the world’s leading magazine for bluewater cruisers and offshore sailors. Every month we have inspirational adventures and practical features to help you realise your sailing dreams. Build your knowledge with a subscription delivered to your door. See our latest offers and save at least 30% off the cover price.

Daily Briefing: A leisurely cruise ends deep under water

At this point, the chance of survivors looks unlikely after a luxurious super yacht sank off the coast of Sicily. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is expected to accept the Democratic vice presidential nomination on Wednesday. Americans are getting sick with COVID-19, but booster vaccines are hard to find.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert , Daily Briefing author. TikTok has unveiled the songs of the summer . 

A perfect storm led to yacht sinking, experts say

Experts are piecing together why in the early hours of Monday the Bayesian yacht was quickly pulled under the waves amid a storm that saw at least one tornado spin up over the water. The event left the vessel's cook dead and six of its passengers, including at least two Americans, missing, prompting a massive search that has drawn international attention. The combination of unlikely factors that could have contributed to the ship's fate constituted a "black swan event," experts told USA TODAY. Read more

'A Fight for our Freedoms'

The third day of the 2024 Democratic National Convention begins Wednesday in Chicago with Democrats focusing on "a fight for our freedoms" as the day's theme. A packed schedule at the United Center features meetings of the Black, LGBTQ, Hispanic and AAPI caucuses, among others, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz officially accepting the vice presidential nomination.

In case you missed last night: Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama called on Democrats across the country to get involved in the 2024 race.

• "I'm feeling fired up!" : In his speech, Barack Obama praised Harris' record and her economic agenda aimed at lowering costs for the middle class.
• The job Trump wants might just be a "Black job" : Michelle Obama had the harshest words for the former president.
• Protests outside the United Center are likely to continue Wednesday after dozens of demonstrators were arrested outside the Israeli consulate in Chicago on Tuesday night.

Click here for Wednesday's full DNC schedule and access to USA TODAY's livestream. Read more from USA TODAY's journalists on the ground in Chicago:

• Here's how the DNC honors each state with unique songs .
• Which state has the best DNC swag ?
• Harris needs two-thirds of Latino voters in her corner to win .
• Is Harris the ally LGBTQ voters need ?
• An ex-Trump insider went after her former boss in a DNC speech .
• Michelle Obama's DNC outfit has internet buzzing .

More news to know on Wednesday

• Israel's Netanyahu says a cease-fire deal may not happen .
• Officials missed chances to avert a Lewiston, Maine, mass shooting .
• Young adults are major targets for back-to-school scams .
• After hundreds of LGBTQ+ books tossed, a library dean at a Florida college was placed on leave .
• Take a game break. Our expert Sally has the crossword answers .

What's the weather today?  Check your local forecast here .

Sweating as you read this?

You're not alone. A heat dome blanketing the southwest and Texas has caused widespread hazardous conditions for tens of millions of Americans as forecasters predicted record highs in the regions. More than 23 million Americans were under some level of heat advisory or warning early Wednesday, officials said. In Texas, scorching temperatures are pushing the state's electric grid as power demand hit a record high. Drink water and stay inside, if possible .

COVID boosters are hard to find right now

Supplies of the current COVID-19 vaccine are spotty as pharmacies await the updated vaccines that target more recent variants. The good news is that the Food and Drug Administration could soon approve the updated vaccines, which would be shipped to chain pharmacies in the weeks following such an announcement. Read more

Keep scrolling

• How is it possible for a surgeon to lose part of a patient's skull ?
• Taylor Swift can " Do It With A Broken Heart. "
• Beyoncé launched a new whiskey .
• "It Ends With Us" star Brandon Sklenar defended Blake Lively .
• Alex Cooper's "Call Her Daddy" podcast is headed to SiriusXM .

Usher bared all as he launches his Past Present Future tour in an exclusive series of conversations with USA TODAY.

Don't cry — but 'bennifer' is over.

The "Bennifer" love story that first blossomed more than two decades ago has come to an end. On Tuesday, Jennifer Lopez, 55, filed to divorce Ben Affleck, 52, in Los Angeles Superior Court, according to court filings obtained by USA TODAY. Tuesday marked the second anniversary of the estranged couple's Georgia wedding ceremony.  Read more

Photo of the day: A billionaire and 3 astronauts launch into space

Four non-government astronauts are about to embark on what could become a defining mission to the upper reaches of Earth's orbit when Polaris Dawn potentially launches within a week .

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here . Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at [email protected] .